Slate of activities includes cake decorating, self defense for women
While many teens across Flagler County are decompressing after a busy school year, Sharon Fiske, young adult coordinator for the Flagler County Public Library, is using the summer break to offer a few hands-on activities to keep their minds sharp in a fun learning environment.
Staging science workshops as part of the library's summer programs, teens turned up Saturday for a lesson in physics led by St. Johns Academy science teacher Gina LeBlanc.
Spinning a gyroscope balanced on the tip of a toothpick inserted into a cork suspended by two forks, Scarlett Derie looked like she was performing an impossible magic trick — but it’s all based in science, according to LeBlanc.
"This is helping them to understand the world around them and how everything works," LeBlanc said. "Our day-to-day walking, we’re using physics. Analytical thinking and exploration is just a really good skill. The brain is designed to think in different ways but you have to challenge it and that’s what science is all about."
Ben Jean-Baptiste, a member of the library’s teen advisory board, loves being able to volunteer at the library while also participating in the educational workshops. The first to demonstrate angular balance and center of gravity during the experiment, using the tips of two toothpicks to balance forks on a bottle, he’s looking forward to the "Candy Chemistry" science workshop planned for June 23. In that workshop, participants will make (and eat) cotton candy and perform other candy-based experiments.
"I got it on tip to tip and being the first person was cool," he said. "I like science. It’s one of my favorite subjects. Being on the teen advisory board is a very nice experience because you get to see the inner workings of the library and it’s fun to help out."
Hosting the free summer programs and working with teens has long been a passion for Fiske. She has a full schedule of workshops planned this month including science events; a cake decorating workshop; a self-defense class for women only (age 13 and up) taught by Flagler County Sheriff Sgt. Mike Lutz; a drum circle class; and the didgeridoo Aussie Funk Jam workshop.
"I do programs specifically for teens but because I believe in bridging the generation gap, I offer some for teens and adults," said Fiske. "We ask them to register in advance so we know how many to plan for. We’re an "edutaining" place. We’re not just a repository for books anymore. Our goal is to educate as well as entertain youth at the same time.
"I enjoy every minute of this, the teens are a fun group."
For more information on the workshops, visit flaglercounty.org/departments/library.php or email sfiske@flaglerlibrary.org to preregister.