“What can I do this summer?” is a question some kids ask when school ends and the first empty days are over. Neighborhood children around the Spokane (Wash.) Central Church were offered a choice this summer between watching TV and playing video games or doing some fun STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities at the little house called Discovery Junction, located between the church and the fellowship hall. They could sign up for one week each of camp: Lego Robotics, Microscopy4Kids, Mini Maker Mania and Junior Chef Training, all held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday through Friday.
A former librarian with Lego robotics experience, Chris Koppel, taught the children to make “Tracker,” “Reptar” and other fun robots. Gayle Haeger, Upper Columbia Conference urban ministries coordinator and biology teacher, taught kids a week of microscopic fun looking at tiny things such as living critters in water; animal hairs from themselves, deer and skunk; and flower parts.
Charmaine Vierra, outreach coordinator, led out in Mini Maker Mania, which included making “slime,” bird feeders, origami and frozen fruit pops, as well as the Junior Chef Training — culinary arts for kids — based on Charmaine’s Eat More Rainbows program.
Each day began with a character-building story, songs and prayer and ended with water balloons. Four of the children participating were refugees from Nepal whose families were first contacted through God’s Closet, another ministry of the Spokane Central Church. We may never know the results of sharing with these children, though most of us have met people whose first contact with Jesus was through a Vacation Bible School or some other ministry for children. Please join us in praying for this outreach into our community.
Snack time is always a favorite part of camp at Discovery Junction.
Kids discover new worlds under the microscope.
Origami cranes were just one of the things built during Mini Maker Mania.
Campers try out a Lego robot called "Reptar" at Discovery Junction.
