Spring in Georgia typically means high pollen counts, a range of weather and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. For co-ops that love to invest in their communities, it also means lots of school events!
Coastal Electric Cooperative employees got the chance to represent the co-op to our mini members at local schools this spring. Linemen and engineers sparked imaginations through hands-on learning, teaching kids about safety, co-op careers and the tools of our trade. Energy advisers and IT staff guided students to build their own mini solar cars.
One of our favorite new projects we’ve debuted has been introducing elementary students to the world of electric circuits through perhaps an unlikely conductor—playdough. As part of the program, Coastal Electric Cooperative’s Terry Cook, James Platt and Jason Smith speak about conductors and insulators, shorts and open circuits. Then, students build fun circuits in the shapes of butterflies, caterpillars or small characters by adding insulating dough and LEDs.
According to Cook, the most overheard comment from parents typically is, “I had no idea you could make electricity flow through playdough!”
Another big event of the spring included Richmond Hill Middle School hosting its second annual STEAM Fest in March. It featured student-engineered and ‑operated drones, underwater remotely operated vehicles and electric cars. (STEAM refers to learning that incorporates science, technology, engineering, arts and math.)
As part of STEAM Fest, Coastal Electric Cooperative sponsored an EV rally in which students drove electric vehicles they built themselves—two were donated by co-op members through the Coastal Electric Cooperative Foundation.
Coastal Electric Cooperative members who participate in Operation Round Up allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next whole dollar. Those nickels and dimes are pooled together and invested back into the local community through the Coastal Electric Cooperative Foundation. Together, that small change makes a big difference.
“It’s our hope that more schools in our area will delve into learning about EV engineering, and that other electric co-ops in Georgia will donate EV kits to schools in their own communities,” says Jason Smith, Coastal Electric Cooperative’s energy adviser. “We’d love to see more teams compete in the STEAM Fest rally next year!”
