In addition to the in-person festival, WestFest 2022 included a suite of virtual programs directed at children in upper elementary through high school, as well as families. We distributed 500 WestFest activity kits to go along with the activities. Each kit contained all the supplies necessary to follow along with our virtual programs.
Videos of each virtual program are available on the STEM Impact Collaborative YouTube channel. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive a notification when the videos are posted. Download the digital instruction booklet to do the activities on your own.
Virtual WestFest Programs
Ask an Astronomer
Join Dr. Wayne Schlingman as he answers everyone’s space-related questions.
Build a Glacier
Byrd Center’s Jason Cervenec and Tom Chudley demonstrate how to create an ice sheet using household items. Learn more about these massive pieces of ice found today in Greenland and Antarctica (and Ohio about 15,000 years ago) and how scientists are uncovering some of their secrets.
Follow Along Pharmacy
Medication comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and unfortunately for many, swallowing tablet medicine is tricky. Sometimes, people might be tempted to crush up their medicine and mix it with food or water, but this might do more harm than good! This program explores why some medicines are made in specific ways and discover who we can talk to when we have questions about our medication!
Packing Oranges to Fix Errors
Have you ever noticed how oranges are piled up forming a pyramid at the market? Well, as you see that arrangement you are also seeing the key to fixing errors in an encrypted message (like a secret message you sent to a friend, but also like in bar codes or QR codes).
Planting for Pollinators
Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, oh my! What do these creatures have in common? They’re all pollinators! Tune in to Planting for Pollinators to learn why pollinators are so important and what you can do to support healthy pollinator habitats. Find out how to make seed ‘bombs’ for pollinators that you can plant in your own backyard or give as an environmentally friendly gift this holiday season.
WestFest 2022 Activity Kits
WestFest 2022 provided 500 free take-home activity kits to youth in Central Ohio. These kits are made possible thanks to funding from The Ohio State Energy Partners and the Office of Outreach and Engagement, and countless volunteer hours from Ohio State students and staff.
Each activity kit includes supplies to complete STEM activities featured in five WestFest programs. The featured activities are ideal for students in upper elementary through high school.
Participating Community Organizations
Free activity kits were donated to:
The remaining kits were distributed at:
- Franklin Park Conservatory’s October Community Day
- WestFest 2022
Full List of Supplies and Downloadable Activity Sheets
Below is the full list of supplies for the activities. You can also download the instruction booklet for all the activities here or for each individual activity by clicking on its title.
Astronomy (Earth-Moon Scale Model and Exploring the Light Around You)
- String
- UV Beads
- 30 bouncy balls
- Diffraction glasses
Follow Along Pharmacy
- Citric acid
- Flour
- Portion cup
- Roll of Smarties
- Fork
- 2 stirs
Build a Glacier
- 1/2 cup white glue
- 1/3 cup cold water
- Ziploc bag
- Small bowl
- 6 tbsp warm water
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- 3/2 tsp Borax
- Food coloring (optional)
- Tablecloth or newspaper (optional)
Packing Oranges to Fix Errors
- Nine 1” round chips
- Thirty 1” balls
- Eight 1” half balls (poppers)
- 3”x3” transparent cubic box
- Ruler
Planting for Pollinators
- A 1.5” ball of clay
- 2 tbsp soil
- Seven 10” squares of fabric
- Pinch of seeds
- String or ribbon