Weather Club Amazes, Encourages
Wonder, amazement, even fear at times. These are some of the words that we use to describe the weather we experience or see from afar. In the eyes of a child these experiences are often magnified. It is no wonder many of us who study weather can point to a single event that impacted us so much that we decided early on that being a meteorologist was all we wanted to be.
The Weather Club on the AOSS Building rooftop.
Front row adults (from left): Aaron Kaio, teacher from Badger Rock Middle School; Eva Borbas, SSEC researcher;
Carl Fernandez, parent from Van Hise Elementary; Derrick Herndon, SSEC researcher.
As a volunteer for the SSEC outreach team I see that wonder in the eyes of the kids who come through our building. Anytime we can take wonder and use it to inspire a student to learn more or even consider a career in science we should. While living in Omaha, NE, I had an opportunity to volunteer to run a weather club in cooperation with Learning For Life. My goal was to bring some form of that idea here to Madison. So earlier this year when Margaret Mooney gave a presentation on CIMSS/SSEC outreach activities I approached her with an idea for an SSEC Weather Club. After consulting with her and Eva Borbas a plan came together.
Derrick Herndon illustrates basics of weather data collection.
While the club in Omaha was for students age 14-21, we decided to tie our program to an existing outreach activity, the Lego League. About 20 students ages 9-12 from schools across the Madison area attended the Weather Club. Club meetings consisted of 2-hour classes during four Mondays from February through April. Subjects for the four classes included Meteorology 101, satellites, severe weather and weather safety. While hurricanes, tornadoes and blizzards always garner the attention of kids they were equally fascinated about weather on other planets.
Additional activities around SSEC included weather on the 3D globe, tours to the Antarctic Meteorological Research Center, the CAVE and data center along with a weather balloon launch by Erik Olson from the roof. The students also enjoyed projects building their own anemometer and playing weather trivia with Patrick Rowley where teams competed to correctly answer weather questions and move their team’s “hurricane” across the Atlantic. The club was such a success that one of the teachers from Badger Rock returned to SSEC a few weeks later with his entire class.
One thing that was new to me but I learned very quickly on the first day of the club was that snack time is important. Nothing should get in the way of snacks!
The outreach team will continue to look for ways to grow the club in the future perhaps to different ages. Ideas for projects and speakers are always welcome so when the next email goes out for the next club be ready. Until then lean back for a moment, close your eyes, and recall those early weather memories and how they may have shaped who you are today. And if you’re inclined, consider how you might use those experiences to encourage a kid who is hungry to learn more about weather and science.
submitted by Derrick Herndon.
