STEM for the summer

Aspiring scientists learned to formulate and create using BASF chemistry at the BASF Kids’ Lab Camp from July 11-15 at the Beaumont Children’s Museum. The BASF Beaumont site and the BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals LLC site in Port Arthur sponsored the camp for the seventh year.

During the weeklong camp, 37 school children, first through fifth grade, participated in a series of slimy, electric, colorful and overall fascinating experiments, while developing a basic understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Dedicated to supporting the next generation in the field, BASF employee volunteers led the experiments, creating an engaging environment for the kids.

“My favorite part about volunteering at the Beaumont Children’s Museum is sharing my passion for chemistry with children at such a young age,” said Mallory Lisle, BASF TotalEnergies Petrochemicals LLC intern. “For example, when creating slime, the kids need the correct amount of ingredients, blending and temperatures – the same factors for creating slime are used daily at our plant. One of the biggest takeaways that students receive from this camp is that chemistry is everywhere and makes up everything we own.”

Each day, the campers conducted multiple hands-on experiments, exposing them to the dynamic world of chemistry safely while discovering that chemistry is all around.

“Our ongoing partnership with BASF’s Beaumont and Port Arthur plants have opened opportunities for many Southeast Texas young minds to explore the world of chemistry with volunteer experts from the field,” said Amanda Yarbrough, Executive Director of the Beaumont Children’s Museum. “The museum is thankful and thrilled to continue sharing BASF Kids’ Lab with our community. This partnership and curriculum has enhanced the museum camp experience and helped us expand our reach with science to many of our programs year-round.”

The Beaumont and Port Arthur BASF sites have sponsored the Kids’ Lab at the Beaumont Children’s Museum for seven years based on a “shared passion to inspire kids to learn and engage in the world around them.”

“BASF encourages and supports STEM education and outreach as a core initiative in our communities,” said Elizabeth Monroe, Beaumont Site Director. “Partnering with organizations like the Beaumont Children’s Museum allows us to provide opportunities to ignite a passion in young minds and support the next generation of thought leaders.”

Future STEM projects at BCM will be supported from fundraisers such as the Saturday, July 30, Fish-O-Rama fishing tournament presented by BCM and Indorama.

Through a partnership between Indorama Ventures and the Beaumont Children’s Museum, the funds raised from the July 30 fishing tournament will be used to enhance sustainability through recycling and S.T.E.A.M. education programs in the Golden Triangle.

Sponsorship payments and/or Captain’s Dinner tickets for non-fisherman, aka general entry, can be purchased through https://beaumontchildrensmuseum.doubleknot.com/registration/register.aspx.

Captain’s Dinner tickets are $75 each, and allow the guest opening seating at the banquet to be held at the Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main St. in Beaumont, the evening before the tournament, Friday, July 29. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Dinner and drinks are included, and live entertainment will be provided by Curse & the Cure

July 30, fishing will begin at 6 a.m., with weigh-in at Port Neches Park, 600 Grigsby Ave., from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Buy-in for the tournament is $300 per team of up to three members.

For more information on Fish-O-Rama, visit www.beaumontchildrensmuseum.org/fish-o-rama.