The Eagle Rock Ruritan Club will host its third annual Eagle Rock Science Festival at Eagle Rock Elementary School on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., inviting people of all ages to explore the connections between STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and a variety of careers.
Beth Leffel, president of the Eagle Rock Ruritan Club, originally imagined the science festival to highlight the connection between farming agritourism to STEM concepts. The festival gives students in rural areas like northern Botetourt County access to unique local experiences and a greater appreciation for the multitude of career paths available. Due to overwhelming support from community partners, the festival expanded, covering a broader range of career exploration like healthcare, welding and environmental engineering.
“One of the main reasons the Ruritans started this science festival was to organize a fun family day in our community, highlighting science and technology in our everyday lives,” said Leffel. “I want young people to see that a career in science doesn’t just mean sitting in a lab – it could mean working on a farm, building smart systems or solving real-world problems right here at home. It’s about opening minds and creating opportunities they might not have considered before. We’re incredibly grateful to sponsors for generous donations and to so many volunteer business leaders and civic groups who will be providing interactive exploration tents the day of the event.”
Many of the booths feature hands-on experiments, captivating demonstrations and interactive exhibits that will ignite the imaginations of attendees of all ages. The booths are led by volunteers such as civic groups, industry professionals and local students. Featured activities include:
- An inflatable, immersive experience educating visitors about colon cancer
- Virtual reality goggles that allow kids to explore a variety of STEM careers
- Medical demonstrations, such as teaching how to “Stop the Bleed”
- Exhibits from honeybee biology to wildlife rescue, showing how agriculture and environmental science intersect
- A demonstration of making sunflower oil, tying farming to agritourism
- Microbiology and chemistry of composting food scraps to building “edible” healthy soil
- Designing and building catapults, demonstration of robotics and much more
This year’s expansion is made possible by support from community partners including the Claude Moore Foundation, Titan Roanoke Cement, Rocky Forge Wind, Mountain Crane, Faulconer, John Alderson Agency, MKB Realtors, Bank of Botetourt, and Lawrence Companies.
In addition to science-focused activities, the festival will include face painting, food trucks and inflatable axe throwing. This event is free and open to the public, with free parking also available at the elementary school, located on Eagle’s Nest Drive. For any additional information, contact Leffel at 540-247-4874 or leffel4botetourt@gmail.com.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
