2023 Fall/Winter Highlights of Hope

EDUCATION
K–12 impact in West Michigan
and beyond
Students discover what’s in their water
Van Andel Institute for Education worked alongside students from
Evergreen Christian Academy as they learned about the valuable
role watersheds play in maintaining a healthy water supply. VAI
educators led students through several activities in which they
tested different methods of cleaning up contaminated water and
experimented with various models of density. Once students
had collected information, they worked together to share this
newfound knowledge with the community using informative and
interactive presentations. The event taught students how learning
could be memorable, meaningful and fun, and forged a promising
partnership between VAI and the Evergreen Christian Academy.
Taking science learning on the road
Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy (MGLVA) partnered with
Van Andel Institute for Education to host two Curiosity on Wheels
events, which brings STEM experiences directly to the community.
Students and their families had the opportunity to think and
act like scientists and engineers while participating in a series of
STEM-centered learning investigations. Additionally, more than
100 MGLVA educators attended VAI’s professional development
sessions, where they experienced the benefits of project-based
learning along with practical and approachable strategies for
implementing authentic learning practices in their classrooms.
For the second year, VAI took Curiosity on Wheels on the road to
partner with Newaygo County Prevention of Child Abuse and
Neglect for a series of summer camps in three West Michigan
locations: Fremont, Newaygo and White Cloud.
The Institute also established a new Curiosity on Wheels partnership
in Eaton Rapids. While working with Eaton Rapids Teen Center,
VAI engaged 30 middle and high school students in handson
engineering challenges that got them to think critically and
creatively to solve problems; these included constructing small
rockets to reach a desired target and coding small orbs known as
Spheros to successfully maneuver through a series of mazes.
Through a growing number of partnerships like these, Curiosity on
Wheels continues to broaden VAI’s impact in communities across
West Michigan and beyond.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN HANDS-ON SCIENCE ACTIVITIES WITH VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION
22 | VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS OF HOPE