A lab filled with hands-on activities aimed at enhancing science, technology, engineering, art, and math skills is set for a second year of service thanks to a state grant.

The Greenville City Council on Monday approved the acceptance of additional funding for the Love a Sea Turtle STEAM Lab located at the Stasavich Nature Center at River Park North. The $22,212.99 covers the second installment of a two-year grant funded through the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

Park officials say the funding will be used to ensure that the lab is equipped, staffed, and maintained for use by park groups and visitors. The grant did not require any additional funding from the City.

"The NC Museum Sciences Grant funding awarded to River Park North and our partner organization Love A Sea Turtle (LAST) has provided the resources to create a permanent exhibit which expands our ability to engage the public with our message of wetland habitat and water conservation," River Park North Parks Program Assistant Mark Tysinger said. "These funds allow us to continue offering diverse programming opportunities, not just specific to outdoor recreation and environmental education, but those that include science, technology, engineering, art and math as well."

The STEAM Lab functions as a modern, hands-on, interactive center for visitors of all ages. Experiences include wetland mural work, augmented reality sandbox, youth friendly microscope, water quality testing equipment, field collection tools, and a myriad of rotating hands-on STEAM modules.

"With funds awarded from the grant, we will be able to develop a sustainable plan and model that can be continued in the future, and ensure we’re offering programs that engage the area’s youth, and continue providing a place to explore STEAM activities in an open environment," STEAM Lab Coordinator Amelia Blake said. "This grant also ensures our continued partnership with Love A Sea Turtle (LAST) as a place to help develop our future leaders’ love of the outdoors and sciences through camps, volunteer days, and service learning opportunities. 

For more information about the lab or to schedule a group visit, call 329-4560.

The NC Museum Sciences Grant funding awarded to River Park North and our partner organization Love A Sea Turtle (LAST) has provided the resources to create a permanent exhibit which expands our ability to engage the public with our message of wetland habitat and water conservation. These funds allow us to continue offering diverse programming opportunities, not just specific to outdoor recreation and environmental education, but those that include science, technology, engineering, art and math as well.  The LAST Water Discovery STEAM Lab functions as a modern, hands-on, interactive center for visitors of all ages. Experiences include wetland mural work, augmented reality sandbox, youth friendly microscope, water quality testing equipment, field collection tools, and a myriad of rotating hands on STEAM modules.
 
Moreover, with funds awarded from the grant, we will be able to develop a sustainable plan and model that can be continued in the future, and ensure we’re offering programs that engage the area’s youth, and continue providing a place to explore STEAM activities in an open environment.
 
This grant also ensures our continued partnership with Love A Sea Turtle (LAST) as a place to help develop our future leaders’ love of the outdoors and sciences through camps, volunteer days, and service learning opportunities.