On The Road to Wonder: Igniting Curiosity in BC Schools

“Well, to start, I’d want everyone to know how excited my kids got by the On The Road presentation,” says schoolteacher Linda Poon, grinning widely into her webcam.

“Most of them wrote in their journal about it the next day. And we’re still talking about it now.”

A week has passed since a team of Science World facilitators visited Linda’s school in Golden BC with On The Road (OTR), a program that brings high-energy science show into elementary schools across the province.

Today, via video chat, Linda shares about the impact, and why she appreciates all the different people who make it possible.

From the pre-visit activity sent ahead of time, to the presentation itself, to the post-visit activity—in Linda’s case, building paper helicopters to extend learning on gravity and air resistance—she says the experience was a big success.

“Many students took their paper helicopters home to drop from their balconies to see how the outcome changed,” she shares. “They’re thinking like scientists.”

On a whim, Linda applied for a bursary-funded visit from Science World after receiving a recommendation from a fellow educator. “I didn’t know our chances, given the distance from Golden to Vancouver, but it never hurts to try!”

“I think of school as one place with the potential to be equal for all students, no matter their background,” Linda says.

“So now, even though only one or two of my students has been to Science World, they’ve all had a Science World experience.”  

Some Things Gold Can Stay 

“When I got the request from Linda in Golden, I knew we had to do it,” says Stefano Giulianetti, Science World’s Outreach Programs Manager.

This year, in our first full season back in schools since 2019, Stefano oversaw the delivery of On The Road programming to more than 36,000 students across BC.

The team kicked off the year in October, beginning with a tour of nine schools in Gold Trail School District #74, which includes many small communities around Lytton, Lillooet and Cache Creek.

“To start On The Road’s school year in Gold Trail and to end it in Golden,” he smiles, “well, it’s a bit poetic.”

Gold Trail district is home to Stein Valley Nlakapamux School in Lytton BC, a town devastated by the 2021 wildfire and then cut off from the Lower Mainland when an atmospheric river triggered numerous landslides that destroyed highways.

Principal Merle Hubbard shared that his compassionate and resilient community worked together to provide a sense of normalcy for the students, and that a visit from On The Road was an extraordinary way to connect the students to the rest of BC.

On the same tour, a visit to Sk'il' Mountain Community School in Shalalth was met with joy.

Principal Rob Tardif shared, "We only have a few dozen students, and when I told them Science World was coming, once they recovered from the shock, they asked, 'Why? Why would Science World visit us? They're famous!'

“When you reach out to the little guy, you show them that they're just as important as everyone else, and they deserve the same as everyone else. It makes a huge difference."

Now, with the school year finished, Stefano looks back proudly at what he characterizes as a feat of training, coordination and execution.

“That we were able to get back into schools across so many communities this first year back with such high success is a huge accomplishment,” he says.

At every corner, he praises his team for their dedication, flexibility and, more than anything, their talent.

You only need to attend one On The Road show to understand what he means.  

Moonstruck 

Since 2019, Tara Moon has delivered over one hundred science shows to gymnasiums full of kids across BC.

"And I still keep finding new lessons in communication," she says.

One technique is leveraging the humour inherent in the often wacky and astounding laws of our universe.

Her favourite demonstration, what she refers to as "the humble" Cup and Card, delivers a live and amusing example of air pressure that sends entire audiences into raucous fits of wonder, no matter their age.

“I love when the teachers get into it too,” Tara says, “when I see them break into laughter.”

In fact, she says her connections with educators are just as important to her as her connections with students.

During one show, Tara called on a particularly enthusiastic volunteer from the audience who'd raised his hand to ride the hovercraft.

The student stood at the front of the crowded gym and shared his name, then sat on the craft and held on tight as he glided across the floor on his cushion of air.

After the show, the principal approached Tara with a look of wonder on her face.

"The student who volunteered to ride the hovercraft, he's almost non-verbal," the principal said. "It's amazing he trusted your team enough to speak with you."

Another meaningful connection for Tara occurred in Shalalth, BC, when Principal Rob Tardif spent time with the team in the stunning setting of Seton Lake.

“These conversations remind us that there’s a huge community of people across the province working to help get kids curious,” Tara says.

“On The Road isn’t just about inspiring future scientists. It’s about inspiring everyone everywhere to see the world with more wonder.” 

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