S-Cape science day

Science is fun.

That is what participants, aged six to 12, learned during a special session of the S-Cape summer program at Gallagher Centre last week.

The city describes S-Cape as a "holistic program that incorporates sport, culture, art, recreation and leadership components for children and youth."

On July 30, the kids were treated to a visit from YRHS science teacher Wayne Clark along with Rena Stamitinos and Kate Martin, two of his upper year students.

Clark praised the high schoolers on their contribution.

"It was a dramatic, engaging and thoroughly prepared session on fun with dry ice," he said. "I also want to thank my co-presenter Cole Krochak from the Gallagher Centre for fun and informative tour of how the wave pool works."

Clark saved the greatest thrill for last with his liquid nitrogen garbage pail rocket demonstration, which elicited gasps from the excited young people as it blasted 30 metres into the sky.

For years, Clark has promoted science with similar demonstrations for elementary schools, which he says not only engage the younger children, but allows the demonstrators to really internalize the relevance of science in their lives.

To pull off the demos last week, he had to rely on the kindness of some local businesses.

"Please mention our materials donors, Gardewine North for the dry ice and Peter Stout of Harvest Meats for the liquid nitrogen," Clark said.