Scout Pack 436 Astronomy Outreach Event – November 30th, 2021

99 attendees (60 children and 39 adults) + our 8 volunteers

Set up at 5:30 pm – finished at 8:00 pm

WVAC Volunteers Present: Bob Randle, Bob and Carolyn Colvert, Larry Matney, Luke Edens, Carolyn Hoolhorst, and John and Deb Hiatt

Event description: The Club hosted a star party for Scout Pack 436 (ages from Kindergarten to 5th grade) from6:30 to 7:30 pm . It was dark and it was a little hard to count participation, the count of 99 was conservative.

The Scouts seemed very enthusiastic and enjoyed the experience, and so did their parents! For many it was their first look through a telescope. Primary objects were Venus, Saturn and Jupiter, plus a few dark sky objects via Bob Colvert’s digital camera setup.

Volunteer activity: drive to the site and set up telescopes and associated equipment at the Arizona Model Railroading Society. The site was located on the Society’s property at 23280 N 43rd Ave, Glendale, AZ 85310. Light pollution, noise and dust were a problem at this site. However, that did not detract from the Scouts’ enjoyment of the event.

November 6th  Surprise Sci-Tech Festival

Surprise SciTech Festival – November 6th, 2021
95 attendees + our 3 volunteers = 20 volunteer hours (including drive time)
Set up at 8:00 am – finished at 1:30 pm
WVAC Volunteers Present: John Cline, Larry Matney and John Hiatt
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Event description: The City of Surprise celebrates STEAM efforts in the community by holding an
annual SciTech Festival. This free educational event featured interactive science, technology,
engineering, art and math exhibits and demonstrations. Technology and the daily interactions with it
continue to grow. Surprise embraces these new trends and the businesses that create new products
and services.
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Volunteer activity: set up the table provided by the City of Surprise with educational materials, cards
with the Club’s website and contact information, and a small Celestron Telescope. We told visitors
about the West Valley Astronomy Club, and asked them about their interest in astronomy. When
appropriate we told visitors about our monthly meetings and star parties. The small telescope was
used to demonstrate the surprising clarity and magnification (15x) provided by a small entry level
instrument. A small security camera on the parking garage a few hundred yards away was selected for
observation. Children (and adults) were encouraged to learn how to focus the telescope to see clearly.

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November 4^th 2021 we presented an outreach program for the Salome Arizona Elementary School.

The host teacher was Moniqa Raval who worked out the details for the location and time of the event.  Moniqa invited 3 other grades to join us.   We setup a telescope to view the Sun using special filters along with a hands one learning tool consisting of a pencil stuck into a ping-pong ball.   The students would hold the pencil at arm’s length, and then standing in one spot would walk in a circle watch the shadow appear on the ball.   This represents the phases of the moon.    The teachers and their class where:

1st Grade: 5 students – Mrs. Gemma Gomez

2nd Grade: 8 students – Mrs. Julie Penrod

3rd Grade: 5 students: Mrs. Moniqa Raval-Marino

4th Grade: 8 students – Mrs. Chiqui Asco

Mrs. Alicia Pantoja assistant.

The students are looking forward to our visit in 2022.

November 4^th 2021 we presented an outreach program for the Wenden Arizona Elementary School.

The host teacher was Lauren Miller who worked out the details for the location and time of the event.  Lauren invited 2 other grades to join us.   We setup a telescope to view the Sun using special filters along with a hands one learning tool consisting of a pencil stuck into a ping-pong ball.   The students would hold the pencil at arm’s length, and then standing in one spot would walk in a circle watch the shadow appear on the ball.   This represents the phases of the moon.    The teachers and their class where:

Ms. Lauren Miller brought her 3rd grade class of 5 students.

Ms. Moleno brought her 9 4th grade students

Ms. Hyde brought her 10 5th grade students

The students are looking forward to our visit in 2022.