Garrison students to launch weather balloons

Celebrate the 15th annual Lights On Afterschool, Oct. 23, 2014

Lights on Afterschool
Weather Balloon Launch
Garrison Middle School: Athletic Fields
Thursday, Oct. 23rd
4pm-5pm

The Lights on Afterschool event in Walla Walla, hosted by our WWPS 21st CCLC sites, will feature 5 simultaneous high altitude weather balloon launches at the athletic fields at Garrison Middle School. These launches will be planned, advertised, and executed by our 21st CCLC students. The balloons will reach heights of 100,000+ feet, 19 miles up in the air! The students will utilize popular digital mediums like facebook, tweeting, and YouTube to engage their peer group, while also connecting with many of our local businesses and community organizations. Additionally, key state and federal legislative figures, including Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Cathy McMorris-Rogers, Mike Hewitt, Maureen Walsh, and Terry Nealey, will be invited by Walla Walla Public Schools to participate in our celebration of afterschool programming.

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The effort has become a hallmark of the afterschool movement and generates media coverage across the country each year. The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things - such as science, community service, robotics, poetry, etc. - and discover new skills. The events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) components of WWPS' event, will push the learning envelope for all in attendance. Each weather balloon should enter the Stratosphere, an area of interest for scientific study, military surveillance, and emerging commercial applications. Moreover, witnessing the launch of 5 simultaneous high altitude weather balloons by our 21st CCLC afterschool program students will be awe-inspiring. This event is absolutely amazing to witness; words can hardly do it justice. Watch the following video to fully understand the endeavor: bit.ly/gmswayup

Finally, during the event, a team of STEM ambassadors (seen here: vimeo.com/106621599) will actively engage our local, state, and federal leaders and stakeholders in the hands-on process, while having relevant conversations about the necessity of STEM education in our afterschool programs. The ambassador team will address, communicate, and demonstrate the potential our afterschool programs have to inspire and educate our students to fulfill the increasing demand for capable STEM professionals in the workforce.

This is an open event and the community is invited to attend:

Lights on Afterschool
Weather Balloon Launch
Garrison Middle School: Athletic Fields
Thursday, Oct. 23rd
4pm-5pm

Contact Brent Cummings for more information: 509-527-3000, bcummings@wwps.org