Norwalk Teens Are "Dead Reckoners" at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk

A grant for $150K from Newman's Own Foundation has helped expand a popular after school enrichment program at the Maritime Aquarium that brings STEM curriculum alive.

There are different programs for various age groups, but Patch met the Monday group of 25 "Dead Reckoners" from Brien McMahon and Norwalk High School (The program is so popular, there is also a Thursday group.) 

"Dead Reckoners" takes into account that African-American and Hispanic adults are under-represented in STEM-related careers and provides underserved students of Norwalk Public Schools a fun, real-world exposure to STEM careers in the marine sciences, science education and maritime trades.

"The new emphasis is on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) now," said" Chris Loynd of the Aquarium's marketing department. "It's one thing to read it in a book, and another to build it, make it hands-on."

The two educators leading the Dead Reckoners Monday class, Caitlin Emro, 24 and Kelly Johnston, 25, relate well to the high students and kept them engaged while having fun. 

The first day of Dead Reckoners 2013 started with a review of the session's curriculum, followed by a get-to-know you exercise for the students. Each was asked to fill out a bingo-like card with each other' signatures next to an attribute such as guitar-player, blue eyes, or knows zodiac signs.

Following that exercise, the students paired off for a scavenger hunt that required them to learn their way around the aquarium's vast spaces, followed by ice cream. 

Over coming weeks the Dead Reckoners will create an aquarium exhibit for their major project. No small task, according to Loynd. "It will involve engineering, geology, history, marine biology and maybe something about marketing because each design will need to include a take-away message for visitors," he explained. 

The STEM enrichment program for teens started last year with 10 students. This year the number jumped to 45, which translates into not one but two classes - a Monday class and a Thursday class.   

Students don't pay to participate in Dead Reckoners, but they must complete an application that requires them to express a genuine interest. "If their mother fills it in for them, that doesn't work," said Johnston, one of the two Dead Reckoners educators.

The process seemed to have served its purpose. The enthusiasm was palpable.

"One of the things we do here is to inspire future scientists who will solve the problems my generation helped create," said Loynd who recalled a random conversation with an aquarium visitor. "I chatted with a man who had brought his granddaughter to the aquarium to expose her to marine life and the Sound. He told me how years earlier he had brought his daughter for visits and that she had since become a marine biologist working in Woods Hole."

If you missed it, here is the video of Dead Reckoners students describing the aquatic remote operated vehicle they built from scratch last year when the program ran its pilot program.