Aerodynamic adventures
Science Olympics brings families together for fun and learning
Melody Rocheleau tosses a paper airplane she made during the Science Olympics Saturday at the Medicine Hat College, and organized by Praxis. This was the 26th year for the event, which brings families together for fun and to learn about the science found in every day life. For more coverage, see
Plenty of Hat children got the chance to take part in a wide range of experiments Saturday at Medicine Hat College during the 26th annual Science Olympics.
The event was held by Praxis and ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, with more than 100 people of all ages showing up to take part in the activities.
“This is a great day for families to come out and enjoy science, and see that science is in everyday life,” said senior scientific consultant for Praxis, Patty Rooks. “We’re lucky to be partnered with the third year education students at Medicine Hat College, so they’re actually doing this as part of their mark. They’re really going above and beyond this year to show people different science experiments, and how science impacts our lives.”
The event featured around a dozen different activities for people to take part in, with third year MHC education students taking the lead on the experiments. Rooks says it is the second year the students have helped with the program, and it is a pleasure to have them.
“It’s great for the students, because they take what they learn in class and apply it to a real situation,” she said. “Who knows for these students, right? Maybe they’ll be teaching kindergarten, or Grade 12. Watching the students adapt their teaching styles depending on how old someone is, is really amazing to watch them talk to someone that’s there years old, then turn around to their grandparents and explain the same thing in a different way.”
Rooks says the Science Olympics are a great family event, which is why she sees so many familiar faces every year.
“It’s a great day to spend with the family,” she said. “We see a lot of people coming out with their parents and grandparents, just coming for an hour or four, spending a free afternoon with the family.”