Students didn’t just weave through polished science fair displays at the recent Bear Creek Elementary School STEAM Day event, they also ducked through caves, immersed themselves in tangible displays of gravity and gazed up at the stars.
Since 2008, staff and volunteers have helped make the annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math event a reality, and this year, students at all levels had the opportunity to directly engage throughout the day in STEAM activities. After school hours, the building welcomes families to engage in the festivities, too.
“One young student said, ‘It was the best day of my life!’ Now, we know this student has many more “best days of their lives” to come, but it was one of the sweetest moments our committee could have heard from any student,” said Valerie DeLello, who is a member of the STEAM committee and helps organize the event.
DeLello, who is also a science teacher at Bear Creek, said it is important to start stressing the importance of STEAM with students, guiding them to explore a world of inquiry starting as early as preschool. Seeing the excitement on students’ faces as they get to experience that exploration firsthand is what keeps DeLello and the rest of the Bear Creek team forging forward with the event each year. She said the excitement spills over to parents as they visit in the evening for the STEAM Night portion.
“Although the words, ‘Science Fair Projects’ tend to make parents scared when the students come home and talk about it, we love the enthusiasm from our parents. They love the events at night with all the grade level “hands-on” activities and our special guests,” DeLello said. “Most are surprised that all of this is done with volunteer hours, and we hope to provide such a special opportunity for our families in the future. I think families realize that as the years go on, the extras that we love, such as plays, musicals, concerts and science fairs, are at risk due to lack of funding in the public schools across the nation. Here at Bear Creek, we try to do our best to provide the extra-curricular activities that are so enjoyed by our families.”
Between 2008 and 2023, the STEAM Committee has added a host of activities, including a few newcomers this year in CaveSim, which allowed students the opportunity to explore a cave simulation and learn cave exploration techniques, as well as the Mobile Earth and Space Observatory (MESO), which provided a simulation to demonstrate gravity to the naked eye.
At the heart of the event, though, remains the Science Fair, which allows more than 200 students the opportunity to do an independent science project following either the scientific method or the engineering design process.
“I still sneak in the night before and walk through all the extremely creative, innovative projects created by our BCES kids. Then, listening to them talk to the judges with excitement about what they learned is priceless,” DeLello said. “Mrs. Rael and Mrs. Skalko worked hard this year bringing in wonderful judges, and every year the judges are always impressed with what children of all ages can accomplish.”
The Bear Creek team sought to thank the following individuals for contributing to the success of the event this year:
The 2023 STEAM Committee: Vicki Nalley, Sandi Rael, Deb Samek, Jennifer Skalko, Dianna Harris, Tami Adams, Dorene Mirchandani, Nora Emig, Andrea Donivan, Heather Wadsworth, Kylie Palmer, DeLaney Purdham, Dawn Liss, Tatiana Frey, Gina Pascale, and Janna Strahan, as well as the Math Committee led by Jen Kalbron.
All Bear Creek office and custodial staff
The Bear Creek PTO, which helps to financially support the committees listed above.
Lewis-Palmer High School Star Lab participants, including advisor Aaron Reeve-Lobaugh and students Ashlyn L, Grace K, Ellie K, Mirabel B, Lincoln L, and Tessa C., along with volunteers Mr. White and Mr. DeLello.
Judges for the Science Fair component, including: Jane Sandstrom, Stacey Lazelle, Sandy Lamb, Michael Brom, Nicole Weatherspoon, Audra McDowell, Padi Kallen, Staci Baker, Kayla Breedlove and Lisa Billings
Evening presenters and guests, who volunteer their time: Challenger Learning Center, COSROCS, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Western Museum and Mining Industry, Cave of the Winds, Jim Farris and Dan Mariotti, Catamount Institute, Pikes Peak Library District, ElSTEMary (DeLene Hoffner), CSASTRO and BCES Robotics Team
And student volunteers: including Audrey S, Bailey H, Sam D, Charlie D, Nixon B, Owen B. and Izzy C. They were joined by the Kiwanis Key Club students at LPHS and PRHS, as well as their advisors Max Williams and Mike Luginbuhl.
You can enjoy a selection of photos from the event by tapping on this link.