The Eagle Rock Ruritan Club will host its 4th Annual Science Festival at Eagle Rock Elementary School on Saturday, May 9, from 10 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.
The Eagle Rock Ruritan Club originally imagined the Science Festival to highlight the connection between agriculture 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 Dr. Beth Leffel, the president of the Ruritan Club. “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 leader 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 mushroom identification
- Designing and building catapults, demonstration of robotics and much, much more
This year’s expansion is made possible by support from community partners including the Carris Reels, Titan Roanoke Cement, Mountain Crane and MKB Realtors. 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.
~ Submitted by Beth Leffel
