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Fleet Science Center Provides Fun and Free Education for Underserved Neighborhoods
The Fleet Science Center in San Diego is dedicated to making education enjoyable and accessible to families in underserved communities. As part of their efforts, they recently launched a community morning program that offers free transportation, breakfast, and early admission to the center.
The goal of the program is to eliminate economic barriers and provide educational resources to families who need it the most. By offering these services, the Fleet Science Center hopes to inspire children and ignite their curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
First Experience in San Ysidro
San Ysidro, a neighborhood in San Diego, was the first community to participate in the program. Children from San Ysidro Middle School were transported to the Science Center in Balboa Park, where they had the opportunity to explore the various exhibits. They were also given a complimentary breakfast and were able to enter the center an hour before it opened to the public.
Yanet Lopez, the Fleet community engagement manager, highlighted the importance of curiosity in learning. She expressed that by encouraging curiosity in students, they can envision themselves as future innovators, creators, and engineers.
Henrique Ramos and His Children’s Space Adventure
For Henrique Ramos and his two children, the visit to the Fleet Science Center felt like a journey to outer space. The center is well-known for its use of virtual reality in education. The family had the opportunity to experience a virtual reality space transporter exhibit, which provided them with an immersive and realistic spaceship adventure.
Ramos expressed his excitement about the realistic experience, noting the lifelike movements, sounds, and visuals. His seven-year-old son, Sebastian, also enjoyed the virtual reality adventure and described it as “real” and “cool.”
Isabella Pacheco’s Passion for Science
Isabella Pacheco, a 16-year-old junior at San Ysidro High School, was eager to explore as many exhibits as possible during her visit to the Fleet Science Center. She has ambitious career plans in the field of science, aspiring to become a veterinarian and make a positive impact on animals and the environment.
The community morning experiences provided by the Fleet Science Center aim to offer equal access to hands-on learning opportunities for all families, regardless of their neighborhood. Maritza Gerardo-Chavarin, from the San Ysidro Education Vanguard Foundation, emphasized the importance of providing underserved students with the same opportunities available to children in other communities.
Upcoming Saturday Community Morning Event
The next Saturday Community Morning event at the Fleet Science Center is scheduled for August 26th and will be dedicated to children from National City.
