JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - More than 50 military children took part in the Bring Your Child to Work Day event hosted by Army Reserve’s 99th Regional Support Command April 25 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
The children had a chance to learn about their parents’ occupations, what the 99th RSC and other Army Reserve units do on a daily basis, and what it’s like to serve in the military.
“The reason behind these events is to help get our military children together and to allow them time to be with other kids who face the same issues such as deployments or (moving to a new duty location) or various other military issues,” explained Sue Costain, a contractor with Odyssey-TCI who serves as the school services specialist for the 99th RSC Child, Youth and School Services.
“It’s a great thing to see military children with other military children because, being in the Army Reserve, they don’t get the opportunity to be with military children as much,” added Cheryl Davis, family programs director for the 99th RSC. “A lot of the kids have become connected on Facebook and Instagram, so it helps them make friends who know what they’re going through.”
The theme of this year’s event was “The Importance of STEM Education in the Work Place,” which refers to an integrated approach of teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics as cohesive and interrelated subjects.
Putting a fun twist on STEM education was the “Mad Science” group, which offered presentations and experiments - such as conjuring up foggy dry ice storms, floating on a Mad Science hovercraft, decoding the principles of a foam factory and other entertaining ways of showing science in action - to increase the children’s awareness of STEM’s potential importance in their future careers.
The children were also introduced to other subjects to include include alternative energy, geology, environmental science, robotics, and rocketry.
“Once a year, they get to do this and it’s fantastic,” Davis said. “We had children who have been here previous years, and children are excited about coming back next year.”