Back by popular demand, Camp ‘Imi-Possible: Wai-ology returned to ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center during the week of March 18, offering an enriching and action-packed week of science engagement for elementary schoolchildren.
Sixty-four campers in grades K-3 took part in the five-day program, which immersed them in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities designed to explore the multiple dimensions of wai (water). They learned water is everywhere, has unique properties, is essential to all living things, and even makes up three-fourths of the human body.
Camp ‘Imi-Possible: Wai-ology explored the Hawaiian rain forest and human impacts as participants discovered how Hawaii’s topography affects local weather, climate and the movement of water over the landscape.
Daily classes focused on a range of local water-related topics including Maunakea’s glacier, Lake Waiau, clouds, rainbows, the Hawaiian forest as a great water catcher, the water cycle and much more. Additionally, every day included a presentation in ‘Imiloa’s digital full-dome planetarium and opportunities to participate in a science demonstration and to work on a culminating project to present at the end of camp.
Learning mo‘olelo (stories) and mele (songs) along the way, camp attendees were able to grasp Hawaiian cultural connections to the many forms of water.
“We are grateful to the Hawaii Community Foundation for providing a grant to make it possible to relaunch our signature Camp ‘Imi-possible series with this spring offering,” said Ka‘iu Kimura, executive director at ‘Imiloa. “The staff has worked hard to incorporate engaging educational activities that take advantage of both the natural resources of our amazing island as well as ‘Imiloa’s state-of-the-art museum laboratory-like setting.”
Sharing Hawaii’s legacy of exploration, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center is a world-class center for informal science education located on the University of Hawaii at Hilo campus.
For more information, visit www.ImiloaHawaii.org or call 932-8901.