Spring into Nature with STEM
Spring into Nature with STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., rain or shine, at the University of Akron Field Station and Regal Beagle at the Bath Nature Preserve, 4160 Ira Rd., Bath Township. Preregister at bathtownship.org or https://bit.ly/SPINwithSTEM.
This free and family-friendly event is targeted at second- through sixth-graders, (though older or younger students are welcome to join in the fun). The event focuses on educating students about the Bath Nature Preserve.
Spring into Nature with STEM will feature the following:
- Trees and nests
- Flowers and plants
- Birds and bees
- Insects and spiders
- Health and exercise
- Water and soil
- Planets and stars
Dr. Lara Roketenetz, University of Akron Field Station manager; Kasha Brackett, Bath Park Board secretary; and Elaina Goodrich, Bath Township trustee, are arranging participation from community partners.
This inaugural event will feature hands-on activities including a scavenger hunt, trail discovery card, storywalk and a free tree to plant for the first 200 participants. Students will take part in multiple stations or choose those in which they’re interested. They will receive a nature journal to take home that includes some of the things they learned during the event.
Bath Nature Preserve newcomers can investigate the incredibly fascinating projects undertaken there. The 411-acre preserve was part of the Raymond Firestone Estate. It was purchased with a bond issue by Bath Township in 1997. The preserve has been open to the public since 2001 and hosts the University of Akron Field Station. The BNP also features a community garden with 40 plots. Local residents are most familiar with the 7.5 miles of trails, including the paved North Fork Trail. In 2018, the Summit County Astronomy Club built a celestial observatory with five telescopes and recently doubled its size. Sign up for astronomy club notifications at meetup.com/Summit-County-Astronomy-Meetup/. ∞