The Red River Gorge Discovery Zone (RRGDZ) popped up at the Evergreen Community Support Center on August 4th. Red River Gorge Discovery Zone (RRGDZ) is an all-volunteer pop-up discovery zone emphasizing Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM), with free activities for kids (of all ages) focused on the Red River Gorge, conservation, and local history.
Sixteen people participated in the Zone. Sandy Hall and Sandy Pettit and Regina Mulcahy and Emily Brewer showed the explorers how to build pinwheels. The explorers learned how the pinwheel turns wind (kinetic energy) into movement (mechanical energy). They built and decorated their own pinwheel.
Karen Shearer taught the explorers about sound and volume and pitch and frequency and soundwaves, with assistance from Lynne Stidham, Debbie Spencer, Stacy Stidham, and Jane Hayes. The explorers learned this by building and decorating kazoos.
The event ended with a sing-along activity, featuring numerous favorite songs such as Old MacDonald and Yes Jesus Loves Me and I Saw the Light. The sing-along was topped off by a spirited rendition of the Hokey Pokey by the whole group.
Funded by grants from TC Energy, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and Powell County Tourism Commission, and supported by fiscal sponsors Community Partners of Powell County and Powell County Tourism, the all-volunteer effort includes other organizations and team members not listed above. Organizations/individuals who donated or loaned items to assist the Discovery Zone in the 2026 season include Karen Shearer, Debbie Spencer, Sandy Hall, Suzanne Smith, DJ Ledford, Ovie Hollon, Regina Mulcahy, Maria Reed, David Davis, and Josh Davis. Father Al Fritsch, may he rest in peace, formerly of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Appalachia Science in the Public Interest, Society of Jesus, and formerly of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church (Stanton) and of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (Ravenna), was the inspiration for the Discovery Zone.
Check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/rrgdiscoveryzone/ and our website at rrgdiscoveryzone.com. Join us at our next event!
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