Thank you to the board of directors, staff members and supporters of the Powerhouse Science Center. I have not been able to attend the community listening sessions, but I want to publicly voice my support of this much-needed resource in our community.
As a mother of a teenager and a toddler, I often visited the museum, and both of my girls enjoyed the active, hands-on learning available there. There is truly something for everyone.
As a parent educator, social worker and someone who has worked in the early-childhood education field for 15 years, I recognize that young children are natural scientists in that they are curious, explore, ask questions and develop theories about the world around them. By engaging in dynamic experiential learning in facilities such as the Powerhouse, children have the opportunity for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning. This is something that is not available anywhere else in the community.
We have plenty of opportunities for physical exercise and outdoor play at facilities such as the Durango Community Recreation Center, Mason Center, Chapman Hill and many beautiful parks. We have awesome libraries in our county that offer beneficial and fun programs for literacy and reading. We have the Durango Nature Center to provide outdoor nature education. We even have many opportunities for the arts. But if the Powerhouse goes away, so do the programs that relate to STEM learning in our community.
I have heard various arguments and complaints against the Powerhouse. I think it is unfortunate that the entire community is not backing something that affects the most important population in our community – our children! My suggestion to these people is to consider constructive ideas to improve the Powerhouse. If there is something you did not like about how things were ran before, come up with suggestions on how to make it better. Stop being negative and let us all move forward.
Jessica Keitz
Bayfield
