Jeff H. is a channel partner manager with Eyefinity®/OfficeMate®. He shares his recent volunteer experience during an educational event at the San Francisco Exploratorium with our mobile clinic, SeeZar.
I haven’t been to the Exploratorium since my own grade school field trip. As I stepped into the spacious, interactive museum in San Francisco during the recent Eye See: Free Day with VSP Vision Care, I was reminded what a unique educational landmark the Exploratorium is – an exhibit hall filled will hands-on experiments that are not just educational, but entertaining (for kids and adults)!
Our main objective for the day was to expose students to the wonders of our eyes and to promote the importance of regular eye exams. And just as importantly, we were responsible for making sure the kids had fun. As volunteers, we were supplied with glue, scissors, crayons, plastic wrap, newspaper, water and a half dozen interactive experiments that the students could attempt with these every day household items. I felt like Bill Nye the Science Guy as I led the students, ages 3 to 15, through the optical illusions and educational experiments that explained the color detecting cells in our eyes or how drops of water can act as a natural magnifying glass. I must admit I learned a few things myself.
As the students left our activities area, it was quite rewarding to receive the chorus of thank you’s from each class. Every participant went home with a VSP branded bag filled with their new discoveries that they could now wow their parents and siblings with. I can only hope that they learned as much as I did; and had as much fun.
Editors Note: Looking for cool eyecare activities for the doctor’s office, classroom or home? Check out the VSP/Exploratorium Eyecare Discovery Guide available for free download!
