Baby Gator Announces Launch of New Playground Equipment
For the first time, the Florida Space Grant Consortium has awarded a grant to a preschool. The recipient of this grant was Baby Gator Child Development and Research Center at the University Of Florida College Of Education.
According to NASA administrator Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee, the grants are intended for school-age children, but the one submitted by Darci Hames, a Baby Gator teacher, included plans for science education support for young children, which convinced NASA that an award for this preschool was appropriate.
On Wednesday, Novemebr 12th, 2003, Baby Gator hosted specially invited guests during a dedication ceremony for the playground equipment purchased as a result of the grant. NASA sent administrator Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee and Payload Specialist Sam Durrance to assist with the “lift off .” Durrance also autographed photos for guests, shared a 7-10 minute video of his space travel and answered questions.
Additional guests and activities included:
- Christine Zamora from the Florida Department of Agriculture provided a display and information about plants in space.
- Febi Mayfield, a teacher a Baby Gator and an accomplished songwriter and vocal artist with the group “Jabezz”, sang “Space Walker”, a song she composed about space. She recently sang this song and others she has composed for an event hosted by NASA in Titusville.
- NASA will lend a Moon Rocks display for the day. Rosario Munoz and Juanita Luster, Baby Gator teachers, have completed the training required by anyone handling the rocks.
- Each Baby Gator classroom set up a booth in the playground, which contained interactive science activities for the children and their families. The classroom was also opened to display space projects.
- The Baby Gator Parent Advisory Council served lunch to parents and families at noon.
