Continue the Story of STEAM in the PARK at Acadia

After accepting that DC STEAM in the PARK would not happen in 2020, we moved forward. In July 2020, we created Expeditions in Education and applied to be a 501c3 nonprofit. This happened much quicker than Steve and I had imagined. By the first week in September, we were approved, and we continued dreaming of a STEAM in the PARK adventure. We had a framework of what we thought it could look like but never imagined it would blossom into what we have now.

In October 2020, we visited Acadia to film a National Parks Expedition Challenge. There we met Ranger Kate Petrie. A new friendship was born, and we fell in love with Acadia. In January, we called Ranger Kate to see if she would entertain a STEAM in the PARK camp at Acadia if the world began healing soon. We talked for a few months, and in March, STEAM in the PARK at Acadia began to form.

We kept the same type of schedule that we had dreamed of in DC, with ranger talks, art activities, historical connections, and lots of fun. We reached out again to some educators we knew and began planning for this event. Of course, Ranger Jen was invited because she had sparked the idea on those steps a year before. With our thought partner, Susan, we created the most amazing adventure at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park.

In July, 32 educators from around the country joined us, and magic happened. We kissed crabs, chased the Milky Way, fell in love with porcupines, ate way too many s'mores, baked and decorated cookies, played in tide pools, and learned together. STEAM in the PARK became a reality. We are forever grateful to those 32 campers who showed up and showed us that this dream could become a reality.

More tomorrow!