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STEM Family Night draws large crowd of local students

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. gave students a view of Baltimore through virtual reality goggles.

The Fort Meade Alliance held the 6th Annual STEM Family Night at Arundel Mills Mall on November 8, attracting more than 500 elementary and middle school students and parents from the surrounding areas. Attendees were treated to a variety of STEM-relalted hands-on activities in an effort to bolster excitement about a future in science, technology, engineering and math.

Students were able to use a 3-D printer, operate robots, dissect an eyeball, personalize pancakes, view drones, see Baltimore through virtual reality goggles and much more!

The demonstrations were put on by Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ DoDEA Grant, Anne Arundel Community College, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Community College of Baltimore County – Catonsville, Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, the National Cryptologic Museum, the National Electronics Museum, the National Security Agency, North County High School’s Rocketry Club, Power Hawks Robotics, University of Maryland Medical Center and the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

  • Students enjoyed a variety of activities at the Anne Arundel County Public Schools DoDEA Grant table such as playing with bee robots, engaging in a coding game and making a catapult with popsicle sticks and rubber bands.
  • Anne Arundel Community College brought out the bravery in students as they were given the opportunity to dissect the eyeball of a sheep.
  • Coloring was taken to the next level with Anne Arundel County Public Library, where students were able to color Quiver coloring sheets, download the Quiver app and see their creation come to life.
  • CCBC Catonsville’s FabLab demonstrated their 3-D printer, while CCBC Catonsville’s Aviation Department impressed the crowd with a drone flying overhead.
  • Deloitte created pancakes in all shapes and sizes using special software and a robot.
  • Lockheed Martin gave visitors an insight into the radio frequency spectrum and its easy, everyday uses.
  • Participants were given the rare opportunity to encrypt and decrypt their own messages on an authentic World War II Enigma machine with the National Cryptologic Museum.
  • The National Electronic Museum shocked participants with their Van de Graaff generator and operating a train using nothing but copper wire and batteries.
  • Visitors at the National Security Agency table were able to solve logic puzzles and deduce mathematical strategies through games.
  • Students and parents could build their own rockets with the North County Rocketry Club.
  • Power Hawks Robotics gave participants the opportunity to drive robots.
  • Students were able to learn about the nursing field with the University of Maryland Medical Center.
  • The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. used virtual reality goggles to show students and their parents parts of Baltimore and some of their construction projects.

The Fort Meade Alliance created STEM Family Night in an effort to introduce elementary and middle school age students — and their parents — to STEM-inspired career paths and to further their understanding of how STEM-specific skills are used. STEM Family Night is held annually in the fall.

Click here to view the photos from the event.