January 2023

Happy New Year!

As we begin 2023, I am thinking more about what we can do to engage the youngest members of our community in astronomy. At our last Program Committee meeting, we discussed children that attend our open nights with their families, and the lack of resources on-hand targeted at youth.

Occasionally we host scout troops, but the weather has not been cooperative lately. We provide off-site star parties associated with schools and libraries, but these do not focus on the younger attendees. Skyscrapers member Mark Munkacsy leads an Astronomy Club at the Woonsocket Harris Public Library, but we have not actively promoted it to our visitors.

So what are we going to do to educate the youngest among us about astronomy? Laura Landen and Michael Corvese volunteered to get something started, beginning with a resource sheet with information on the Woonsocket Astronomy Club and the Night Sky Network. Maybe an astronomy workshop for kids during a school vacation? We are in search of ideas and people to help put things in motion. If you have thoughts on this matter and/or would like to help, please contact me, Laura or Michael. 

In closing, I must mention that the need to do more for kids was reinforced on Christmas Day, when my 2-year-old grand nephew, Charlie, climbed over me, while I was sitting on the couch, to get to the window behind me. The next word I heard from him was “MOON”! We can’t start too young.