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A Recipe for Success
Damen Therkildsen • Jul 25, 2021
STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction (photo credit: Damen Therkildsen)
STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction
has opened its doors to the community this summer to uplift the children of its Spokane neighborhood. In partnership with the Spokane Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, His Travelers, and Renew Spokane, children have learned about Lego Robotics, cooking, and art. Parents have commented on what a blessing STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction has been to their family this summer. The no-cost classes have helped engage their kids in learning new skills while having fun, meeting new friends, and learning about the love their Heavenly Father has for them.
Each day was started with His Travelers staff opening their time together with singing beautiful songs about Jesus, while each of the students participated with joy flowing from their lips. Pastor Gerald then told a story to further their connection to our Heavenly Father. Emmalyn, a His Travelers staff member in her third year with the group described how each summer you can draw one or two students out of their shy shells to interact with others. She described a highlight of seeing how some of these children cannot be kids at home. But when they are together for a Discovery Junction class or Vacation Bible School, they can be a kid for a little while and let their worries go to have fun with their peers.
During the cooking class, children prepared a different type of recipe each day that was selected by a His Traveler’s staff member who then taught that recipe to the children. Monday was breakfast where whole wheat pancakes with fruit kebabs were introduced. Tuesday was lunch day with pita bread pizza and salad. Wednesday was dinner with breakfast burritos, baked french fries, and sweet potato fries. Thursday was an introduction to fruit parfaits, topped with granola that the children made. Friday was everyone’s favorite course, dessert.
Russell, a cooking class student, enjoyed the dinner menu. It was the first time Russell had ever tried sweet potato fries and he was disappointed with their lack of sweetness, but thoroughly enjoyed the french fries and breakfast burrito. Russell enjoyed the week and learning how to cook new things to try at home, although he is still unsure of those sweet potatoes, he would love to come back again in the future to learn more.
On the last day of the week, cooking class students made a special dessert of cupcakes and ice cream. The children’s eyes lit up with glee when they walked into STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction for their last recipe of the week. Shorooq, a cooking class student enjoyed learning how to measure out recipes and follow the directions that the recipes outlined each day. She also enjoyed learning how to make balloon animals that were then used at Vacation Bible School later that evening in Ruth Park.
To top off the dessert menu on the last day, how to make ice cream was taught by Grandma Gayle. The simplicity of ingredients and how quickly the students made the ice cream was only elevated by the sweet taste of the cool treat to end a great week together. STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction is a prime example of how opening our doors to the community is a blessing to families. Success is measured in smiles and laughter knowing our Heavenly Father is creating light in the community through every person who has given their time and talents in making a difference in the Spokane community.
STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction ended their school year by sending all 21 of their students to Camp MiVoden. By: Damen Therkildsen Renew Spokane communications coordinator This year STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction capped off their school year by sending all 21 of its students to Camp MiVoden. Children and parents were beyond excited about the opportunity to attend Camp MiVoden. This year was the first time in the four years of sponsoring Garfield elementary school students to attend that all the students of STEAM Ahead were able to attend camp — including even the shyest student. “The kids were so excited and so blessed by Camp MiVoden, Spokane Central Adventist Church, and the STEAM Ahead Board, for each entity to pay a third of the cost to sponsor the remarkable experience each student encountered,” said Gayle Haeger, program coordinator. “The generous giving to these entities has forever left a positive impact on the students’ lives.” Many parents were so thrilled that they drove their own child to Camp MiVoden to learn more about the camp and see it for themselves. With the thanks of Renew Spokane, the STEAM Ahead van was sponsored to take seven of the students, with Gayle and Gerald Haeger, to camp. Every student came back excited from the transforming week they had at Camp MiVoden. The staff at Camp MiVoden cared for these students using Christ’s method of teaching in a fun, nurturing environment, on the shores of Hayden Lake with life-changing experiences. At the end of the week each student was presented with a Bible with their name engraved on it. Over the last seven years Discovery Junction has continued to build upon its success in making a positive difference in the Emerson-Garfield community of Spokane, WA. Third graders who attend Garfield elementary school have the opportunity to take part in STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction. STEAM Ahead works to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math subjects to further enhance the student’s education in a safe and nurturing environment. STEAM Ahead students get to interact with a number of guest presenters. This school year the guest presenters included an engineer who made a small hovercraft, that students then replicated with balloon power. An Avista engineer helped students explore gravity, sound, and the atmosphere using hands-on activities. A local art teacher brought the creativity out of every student, creating budding artists. With all these activities it helps to develop the knowledge of the students in a safe and wholesome environment using gifted community members. You can help support STEAM Ahead @ Discovery Junction by praying for families to connect with this vital urban ministry opportunity that serves our Spokane intercity neighbors. To learn more about Discovery Junction visit www.renewspokane.org/DiscoveryJunction .
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Renew Spokane is a ministry of the Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.