Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley, a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library as part of its 2016 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. Designed for students 12 and older, the after-school program has also included an opportunity to pet a wolf, learn the science of cooking and watch a veterinarian do a dog checkup.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

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Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley, a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library as part of its 2016 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. Designed for students 12 and older, the after-school program has also included an opportunity to pet a wolf, learn the science of cooking and watch a veterinarian do a dog checkup.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley, a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library as part of its after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. The presentation included information about raptors and the rescue work St. Francis does.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

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Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley, a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library as part of its after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. The presentation included information about raptors and the rescue work St. Francis does.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley, a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library in Bayfield as part of its after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. Students have already explored the science of motion, the mathematical concept of infinity and the art of science, with more to come through April.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

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Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley, a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library in Bayfield as part of its after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. Students have already explored the science of motion, the mathematical concept of infinity and the art of science, with more to come through April.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library as part of its after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

×

Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, talks about Dooley a peregrine falcon, that she brought to the Pine River Library as part of its after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, takes off the anklets and jesses from Dooley, a peregrine falcon that she brought to the Pine River Library in Bayfield as part of its new after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. In addition to learning about raptors from Jackson, students have also learned about the science of cooking, using math skills for budgeting and, on Thursday, will get to check out 3-D printing.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

×

Pat Jackson, executive director of St. Francis Wildlife Rehabilitation, takes off the anklets and jesses from Dooley, a peregrine falcon that she brought to the Pine River Library in Bayfield as part of its new after-school Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program. In addition to learning about raptors from Jackson, students have also learned about the science of cooking, using math skills for budgeting and, on Thursday, will get to check out 3-D printing.

Jerry McBride/Durango Herald

Staff members at the Pine River Library in Bayfield had a problem they turned into an opportunity for learning.

“Teens in our community flock to the library after school and throughout the summer,” Teen Services Manager Becky Van Den Berg said. “Without organized activities, behavior issues arise, disturbing not only the youth who come to the library as a place to learn, read and gather together, but also the adults who expect to find quiet and study and meeting space in the library.”

So many students came to the library after school, the library ran out of room in its teen section, she said, and the library began opening the programming space in its new section to accommodate them.

In 2016, the library is embarking on a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program, with activities from 4 to 5 p.m. every school day through April.

“Since instituting after-school programs – and offering snacks – in January 2015, we have noticed a significant improvement in the behavior of the teens,” Van Den Berg said. “We want to develop our programs to the next level by focusing on STEAM activities.

“The goal is to draw in more students by offering more relevant programs, but also, on a grander scale, bring in adults who want to learn side by side with their children, thereby strengthening family relationships, community involvement and the caliber of the country’s workforce,” she said.

Since this is an after-school program, a primary goal is to make the learning fun.

The STEAM program kicked off earlier this month with the chance to pet a wolf from Wolfwood Refuge, sit in on a dog checkup with a veterinarian, see a peregrine falcon up close and learn cooking science with Arnold “Chef Safari” Ngumbao of the Strater Hotel.

A financial consultant will make a total of three visits in January, including the final visit Wednesday. The consultant concentrated on putting math to use by building the skills of budgeting, playing the stock market and, in “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” seeing how kids’ dream jobs and coveted lifestyles line up with the real world.

“We say this is for teens 12 and older,” said Shelley Walchak, library director. “But just as with our library rules, children who are younger are welcome with an older sibling or parent.”

The library’s summer reading program will continue focusing on the subjects, including story times and special events, culminating in a Community STEAM Fair the last Saturday in July.

The library received funding for the STEAM program from First National Bank of Durango and La Plata Electric Association. It has recruited and continues to recruit people with knowledge in areas ranging from biology and hydrology to engineering, computer programming and graphic arts. In addition to working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Edward Jones Investments, the Bayfield Family Center, Bayfield Middle and Bayfield High schools and Fort Lewis College science departments to provide programming, 4-H has committed to one program each month.

“The library sees this as an opportunity to support our schools’ function and community responsibility to educate our youth,” Walchak said.

abutler@durangoherald.com

STEAM February calendar (PDF)

STEAM brochure (PDF)