by Christie Oneill
After a weekend of rain and clouds, sunshine returned just in time for the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s science-themed Community Night on Tuesday, July 8, drawing families from across Aroostook County for an evening of food, fun, and ice cream.
Held from 5 to 7 pm in the Gentile Hall parking lot, campus greenhouse, and auditorium, the event was made possible by the arrival of the Maine Mobile BioLab.
“Very pleased to share that UMPI will be hosting the Maine Mobile BIOLAB on campus the week of July 7–11,” wrote Rachel Rice in a June 24th email sent to staff and students calling for volunteers. “This will allow several groups of middle school students from around central Aroostook County to take part in hands-on STEM activities in a very cool space. As part of this visit, we’ll be hosting a UMPI Community Night.”
Indeed, it was a cool space! The Maine Mobile BioLab is a camper converted into a compact laboratory. This BioLab travels throughout Maine, teaching kids science in an interactive and fun way! At this event, parents and kids had the chance to enter the BioLab to create their own bag of ice cream! After this, several kids expressed interest in trying the science camp being held the very next morning, on Wednesday, July 10.
Although the event was targeting community members with middle school-aged kids for their BioLab camp happening the next day, UMPI Community Day was welcoming to people of all ages.
Alongside the BioLab, the event featured lawn games, music, chalk art, a therapy pony, a free book station, face painting by local pageant queens, and five different food trucks. One of which was the Big Red Sweets Truck, which handed out over 200 free ice cream tickets, all of which were claimed before the event concluded.
The aromas from the other four food trucks were mouthwatering. Watching people walk by with pulled pork from the BBQ stand, hot dogs from the hot dog cart, fresh homemade sodas, and plates of Spanish cuisine would make anyone hungry just by looking at them.
Furthermore, inside the Maine Mobile BioLab, kids were able to create their very own ice cream with three different flavors to choose from! This BioLab is a converted camper that has been readapted to resemble a science lab. Every half hour, a group of kids went into the BioLab to create their sweet treat. This went on until just after 7:00 pm. Afterward, several kids expressed interest in attending the science camp being held the very next day, Wednesday, July 10.
Organizers credited the success of the day to the lovely volunteers and the community who came together to make everything possible. As the event proved, ice cream and science make a great mix!
