Engineers host educational STEM activities at canal celebration

Photo By AnnMarie Harvie | Kristen Paul (right) works with children on the Cape Cod Canal City Urban Planning activity under the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section engineering tent. The STEM event took place during the Cape Cod Canal's 100th anniversary celebration, July 29, 2014.  

BOURNE, MA, UNITED STATES

07.29.2014

Story by AnnMarie Harvie 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District

BOURNE, Mass. - Members of the New England District Team and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section (BSCES) injected a little science into with the fun at the Cape Cod Canal's 100th Anniversary, July 29 by hosting educational activities related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the BSCES-sponsored engineering tent at Buzzards Bay Park.

New England District team members Kristen Paul and Bill Walker assisted the BSCES volunteers in conducting several STEM activities designed for the enjoyment of the children participating in the day's 100th celebration activities. Paul assisted children between the ages of 5-12 with the Cape Cod Canal City Urban Planning Activity. "I helped the kids lay out a city of their own on a map of the Bourne area and around the Canal," she said.

Children used materials such as paper, foam, straws, popsicle sticks, tape, coin tubes and chop sticks to do the activity. "I helped them plan where to put houses, what type of transportation to use and overcome different obstacles of planning a city," said Paul.

Walker assisted with the surveying activity. "I worked with younger kids, some senior citizens and adults interested in survey and mapping navigation basics," he said. "I helped them learn how to use a map, translate maps to compass in plotting a course and direction and how to use a scale and pace off distances from station to station," he said.

To help out with the activity, Walker provided large scale maps of the Canal channel area, GIS aerial drawings and NOAA nautical charts of the area. "What worked well was showing them how to use a compass and provide a map with instructions on how to find an object using those materials."
Other activities that took place under the tent included, "Model Cable-Stayed Bridge Building," and "GZA Retaining Wall Building."

Over all, visitors to the BSCES engineering tent enjoyed their experience. "The kids had a blast designing and building their own city," said Paul. "It was neat to see how creative some of the designs were."

Walker agreed with the success of the day. "It went very well and many parents thanked us for conducting the activities."

The New England District's participation in the BSCES Engineering Tent activities is in support of the Corps of Engineers Campaign goal to "Prepare for Tomorrow."

• Date Taken: 07.29.2014
• Date Posted: 08.26.2014 10:42
• Story ID: 140399
• Location: BOURNE, MA, US