Outreach at COC

by: Dave Flynn

Students checking out the Sun through solar telescopes.

Last Friday (2/19/2016) The Local group participated in an outreach program at College of the Canyons.  COC in association with STAR Education Inc. and the GEAR UP Project brought about 100 students from inner city high schools up to their Valencia campus to show them how totally cool science and engineering is and to encourage them to pursue STEM careers.  This was a great group of kids and we all had lots of fun showing them our nearest star through both ND and H-alpha telescopes provided by Don, Danny and Jim.  Dave and Richard also brought their night observing telescopes as "display" units.  Richard had a great time talking about his 20" light cannon.  Dave gave 5 minute lectures on the structure of the Sun before sending kids over to Don, Danny and Craig manning the solar scopes.  The students were also treated to lectures and various activity booths in the gym.  After lunch they all went outside and launched water-bottle rockets!  After we put the telescopes away that is...

Special thanks to Teresa Ciardi and the COC Physics and Astronomy Club for inviting us to participate in this wonderful event.  Thanks also to Dave, Don, Danny, Richard and Craig for volunteering to  spend their day with these kids.