ENID, Okla. — Leonardo’s Children’s Museum is using a grant from Enid Regional Development Alliance to provide more STEM educational programs.
The money came from the Impact Partnership Grant through ERDA.
“These funds give us the ability to help a local group who is making a significant impact on the lives of children,” said Marcie Mack, ERDA executive director.
She said the grant will strengthen Leonardo’s ongoing efforts to create adventures for young participants with a focus on drones, wind, rockets, aviation, weather, aeronautics and space. The grant can be used for multiple purposes, including scholarships for pilots license and fuel.
One program, Drone Legends, equips students with skills as they embark on 10-drone themed missions. These missions encourage students to work collaboratively, solve real-world problems and embrace the power of resilience.
During the program, students will have the opportunity to meet real drone pilots and explore career opportunities in the field of drone technology.
“Leonardo’s is thrilled to receive these funds for some new equipment helping us to expand our after-school STEM programs,” said Charlet Ringwald, Leonardo’s executive director. “We have a rich history of aviation to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders.”
The IPG funds have been utilized to enhance the Drone Legends program and renew other related STEM initiatives. Among these, Leonardo’s has used the grant funds to replace broken rockets and other equipment, ensuring the continuity of its rocket program.
Additionally, new curriculum materials have been purchased to further enrich the STEM lessons offered.
“The sky truly is the limit for the children walking through the doors of Leonardo’s Children’s Museum,” Mack said. “With the help of this grant, the sky just got brighter for our young learners.”
The grant also makes a step forward in making STEM education accessible to all. ERDA was awarded the Impact Partnership Grant in 2022 to create awareness of aviation-related careers and educational pathways for aviation, aerospace and defense-related careers with a focus on reaching pre-K through through postsecondary students.