Three-year-old Arlo Colbert and her family spent Sunday at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum as part of Kids Week.
It’s a week dedicated to inspiring the next generation of professionals working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“They spend a lot of time asking a lot of questions about science, looking at space books and researching these subjects,” said Leila Colbert.
Leila Colbert is an architect and appreciates the opportunity for her children to learn more about STEM.
Know Before You Go Kids Week offers a unique program for children, including a virtual reality station
Leila Colbert is an architect and wanted her kids to bring her kids to introduce them to the possibilities that exist in STEM
A part of the museum exhibition is dedicated to explaining the function of the James Webb telescope used in space
Kids Week lasts until February 25th.
Leila’s six-year-old Sage already knows that she wants to be an astronaut and has been training with all the equipment in the virtual reality station.
“It was fun. There were heat waves inside the sun,” said Sage Colbert, describing her experience with the virtual reality station.
Her older brother Henry also lined up to see what it would be like to visit the solar system.
“I’m looking at a VR headset that’s supposed to make you feel like you’re in space,” said the eight-year-old.
Here at the museum, VR is a great way for kids to imagine their future in science.
“VR is a tool for actual technological advances when children understand that it will help them use it as they grow,” said David Winters, the museum’s executive vice president.
NASA officials show kids and adults alike how the James Webb Telescope works. The telescope was launched last year.
“The telescope is special because it is in space. There is no telescope here on earth. Telescopes on Earth require scientists to look through the atmosphere, which can distort images in space,” Winters said. “It avoids all that distortion and you can see the stars much more clearly.”
The last stop for the Colbert family: the flight deck.
“I just like all planes,” said Henry Colbert.
Leila Colbert said the most rewarding part of the experience is seeing her kids’ reactions as they take it all in.
“They are really excited. It makes me happy to see them happy and enjoying themselves and it’s so great because it’s right next to us,” said Leila Colbert.
The exhibit at the museum is located at Pier 86 on the West Side Highway and is scheduled to run through February 25.
