Everything made available, in the spirit of Fort Discovery, involves participatory learning. NSC s educational programs in Georgia, the United States and internationally assist teachers in enhancing the classroom experience for kindergarteners through high-school seniors. The Army is involved behind the scenes with teacher outreach and is very visible in the effort to make science and math fun and interactive for students. The trucks, which reach as many as 60,000 students each year, convert to small theaters, offering multimedia shows, science demonstrations, plus interactive exhibits and experiments that entertain as well as educate. This program works in collaboration with the Army s Recruiting Support Battalion.
Soldiers drive the trucks and work with the children in conducting experiments.
Youths interact with technicians in white lab coats who, once they take their lab coats off, are actually soldiers in Class B uniforms. SFC Tony Stocks demonstrates static electricity in the outreach program's mobile van. Two mobile discovery center 18-wheelers visit urban and rural schools throughout the United States. Staffed by soldiers, the vans expand to small theaters and contain interactive exhibits and experiments which entertain as well as educate. Science activities consist of theory, construction and testing of basic electronics modules.