The idea for the Gratiot County Science Expo arose in 2013 during a discussion with my county 4-H program coordinator about promoting scientific literacy. We came up with the idea for an event that would showcase the many ways in which science can be fun and useful. We decided to target the event towards youth to keep them learning outside the classroom. We set the date for Kid’s Day at the Gratiot County Fair for Youth later that summer. That first year there were only six or seven exhibits, but it was very well received. We had our proof of concept.
The next year I made the expo my Eagle Scout project. I contacted businesses and organizations, youth exhibitors, and volunteers. We had everything from 3D printers to a fertilizer company. I organized volunteers to run hands on activities to engage visitors. The 2014 Gratiot County Science Expo was much larger than its predecessor with over 17 exhibits and 600+ attendees.
The expo has been a great learning experience for me. From my position as coordinator, I gained organizational skills and leadership ability. Contacting exhibitors and volunteers improved my communication skills.
From 2017 to 2019, my sister took over as lead coordinator. While it was different not being in charge, the change brought with it some new opportunities. I was able to set up a table and interact directly with the attendees. One year I demonstrated my CNC router, and the next I ran a computer teardown station.
Over the Expo’s seven-year run, my favorite part was seeing the smiles on faces of all ages when they tried new things and learned by doing.