Houston’s largest free, family STEM festival will feature robots, hands-on experiments, food trucks and academic awards
HOUSTON – Houston’s Energy Day festival will return for its ninth year on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Sam Houston Park. Almost 70 companies at the forefront of the industry will showcase the exciting world of energy through hands-on experiments and exhibits. From high-tech virtual reality experiences to getting dirty with heavy machinery models, activities will spark kids’ creativity and show them the excitement that goes along with many careers in the STEM and energy industries.
In the Chevron STEM Zone, a clubhouse-like mobile discovery museum, families can learn how STEM concepts relate to sports and other parts of everyday life. BHP will have robotics and automation activities so kids can test their more futuristic STEM skills. ConocoPhillips is partnering with Johnson Space Center to help attendees build and test launch their own rubber-band rockets.
“Every year, it’s inspiring to see so many industry leaders come together and create this opportunity for Houston-area kids. It’s crucial that our young people understand not just how energy works and where it comes from but how the industry can play an even greater role in their lives,” said David Holt, founder and board member of Consumer Energy Education Foundation, founding sponsor of Energy Day. “Whether a student dreams of becoming a biomedical researcher, engineer or teacher, they can create a successful career within the energy industry right here, in their own backyard.”
“Cost and access to transportation are two of the biggest barriers standing between students and their potential. This is why Energy Day is not only free to attend but also offers grants to cover schools’ costs of bringing kids from all over Southeast Texas to and from the festival in Houston,” Holt continued.
Through the bus grant program, more than 3,000 kids from Alief, Fort Bend, Galena Park, Houston, Pasadena, Sheldon and Spring independent school districts as well as Harmony and KIPP charter schools will travel by bus to attend the free festival this year.
BASF is hosting a World Without Waste contest that will pit pre-selected student teams against each other to create art and invent products from upcycled materials. The 14 teams represent middle- and elementary-school students from Alief, Houston, Pasadena and Spring independent school districts. Following Energy Day, each team’s entry will be photographed and posted to Energy Day’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for voting. The teams with the most votes in the art and product categories will win up to $1,000 for their school or STEAM program.
On top of the World Without Waste awards that will be announced in November, the Energy Day Academic Program will be on site Oct. 19 to present approximately $23,000 in academic awards to local students and teachers. This year’s recipients represent Alief, Alvin, Clear Creek, Conroe, Corpus Christi, Fort Bend, Houston, Huffman, Magnolia and Spring Branch independent school districts, Duchesne Academy, The Village School, Yellowstone Academy and the home-school community. Since 2011, the Energy Day Academic Program has awarded nearly $150,000 in the greater Houston area.
In addition to STEM learning disguised as play, there is also the opportunity to dig deeper into what a career in energy means. Students and professors from the University of Houston will be at the festival to share their passion for STEM and answer questions about what it’s like to pursue and then have a career in energy.
Energy Day is made possible by generous community support, especially from diamond and platinum level sponsors including BHP, Caterpillar, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Direct Energy, Golden Pass LNG, Noble Energy, TC Energy Corporation, TechnipFMC and Telemundo Houston. This year the local food truck scene is also joining the effort by offering tasty treats and valuable fundraising support. Rocos Grill and Smokehouse, Fish Fry Mama, Hula Dog and Uncle Louie G will all donate a portion of their Energy Day proceeds back to directly benefit educational programs for local students.
Energy Day also has a new volunteer partner this year. The Mission Continues, a nonprofit empowering veterans to continue their service and create positive change in their local communities, is sending the men and women of Houston’s Third Service Platoon to support Energy Day 2019.
Learn more about Energy Day at www.energydayfestival.org.
About Energy Day Houston
Energy Day is co-hosted by the Consumer Energy Alliance and the Consumer Energy Education Foundation. CEA advocates for consumer-friendly energy policies and keeps the public as well as policy makers up-to-date by providing unbiased, fact-based information on energy issues. CEEF is a 501(c)3 offering educational outreach, materials, events, activities, resources and information about career opportunities in STEM and energy fields as well as the importance of energy, conservation, and efficiency in daily life. Learn more about CEEF at www.ceef.org or on Instagram (@ceef_stem) and Facebook. More on Energy Day can be found at www.energydayfestival.org and on Instagram (@energyday), Twitter (@energydayfest) and Facebook.