As we close in on a new version of holidays starting in two weeks, the volunteers at the Kaleidoscope Discovery Center are grateful for our community support during possibly the longest year in our collective memories. We sincerely hope that you and yours are well.
This year has watched the Kaleidoscope make difficult decisions reducing overhead, pivoting to virtual instruction, and even organizing the virtual version of the Missouri Future City Competition all to be able to support hands-on learning in our community. Thanks to grants from the Coover Grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, the INSPIRE University Transportation Center, and the Missouri Space Consortium outreach grants, robotics outreach support resumed in October in Newburg, Dent R3, Vienna, and Rolla. It is good to be back on track and aligned with our core values of providing STEAM opportunities in our area.
Robotics activities, in particular, introduce STEM concepts by sparking children’s natural curiosity and building their learning habits with hands-on activities using LEGO® Duplo bricks. At the elementary age, these students use the fundamentals of engineering to explore real-world problems, learning to design and code and create unique solutions made with LEGO bricks and powered by LEGO Education WeDo 2.0. Then toward middle school, students engage in research, problem-solving, coding and engineering – building and programming a LEGO robot that navigates the missions of a robot game.*
Students who participate in these activities have shown a 98% greater awareness of STEM, a 97% increase in interest in STEM, and a 94% increase in persistence in STEM areas! Thanks to support over the years, the Kaleidoscope has secured and maintained a collection of robots for use in the region!*
This is the time we are asking for your support. Many of our Covid-related grants will end by December 31, 2020. We are looking to raise an additional $5000 to continue outreach support through the end of the robotics season and well into the spring while we expand our program offerings online and in-person, as appropriate.
You may be aware that due to the pandemic, this year eligible individuals who do not itemize may deduct up to $300 in qualified charitable contributions made to qualified charitable organizations (that’s us!) as per Sec. 62(f)(2)(C)).
Please consider a gift to the Kaleidoscope Discovery Center this year, we’ve seen organizations that support similar activities close this year and would like to be here in 2021 to continue to support this much-needed programming in our area.
This campaign is open from now until Tuesday, December 1, the Day of Giving. Donations can be made online on the GoFundMe site at: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/kdc-robotics
or with a check sent to:
The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center
P.O. Box 143
Rolla, MO 65402-0143
Should we raise more than $5000, we will continue to promote STEAM outreach in our area and request proposals for additional areas in need of support.
On behalf of all of us at the Kaleidoscope, we thank you for your support in the past and are grateful for your support in navigating these current times.
*Source www.firstinspires.org