Plug in to electric vehicle education: Museum of Aviation’s STEM Academy holds Electric Vehicle Day April 29

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Over the years, many additions to vehicles have shaped how we view them today, from things that come standard, like seatbelts and windshields, to modern day innovations like GPS and cruise control.

While many of the vehicles we drive today require frequent trips to the gas station, for some cars, getting out there is as easy as plugging it into an outlet. Those vehicles are on display Saturday as part of Electric Vehicle Day, an event organized by the Museum of Aviation’s National STEM Academy and Flint Energies.

The event was previously held last year in the same venue, and organizers say the second round of Electric Vehicle Day features freebies for both children and adults.

For adults, electric vehicles are on display, giving those who are interested an up-close look at how they operate. Flint Energies will also offer test rides in their cars.

For children in 1st through 12th grade, STEM based activities near the museum’s Space and Innovation Center provide an interactive learning experience based on the same concepts applied towards electric vehicles.

For younger children, a raceway obstacle course is set up in the playground to drive radio-controlled cars through, and food vendors will also be on site. With multiple options, along with existing facilities provided at the museum, Museum of Aviation Communications Coordinator Lacey Meador said this event is a flexible option for families who want to drop in while out and about.

“You could make a whole morning out of it, or come in for an hour and check things out then go about your day. Whatever you have the time to do, we are here for it,” Meador said.

The experience is tailor made for families who are interested in learning about electric vehicles, so for families wanting to avoid crowds, this offers a more scaled back experience then some of the museum’s broader offerings. But it’s still important to the museum, according to Meador.

“A lot of people have specific interests when it comes to [electric vehicles], so the crowd that we get is more specific. It’s definitely smaller, but we like it, and it’s nice because we can tailor it to be very specific to the topic,” Meador said.

Providing parents with ideas to keep their children entertained after school dismisses is a bonus.

“It’s a great resource for parents, too: to look at those hands-on activities that we’re doing, the free things we’re giving out. The idea is parents can do this at home with their kids over the summer … It’s a great tool for parents to have, especially when it comes to being mindful about what their children are learning, and then ways in which they can help them learn and explore the world around them,” Meador said.

This event is the tip of the iceberg for the National STEM Academy, which provides interactive and virtual learning opportunities in concepts related to science, technology, engineering, math and art, as well as resources for both students and teachers alike.

“The program really thrives on setting rigorous goal setting expectations and challenges students and teachers to solve problems. We give them career opportunities, workforce development strategies in all the things that we do, It’s a great program,” Meador said.

For a closer look at the National STEM Academy, see this month’s edition of This is Robins.

If you’re reading this early enough, you could make it to the event, as the event takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 29. Electric Vehicle Day is held at the Museum of Aviation, located next to Robins Air Force Base on Highway 247 in Warner Robins.

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