Saturday SEAM Series - 2025

Looking for an exciting and educational way to spend your Saturday morning? Come join us from 10-11 for our monthly Saturday SEAM Series, led by the wonderful Professor Graybeard! Together we will explore a new topic each month, all from the worlds of Science, Engineering, Art, and Math.

These programs are aimed at students in the Kindergarten-3rd Grade range. During these monthly classes, our SEAM (science, engineering, art, and math) curriculum takes an unplugged approach to learning. Lessons take place in our outdoor pavilion, helping to return students and families to nature. By holding these programs outdoors, children are able to see many of the concepts they're learning in action, not just seeing on a screen or in a book. All activities are hands-on, helping to build a deeper, more tangible connection to science and nature through these programs.

FEBRUARY 8th - "Current" Events- What is electricity and how does it flow? Observe the power of electricity and learn about its simplest form. We will also learn about early electrical pioneers such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Tesla.

MARCH 8th - Simple Machines- Explore the mechanics of the world through simple machines. We will learn about the six standard simple machines and attempt to recreate some to accomplish simple tasks.

APRIL 19th - Renewable Energy- Energy can be made using solids, gas, or liquids as its source of power. Energy can be generated to produce light, heat, or the movement of objects. In this lab we will explore how to get energy from water, wind, and the Sun.

MAY 10th - Weather Watch- South Central Texas is home to some of the wildest weather on planet Earth. Our homes, offices, and play areas need to be able to withstand not only our long dry Texas summers, but also the possibilities of severe weather, such as Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Wintery Mix, and the rare chance of an Earthquake. In this lab students will work together to build a structure to see if it can withstand the different weather events.

JUNE 14th - Aerodynamics- Aerodynamic is defined as the way objects move through air. Birds are some of nature's most aerodynamic creatures. The Headwaters is home to many birds, both of prey and non-predatorial. In this lab we will study what makes birds seamlessly fly and learn how engineers recreate this in cars, planes, and rockets.

JULY 12th - Liquid Air Show- Cool Off with the coolest show at the Headwaters. We will be experimenting with one of our favorite chemicals to use Liquid Nitrogen (N2), as we explore how temperature affects matter.

AUGUST 9th - Owl Pellets- New Braunfels is home to multiple species of owls. In this lab students will work in groups to dissect a sanitized Barn Owl Pellet. Pellets are sourced through a nature preserve and have been sanitized and sterilized. Students will then attempt to recreate and identify the owls last meal was before disposing of its hair and bones.

SEPTEMBER 13th - To the Moon and Back- 2025 will see a return to the Moon for mankind. Artemis II will be the first manned mission to orbit the Moon in over 50 years. Put your engineering skills to the test as you design a carrier to safely land an egg on the Moon!

OCTOBER 11th - Science Spooktacular- Get ready for science thrills and a few chills too. This is an event packed with science themed Halloween Fun. Learn how to spruce up your décor with black lights, learn how and why things glow, and learn the secret behind the “self-carving” pumpkin.

NOVEMBER 8th - Under Water World- Are we alone in the universe? To answer that question, we will explore the thing responsible for life: Water. We will learn about the 2 major water sources in New Braunfels and discuss the plant and animal life that lives in them and why it is important to protect them. We will also discuss and display what watershed is and how it impacts our fresh water sources.

DECEMBER 13th - Visible Wavelengths- Just in time for Christmas students will learn how light appears as different wave lengths, and how those colors interact with each other. Using mirrors, prisms, shadows, and a variety of light sources, students will create works of light art.

Please call 830-608-8937 or email info@headwatersatthecomal.org for more information or if you have any questions or concerns.

A special thank you to Quiddity for sponsoring this program!

Thanks to Professor Graybeard for leading our Saturday SEAM Series: