Lackawanna County Children's Library Makes Science Fun for Kids through Free STEM Program

Scranton, PA - The Lackawanna County Children's Library is bringing excitement to young minds through its Curiosity Club, a free Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program designed for preschool to third-grade students. On Saturday, local youngsters engaged in interactive experiments that sparked curiosity about the sweet science of candy canes.

The hands-on learning experience at the library allowed kids to experiment with baking soda and vinegar to make candy canes "dance" on a scale, test how different liquids dissolve sweet treats, and even discover whether candy canes sink or float. According to Jenna O'Malley, early childhood program coordinator at Lackawanna Children's Library, this is an invaluable opportunity for children to learn various concepts in an fun and engaging manner.

"The concept of the Curiosity Club is simple: we provide a free resource for kids to explore science, technology, engineering, and math in a hands-on environment," O'Malley said. "We're aware that many schools no longer offer some of these subjects as part-class or extraclass activities, so this program steps up to fill the gap."

The Curiosity Club is open to all students regardless of their academic history, making it an accessible resource for kids and families across the community. The classes meet every fourth Saturday of the month, with upcoming topics including understanding the freezing points of water through an indoor ice fishing simulation.

With just a library card as prerequisite participation, parents and guardians can take their little scientists to the Curiosity Club, confident that they'll return home with exciting tales and newfound knowledge.