At Northwest Noggin we got our start way back in 2012 with our first all volunteer summer program.
We were poorly paid adjuncts in neuroscience and art, and programs like these were out of reach for our own kids. Portland’s huge Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) ran popular science camps, but charged hundreds and even thousands of dollars, while the expensive “Saturday Academy” primarily served students in wealthy neighborhoods and those attending high tuition private schools.
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But our own public university students – inspiring undergraduates and graduates eager to share their expertise and enthusiasm for brains and art – quickly joined us, and we connected joyously with SUN.
SUN (or Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) is a Multnomah County program designed “to support healthy child and youth development and family stability.” SUN provides, among other services, free after school and summer programs. In 2012 at Sabin (at that time a K-8 Portland Public School) their program focused on sports and outdoor activities. We pitched an interdisciplinary neuroscience option, with real brains and pipe cleaner neurons, and quickly filled a classroom with noggins and art!
“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.”
― Maya Angelou
We were all volunteer…
…something that mostly confused our tenured colleagues, if they thought about us at all. But it was a thrilling and memorable experience. We made enduring friendships, crafted colorful neurons and glia, held brains, considered questions, learned through experimentation and mistakes, developed effective science communication skills, got our own children excited and gave something back to our community.
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So when Neil Alexander, a Portland State University senior pursuing his Leadership and Mentoring capstone at Rigler Elementary School in Northeast Portland reached out to ask if we’d be willing to drop by the SUN program there, we jumped at the chance!
We welcomed accomplished outreach volunteers Kaya Burd, Kass Fitzgerald, Mercy Siro and Tira Gaston from Portland State, and Sara Aldrich from the Portland Alcohol Research Center at OHSU and spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying the energy and excitement of 3rd graders at Rigler!
Thank you Neil and Maria at SUN, and all the educators and students for inviting us in!
Check out more images and some questions they asked below.
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