"Self-Defense and STEM Saturdays" Conclude for 2024

With just one more week left of the Self-Defense / STEM sessions offered by YDU at the CAAT Center in conjunction with School of Life Defense and the Widener University Science Teaching Center, we reflect back on a great season and look forward to many more interactions!

Beloved instructor Eduardo Maisonette remarked, “We practiced lots of defensive techniques.  We also talked about phone and Internet safety.  Thx so much for the opportunity to share my passion for Life Defense. I'm happy with how far the kids have come and their retention of all I've shown them.  Especially the young ladies.  No one will get over on this bunch.   It's been a privilege to help them have a plan to keep them safe.” Coach Ed was assisted by David Greaves and Chris Shavers.

STEM sessions have been led by Widener professors Ria Mazumder, Nadine McHenry and Rob Mishur, who have really enjoyed interacting with the curious and enthusiastic children. Topics included:

  • Inferring and Hypothesizing (I-balls and  the Bernouilli Principle)

  • Airplanes/Aerodynamics

  • Non-Newtonian fluid (Oobleck) & Wavelengths and Color Mixing

  • Saponification and Soap Making

  • Edible water capsules: synthesizing calcium alginate hydrogels

  • Energy Flow/Food Webs

  • Snap Circuits

  • Knex Bridges

  • Clouds

  • Magnetic Energy and Strategy

Special thanks to the Reeves family of Wallingford, The Foundation for Delaware County and other supporters whose generosity helped make STEM sessions and self-defense classes happen. We hope these programs will resume in 2025. Click here to help support such opportunities for the young people of Greater Chester.

Jeannine Anckaitis