On Saturday, March 7, the Shaw Collaborative Learning Center at Asbury University was filled with students from kindergarten through eighth grade participating in Kids College.
For more than 30 years, Kids College has brought local families to campus for a day of experiments and demonstrations designed to spark a passion for the world of science in children through hands-on discovery. This year’s program was organized by Dr. Laura Walther, the assistant professor of chemistry and lab manager.
Kids College ran in two sessions, a morning session from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and an afternoon session from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., with 100 students attending each. Throughout the day, the children rotated through science-themed classrooms led by Asbury students, exploring subjects such as biology, physics and chemistry.
Much of the behind-the-scenes coordination was led by Sigma Zeta, Asbury’s science honor society. Senior biochemistry major Sara Gantz, the group’s president, said both faculty and students contributed to making the program possible.
“A lot of the [Sigma Zeta] cabinet members are leading kids’ college,” Gantz said. “Dr. Walthers sponsors Kids College, and she very much does a lot of the nitty-gritty stuff, but the students put together the actual activities.”
The event depended on a large team of volunteers, roughly 60 students from across campus this year. While the majority of volunteers were STEM majors, students from education, communications and other majors also helped out.
Junior biochemistry major Ari Bluestien volunteered in one of the chemistry classrooms, leading experiments such as making slime, observing colorful reactions with milk and dish soap and watching demonstrations such as elephant’s toothpaste and a burning gummy bear.
“The purpose of the experiments that we’re doing, and of Kids College, is to take kids who are so malleable and so easy to inspire and show them how cool science can be,” Bluestien said.
For Bluestien, the enthusiasm of the children is one of the most memorable parts of the experience.
“The quality of how good you’re teaching you and how passionate and inspired they feel about it really rubs off on kids,” Bluestien said.
Other volunteers shared similar experiences. Junior Bailey Soard helped lead the physics section and said the day provided a unique opportunity to watch curiosity grow in real time.
“This was my first year at Kids College, and I absolutely loved it. I got to lead the physics section, and it was so amazing to see how each activity increases their knowledge of and love for STEM,” Soard said.
“It’s fun to play with the kids’ natural curiosity and invite them to explore science in a fun way that’s attractive to them,” Gantz said.
Gantz emphasized the importance of a supportive environment for the young students.
“I think it’s cool to get kids into this environment where you have so many people attending to them and encouraging them, and fostering that positive environment,” said Gantz. “Especially when school might be boring or might not be their favorite place. This is just a place that kids get to come and be curious about science.”
Over the years, Kids College has developed a strong reputation in the region. Registration typically fills within hours of opening. After more than three decades, the program continues to transform campus classrooms into spaces of curiosity and experimentation.
