The Carroll County Conservation Board hosted its second annual Naturally STEM Festival this past weekend at Swan Lake Park, offering free activities exploring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics about the conservation field. Over two dozen children and families participated in the various activities, from conservation naturalist and other staff members, applying hands on experience in STEM. Participants explored different stations learning all about birds’ characteristics, identifying animal tracks, different ways light is produced and much more. One of the more popular activities was the stomp rockets, where the youth designed and created a paper rocket, placed it on a tube, and used a two-liter pop bottle to jump or stomp on it to create airflow to send the rocket flying. Children of all ages were engaged in the fun, interactive learning activities. Pictures from the Carroll County Conservation STEM Festival are included below.
Nature texture activity with Iowa PBS
Feeding paper activity with Environmental Education Coordinator Kristen Bieret
Wendy Johnson, Library Director, having participants match tracks to identify the animal
Participants engaged in the nature scavenger hunt
Outdoor story walk, sponsored by the Carroll Public Library. Readers walked along the path outside while reading “Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth” by Mary McKenna Siddals
Hands on activity, feeling how much heat is produced with different light bulbs
