SRNS offers summertime students ecological learning opportunities

The Science and Technology Enrichment Program (STEP) at the Savannah River Site offers opportunities for students participating in summer programs.

To some, summer means a break from school and classes, but to the high school students participating in an Agricultural Program at South Carolina State University and those middle-school students selected from South Carolina's Barnwell County, District 19, summer means opportunity.

Recent field trips by these groups to SRS included demonstrations and presentations involving ecology, potential biofuels, nature walks and an aquatic study of a beaver pond all in a unique summer classroom.

According to SRS, the purpose of STEP is to enhance mathematics, science and technology by providing a hands-on experience using the environment as teaching tool.

"With science, nothing seems to capture the attention of a student more than the opportunity to experience it firsthand," said Kim Mitchell, STEP program coordinator, Education Outreach, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC (SRNS). "This program allows us to partner with the teacher and show that learning can be fun and exciting."

With the upcoming 2010-11 school year, hundreds of local students will "STEP" into science at SRS.

STEP is a cooperative effort between the Department of Energy-Savannah River, SRNS, the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, the National Audubon Society and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service-Savannah River.

Limited field trip openings are still available.

"The students talked about their experience all the way back to school," said Shirley Jones, administrative assistant/resource teacher, Blackville-Hilda Junior High. "They truly enjoyed it. We look forward to coming again."

Interested teachers can learn more at http://rpsec.usca.edu/step.

SRNS is a Fluor-Daniel Partnership comprised of Fluor, Northrop Grumman and Honeywell, responsible for the management and operations of SRS, including SRNL, located near Aiken.