Hundreds of area families had their eyes to the stars on Oct. 22 for Merrimack College’s annual astronomy festival, Moon Over Merrimack.
Now in its eighth year, the festival was founded in conjunction with the launch of Mass STEM Week. Anne Gatling, associate professor in the School of Education and Social Policy and Moon Over Merrimack’s co-founder, said she knew she had to bring the initiative to campus somehow.
The event has been going strong even through the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was held virtually. Since then, around 350 to 400 people have visited Merrimack each year for astronomy-themed arts and crafts, activities, talks and presentations.
“When we first started, it was a struggle getting student volunteers on board to help with activities,” she said. “Now, they come to us. Students from almost every (Merrimack) school are here, and a lot of clubs and organizations are helping out as well.”
Some Merrimack students pitched and presented their own activities. In the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher, Audra Daniel ’27 hosted a space rover crafting table complete with pipe cleaners, plastic wheels and construction paper.
“I saw Moon Over Merrimack advertised a lot in the past and this is my first time helping out,” the mechanical engineering major said. “I have the kids building their own model rovers and they get to think up what task they’re going to do, how they’re going to get to space, if it’s a manned vehicle or not…each one of them is unique.”
Alyssa Ponte ’29, a psychology major, who previously served as a counselor at a STEM camp near her hometown, oversaw a robotic coding activity at the Arcidi Center.
“We have these little robot cars and we’re teaching kids how to make them go forward and move around,” she said. “For those looking for an extra challenge, we’re also showing how to code functions and repeats.”
While Ponte said she didn’t have much coding experience (she once took a course on it in high school), she was determined to help out at Moon Over Merrimack however she could.
Representatives from local businesses were also on hand to host their own activities. Ashima Shah, founder and owner of STEMspot in North Andover, led children in creating constellations out of Play-Doh and popsicle sticks.
“STEMspot is a hands-on museum for children and a cafe for adults,” she explained. “I have a Ph.D. in science education and worked as a curriculum developer, researcher and educator before starting my own business. I hope to get some graduate student interns from Merrimack someday and get them teaching science in small groups.”
Andrew Levine and Ashley Weckbacher said their family is regulars at STEMspot. Their daughter, Billie, 5, is a huge fan of astronomy, constellations and the Greek mythology behind them.
“The fact that she’s over there on her own right now engaged with the activity shows how dedicated and prepared these student volunteers are,” said Levine.
