Sledding, Skating, S'mores and STEM: Winterfest in Milwaukee
Hands On STEM, Even With Mittens
By Marci Pelzer, Senior Director, Community Investment
Time Warner Cable’s Milwaukee employees bundled up and braved the elements to teach local kids about STEM and their local environment at the Urban Ecology Center’s Winterfest on January 24.
The day’s agenda included ice skating, sledding, ice fishing and more. At various stations, attendees could make s’mores, visit a kid-built igloo, and enjoy delicious pie baked by the agency’s youth in partnership with Community Pie, a neighborhood group that harvests fruit to bake pies shared at community gatherings.
Despite the chilly weather, more than 500 students attended.
Time Warner Cable had strong branding at the event, including colorful outdoor tents and signage at every activity station. TWC volunteers distributed punch cards incenting the kids to visit all outdoor learning stations. Once the kids completed all activities, they could exchange their punch cards for toasty TWC winter hats.
The Urban Ecology Center is a beloved partner of TWC; the agency’s mission is to foster ecological understanding as inspiration for change through outdoor science education for urban youth. Winterfest was held throughout historic 124-acre Washington Park, designed by famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead and opened in 1891.
Winter in Wisconsin is a special time. This unique, outdoorsy spin on STEM was a strong fit with our Connect a Million Minds initiative. It was also TWC’s first STEM event held in the snow.
Learn more about Milwaukee's Parks here.
