Annual Silver City children’s program wraps up

The theme for this year’s annual Silver City summer program, which welcomes Northern Nevada children ages 5-12, was “STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math.”

The free program ran from June 19 through Aug. 7.

Jim Barcellos of 4-H taught participants how to build and test their own wind turbines in alternative energy and science classes. Sessions about environmental science, which included examples of live bees and preserved bat specimens, were taught by Linda Conlin of River Wranglers. Mary MacDonald of Silver City’s Beautiful Food Farm talked about how to grow edible flowers.

Children learned about engineering and design elements required for soap box cars, and their skills will be put to the test at next month’s inaugural Silver City Invitational Downhill Derby, sponsored by Doodads Emporium.

The program also included a trip to Sand Harbor to see the play “As You Like It” at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

Next year’s summer program will continue to focus on STEAM activities with visits from the Society of Women Engineers for hands-on engineering activities. It will also include lessons with local professional artists as well as another field trip to see Shakespeare on the beach at Lake Tahoe.

The youth program is made possible by Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey, Silver City fundraisers, and donations and volunteer work from Silver City residents and groups, in addition to the help of guest teachers.

For more information, call Quest Lakes at 775-287-7598.