Travel + learning = an A-plus vacation
July is a prime travel month, and what better way for families to make the most of a hard-earned vacation than to combine fun and relaxation with learning? Standbys include exploring bustling cities, camping in national parks, and treasure hunting in museums. But what about gaining firsthand knowledge of an experimental forest, experiencing the only public tour of a commercial jet assembly plant in North America, or taking advantage of an inside look at a power plant? The STEM-related possibilities for rounding out quality time with family and friends are practically endless!
Have you ever watched the TV show How It’s Made? During each episode, this Science Channel favorite explores how many common items — foosball tables, shoelaces, and diving masks, to name just a few — are manufactured. It’s interesting to watch from the comfort of your couch, but imagine experiencing the process in person. A good place to begin your search for high-tech plants that welcome visitors is online. The Factory Tours USA website lists more than 560 tours or opportunities to visit, searchable by state or category. Take New Mexico — click on the map and find information on visiting Eagle Ranch, a self-contained agribusiness offering free weekday tours that show visitors everything involved in growing pistachios (the field, processing plant, and packaging and shipping departments), or Spaceport America, “the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport.”
College-shopping high school students often visit several campuses during the summer. These trips provide a great jumping-off point for experiencing local spots you might not otherwise have thought about. As just one example, Boulder, Colo., home of one of the four University of Colorado campuses, boasts the Fiske Planetarium, which hosts special talks, educational events, and laser shows. With a diameter of 65 feet, its dome is the largest between Chicago and Los Angeles. The planetarium’s sister facility, the Sommers-Bausch Observatory, is located next door and hosts frequent evening open houses. Families in town for a campus visit might also take in the nature/interpretive trail at nearby Eldorado Canyon State Park, named by SmarterTravel.com as one of the 10 State Parks You Can’t Miss. NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) offers weekly tours of its David Skaggs Research Center. Visitors will see the Space Weather Prediction Center, the National Weather Forecast Office, and Science on a Sphere, a room-sized global display system that projects planetary data on a six-foot-diameter globe. Other nearby options available to out-of-towners hungry for more learning include the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, the Cure Organic Farm, the UCAR Center for Science Education, and the Space Science Institute. A seemingly straightforward visit to a college campus can turn into a weeklong adventure!
Your successful getaway doesn’t have to be limited to the United States — Canada offers its own wonders worthy of exploration. Numerous engineering marvels can be seen at one or more of the country’s superstructures. Just a few examples: Glacier Skywalk, located in Alberta’s spectacular Jasper National Park, and Montreal’s Biosphere, a museum distinguished by its 20-story-tall geodesic dome and dedicated to the environment. Canal Rideau, a must-see for visitors to Ottawa, features 45 locks along its 126-mile (203-kilometer) length and can make a winter visit worthwhile. During the colder months the canal is transformed into the world’s largest skating rink, stretching 4.8 miles (7.8 kilometers) — equivalent to more than 90 Olympic-sized hockey rinks. Find out more at the Bytown Museum, located in Ottawa’s oldest stone building.
Many factors go into compiling a well-rounded itinerary for a family vacation, or even a weekend away with friends. Finances and the ages/interests of everyone involved are two of the biggies. But with a little planning and a lot of imagination, you can make your next getaway fun, relaxing, memorable — and, yes, even educational.
Leo Bia, Navajo, is majoring in civil engineering and applied mathematics at the University of Arizona, and expects to graduate in 2020. Here he recalls a few of his experiences traveling — and learning — with his family, and shares his thoughts on college visits as well as ideas for future getaways.
Did you ever take a STEM-related vacation (or even a quick STEM field trip) with your family?
My family usually takes a road trip every other year. During these trips we stop off at many places, such as museums and national parks. On our most recent vacation, we visited NASA’s Space Center Houston, where we were able to see all the decommissioned aircraft. My niece, who is 4, really enjoyed the many child-focused activities.
Are there any STEM-related vacation spots you’re dreaming of visiting?
One place we always talk about going but have never been is Glacier National Park. I enjoy learning how the land forms to make these national parks, such as Half Dome at Yosemite National Park or the carving of the Grand Canyon.
How many college campuses did you visit prior to deciding where to apply?
I was fortunate that my mom worked at Northern Arizona University, so I felt I understood a lot about the university atmosphere. I didn’t visit many campuses before I chose where I wanted to go, but I kind of regret it, because now as I’m visiting other campuses I see that the atmosphere of each one is so different. Recently I visited Gonzaga. It was quite quaint, but very enjoyable to see. I was able to get exposure to the school I currently attend, the University of Arizona, when I participated in a summer program during high school called Native American Science and Engineering Program (NASEP). From my experience with the program, I really liked the campus and faculty that I met.
I visited colleges when I had the chance. I usually saw them when we went on road trips and there happened to be a college nearby. We’d mostly just drive by and see the buildings and general layout of the school. (Funnily enough, these visits were mostly to schools with NCAA Division 1 contending championship sports teams!)
Were you surprised by anything during a campus visit?
I found that all the campuses I visited differ in their own way, which caught me off guard. The general design of the campus can be unique — such as at the University of Arizona, where all the buildings are red brick — or even some schools are located right next to a water source. For example, Louisiana State University is adjacent to the Mississippi River.
What are some tips for making the most of a campus visit?
I’d highly encourage visiting the specific department where you want to study and just meeting faculty. Getting to know the faculty and determining if you feel comfortable there, as well as what is required to obtain your degree, are huge parts of choosing a school. Also, try finding out what types of services and organizations (tutoring, clubs, recreational facilities) are available and whether there are differences in what each school offers.
Is there anything you wish you’d done differently? Any questions you wish you’d asked?
I actually wish I had gotten to know more about the faculty and organizations on campus. I was lucky enough to find a great school with an amazing community. One huge thing I enjoy about the University of Arizona is the Native American Student Affairs (NASA), which helps all the Native American students and brings us together. It gives so much support to students and offers opportunities or places where we can get more involved. NASA also has a room where students gather during breaks between classes to rest, study, or just socialize. I believe having an organization that brings a community together should be a high priority when choosing a college.
Since you started college, have you discovered any intriguing spots you’d recommend others visit?
Here in Tucson we’re surrounded by mountains. There are so many great hiking spots. For any school, make sure you can get in those occasional active days, whether that means visiting a river, hiking, or just taking a walk with some scenery.
