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Otto Bruyns Northfield Public Library
Young engineers and architects discovered the power of balance and design in this hands-on STEM workshop that challenged creativity while teaching fundamental engineering principles through bridge construction.
STEM Enrichment of South Jersey brought architecture and engineering concepts to life through the "Bold Bridge Builders" program, inspiring the next generation of innovators at the Otto Bruyns Northfield Public Library.
Children learned about load distribution, tension, and compression through hands-on bridge construction using everyday materials.
Children explored creative problem-solving, learning how form and function work together in successful architectural designs.
Through testing and experimentation, participants discovered the importance of strong foundations and balanced weight distribution.
Children worked individually and in teams to design and build bridges using various materials, testing their creations for strength and stability while learning fundamental engineering principles
Young architects discovered how different shapes, angles, and supports affect structural integrity, exploring concepts that real engineers use in building bridges and buildings.
Participants put their bridge designs to the test, gradually adding weight to see which structures could bear the heaviest loads and learning from both successes and failures.
When bridges didn't work as expected, children learned to analyze problems, make improvements, and try new approaches - essential skills for any future engineer or architect.
Children naturally formed teams, sharing ideas and helping each other overcome engineering challenges. The collaborative environment fostered both technical learning and important social skills.
Each young engineer brought unique approaches to bridge design, demonstrating how creativity and technical knowledge work together to solve complex problems.
When bridges collapsed under weight, children learned valuable lessons about iteration, improvement, and resilience - essential qualities for future engineers and innovators.
Successfully completing engineering challenges boosted children's confidence in their problem-solving abilities and sparked interest in STEM careers for the future.
This successful program represents the ongoing collaboration between STEM Enrichment of South Jersey and the Otto Bruyns Northfield Public Library, bringing quality STEM education directly to our community's children.