A student from Cove Creek Elementary School’s Eco-Raiders after-school club steps onto App State’s Geobago. Photo submitted
BOONE, N.C. — This fall, Appalachian State University has once again rolled out its Geobago recreational vehicle to bring hands-on science activities to K–12 students in Western North Carolina and beyond. The mobile classroom, which celebrates its five-year anniversary this September, is one of the many community outreach programs provided by the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES).
“There are a lot of schools scattered throughout the area that are Title I schools in low-income communities and are not able to bring their students to App State’s campus for a variety of reasons,” said Marta Toran, lecturer and outreach coordinator in the GES department. “With the Geobago, we are able to visit those schools and give them hands-on science experience in a mock lab.”
The restored and renovated recreational vehicle (RV) is staffed by GES department faculty and students and is equipped with electrical outlets, water sources, environmental science probes, computer technology and microscopes. These resources provide many educational opportunities centered around rock and mineral identification, paleontology, hydrology and other environmental science topics.
“We base our programs around what the teachers’ needs are and we adapt to them,” said Toran. “Our activities align with their curriculum and we offer ways for students of all different abilities to be inspired and engaged.”
Students look through microscopes on App State’s Geobago during Environmental Field Days at Valle Crucis Park. Photo submitted
Students from Cove Creek Elementary School’s Eco-Raiders after-school club participate in a hands-on science activity on App State’s Geobago. Photo submitted
Since its launch in 2018, the Geobago has visited numerous schools across the state and makes regular appearances at field day events, career day events, festivals and much more. The vehicle has also traveled to several science centers over the years, including the Schiele Museum in Gastonia and the Museum of Life and Science in Durham.
Most recently, GES professor and paleontologist Dr. Andrew Heckert — who has been involved with the Geobago since it first hit the road — parked the RV at the Museum of Natural History in Martinsville, Virginia, for its Dino Festival weekend in July.
“I was able to bring 10 App State students and we interacted with about 2,000 people,” said Heckert. “The museum does a lot to reach the underserved population, so for a lot of kids, this was maybe their first opportunity to actually see or touch a fossil.”
One of the students on the trip was Alec Quinn, of Holly Springs, a senior geology major with a concentration in paleontology who is a museum and outreach intern for the Geobago program.
“Trips like this made me realize I want to go to grad school for museum studies,” said Quinn. “I love the behind the scenes of museums and creating exhibits, and to get these kids interested in science is awesome.”
Quinn debuted a new exhibit on paleoart at the Virginia museum and said she is excited to continue working on more exhibits this semester, to get people interested in paleontology in more artistic ways.
“These events are really excellent for our students,” said Heckert. “Anybody who does any form of teaching knows that the best way to learn a subject is to try and teach it.”
People stop by App State’s Geobago during the Hiddenite Arts and Heritage Festival. Photo submitted
From rough shape to road ready
Originally purchased with grant funds for a project that was later discontinued, App State’s Geobago sat in the State Farm parking lot near the Boone Greenway for about 10 years before it was fully converted into the mobile science lab it is today, shared Toran.
“We had to strip out the entire floor, replace all of the wood, take out the bed and bathroom, install cabinets and lab benches — it was a lot of work," she said. "The main goal was to create a laboratory-like space that was flexible and easy to clean, with a lot of storage for our activity kits.”
After a couple of months of planning and with a budget in place, Toran and her colleagues called on several RV refurbishing companies to help with the interior remodel of the vehicle, and the Department of Art was tasked with the exterior design for the vehicle wrap.
A student observes a crawfish during App State’s Water on the Move outreach program, operated by the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences. Photo submitted
Students from Charles W. McCrary Elementary School in Asheboro have fun dressing up on App State’s Geobago for Career Day. Photo submitted
“When Marta dreamed this idea up, I thought it was fantastic,” said Heckert. “I knew it would be an immediate game changer in terms of our outreach and what we could do at schools.”
Funding for the project came from an environmental education grant awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, the College of Arts and Sciences and continued donations from the Vulcan Materials Company Foundation.
“The support we’ve gotten from Vulcan has been monumental,” said Heckert.
Toran said the Geobago would not have been possible without Heckert, as well as GES Research Operations and Laboratories Manager Anthony Love, GES administrative assistant Lauri Miller and Senior Vice Provost of Faculty Policies and Development Neva Specht, who was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the time.
“In the five years of operation, Geobago programs have reached over 8,000 people, including students, teachers and families. The mobile lab has visited schools, museums, community festivals, parks and even rock quarries. These events would not have been possible without the over 100 undergraduate students who have been involved in Geobago programs over the years,” said Toran.
A child enjoys a hands-on paleontology exhibit on App State’s Geobago at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Photo submitted
Students participate in a water activity outside of App State’s Geobago during Environmental Field Days at Valle Crucis Park. Photo submitted
Request a Geobago visit
Toran said the Geobago is in high demand and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. She said schools typically need to book a visit a semester in advance.
The Geobago runs from September to October during the fall semester and from March to May in the spring semester. Toran said that depending on the weather, the vehicle will sometimes operate in November.
To request a Geobago visit, fill out the GES outreach request form. For more information about the Geobago and other GES outreach programming, visit https://earth.appstate.edu/outreach and/or contact Toran at toranml@appstate.edu.
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About the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Located in Western North Carolina, Appalachian State University provides the perfect setting to study geological and environmental sciences. The Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences provides students with a solid foundation on which to prepare for graduate school or build successful careers as scientists, consultants and secondary education teachers. The department offers six degree options in geology and two degree options in environmental science. Learn more at https://earth.appstate.edu.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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