Junior League of Northern Virginia and Children's Science Center Partner to Inspire Children's Interest in Science at Inaugural USA Science and Engineering Expo

Thanks to Junior League of Northern Virginia for helping us get the word out about the Festival!

MCLEAN, Va., October 6, 2010 -- The Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) and the Children's Science Center are partnering to exhibit at the Inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival being held October 23-24, 2010 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the event. The JLNV supports the Children's Science Center as its signature project and has pledged $250,000 and 2,500 volunteer hours to bring this first-of-its-kind, hands-on children's museum to Northern Virginia. Both the JLNV and the Children's Science Center focus on increasing children's interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), prompting the organizations to participate in the Festival.

The Inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival, hosted by Lockheed Martin, is the country's first national science festival. The festival promises to be the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational, and multi-disciplinary celebration of science in the United States. The culmination of the festival will be a two-day expo in the nation's capital that will give more than 500 science and engineering organizations from all over the United States the opportunity to present themselves with a hands-on, fun science activity to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The Children's Science Center's exhibit, "Energy for Today: Renewable Wind Power," will showcase the potential of wind power, windmills, and the fundamentals behind this technology, providing children of all ages the opportunity to participate. Exhibit visitors will have the opportunity to build their own Lego wind turbine. Next, a handheld crank generator demonstrates the physical exertion needed to power the turbine's generator in order to produce enough electricity to illuminate a light bulb. The exhibit will also explore how energy is conducted by physical exertion applied to the turbine's blades. Younger visitors will have the opportunity to make their own "lung-powered" pinwheels to take home as a souvenir.

"The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the perfect opportunity to engage and inspire children of all ages in STEM and the wonders of science through play," said J.J. Newby Ketzle, JLNV president. "Northern Virginia is the only major metropolitan area without a children's museum, and the JLNV is committed to working with the Children's Science Center to realize that vision for our community. This event presents a terrific opportunity to showcase the benefits and valuable learning experiences that will come with bringing a children's museum to Northern Virginia."

"The Junior League of Northern Virginia has been an invaluable partner to The Children's Science Center helping us to engage, excite, and educate children about STEM subjects even before our doors open," said Nene Spivy, Chair of the Children's Science Center Board. "Our new Renewable Energy Museum without Walls experience, premiering at this Festival, is a great example of our partnership and shared vision at work. We are thrilled for area children to have the opportunity to enjoy broad-scale science learning at this Festival and believe children in our region need the opportunity to have such inspiring discovery experiences 365 days a year."

For more information about the USA. Science & Engineering Expo or to learn more about how to support the Children's Science Center, contact ChildrensScienceCenter@jlnv.org.

The Junior League of Northern Virginia

The Junior League of Northern Virginia is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Our purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The JLNV is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and member of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. Seeking to empower women to be a driving force to improve the Northern Virginia community, the JLNV focuses on preparing children in Northern Virginia for success. More information can be found at www.jlnv.org or by calling 703-442-4163.

Children's Science Center

The Children's Science Center is an interactive hands-on museum being planned for Northern Virginia. Our mission is to provide an informal learning environment to excite children about science, technology, engineering, and math by making these subjects fun and enabling children to learn through play. The Children's Science Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more: www.TheChildrensScienceCenter.org.