New Bedford, Mass.- Everyone knows that the 4th of July has its cookouts, fireworks and parades. But what is there to do after the 4th? Mark your calendar for this: On Saturday, July 20, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will be offering Space Saturday, a day of hands-on activities about science and space travel. The event will run from 10:00 am-4:00 pm, and will feature Dick Methia, a national finalist in the NASA Teacher in Space project and former New Bedford High School English teacher. At 3:00 pm, Methia will give a fascinating 45-minute presentation on living and working in space. Opening the event at 10:00 am, Lisa Pratt, science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School and NASA space camp alum will present an introduction to space camp and lead soda bottle rocket launches. Activities for all ages include making constellations, pinwheels, space helmets, comparing outfitting a spaceship and whaleship and more. All events take place at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s visitor center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. As always, admission is free.
The event schedule is as follows:
10:00 -- 10:20 - Intro to Space Camp with Lisa Pratt
10:30 - 3:00 - Launch a bottle rocket
10:30 - 3:00 - Make a Pinwheel activity
11:00 and 2:00 - Outfitting for a whaling voyage vs. outfitting for a space voyage
11:00 and 2:00 - Make a space helmet
12:00 and 1:00 - Magic Stars activity
1:00 - Drinking Gourd (NASA video) and make constellations
3:00 - 4:00 - Richard Methia on living and working in space
On Sunday, July 21, the Ocean Explorium, in conjunction with New Bedford Whaling Museum, will also be offering programming related to space including Solar System: The Rocky Planets; Solar System: The Gas Giants; Solar System Tour for Kids and a "Customized Space Travel" presentation, in which visitors can make requests about what they want to see in our solar system and go there. In addition, the Ocean Explorium will extend a $1 off admission discount to guests on Sunday, July 21 who can present a special coupon provided at the Space Saturday event. The venue also offers Science on A Sphere presentations or movies at 10:30, 11:15, 12:30, 1:30, 2:15, and 3:30. For specific details on the day, go to http://oceanexplorium.org/schedule/
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States. The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM. The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov/nebe, or visit the park’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
