JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md –
The days of endlessly playing with electronic devices and outdoor play until dusk are coming to a close and children must readapt to the student lifestyle.
The Military and Family Support Center is bringing the base together Aug. 15, with a Back-to-School Bash designed to ignite passion for learning and help children ease into this transition.
Volunteers from all over base signed up to enlighten and entertain youths at the Youth Program center from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., with an evening of fun-filled events rooted in Science Technology Engineering and Math, STEM. The
First Robotics will hold an Operation Military Kid exhibit using LEGO robotics technology.
"If we show kids science and math can be interesting and fun, they will be more excited about learning," said Sharon Moore, M&FSC school liaison. "We will have different stations for children to explore. I advertised for volunteer, 'computer geeks, science nerds, math gurus, book worms and food connoisseurs,' to plan and facilitate fun games and prepare food."
There will be a considerable amount of fun and learning taking place during this event.
As service members know all too well, fitness and nutrition go hand-in-hand with effective learning.
Senior Airman Stephanie Boudreau, 79th Medical Group diet therapy apprentice, will be there to assist with preparing the 'sack lunches' at the event and sharing nutrition advice with families there.
Additionally, Adreinne Barnett, Exceptional Family Member Program, EFMP, coordinator, will host a fun and fitness class that will also incorporate academic learning games.
Another station at the event will address the basics of communication and emphasize creating a bully-free atmosphere for children with a cartoon presentation that blends humor with real-life suggestions for coping with bullies.
"We have volunteers in place to show the Trevor Romain DVD -
Bullies are a pain in the brain," Moore said.
The previous year's events focused more on providing deployed families with a final "hoorah" of the summer; this event is extended to all much more planning and collaboration are needed, she said.
To ensure a successful event, Moore said she also advertised for "nurturers" to help guide the families from station-to-station and "builders" and "demolitionists" to set up and break down the stations.
The sister services at Joint Base Andrews are coming together to support the children's education, as 50 individuals have already signed up to help; and the event is for all military families, she explained.
"This isn't just an Air Force Base, it is Joint Base, and every military family is important," said Moore. "There two things I think you should just not miss: number one is school and number two is the Back-to-School Bash."
For further information on this event, call 301-981-0057.