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York County Libraries Offer Leap into Science Series

By York County Libraries October 12, 2021

York County Libraries will kick off a monthly Leap into Science program series at

10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 23 in the Lehr Park Pavilion adjacent to Dover Area Community

Library. Leap into Science is an interactive program that focuses on various STEAM (science,

technology, engineering, arts, math) topics. Local educator Ben Olewiler will lead the series

which features a new topic each month. October’s theme is “Spooky Experiments: Scary

Science” followed by “Measuring Up (and Down): Cooking Quantities” on November 20 and

“Here’s Looking at You: The Science of Light” on December 18. Participants will learn how to ask

and answer questions like scientists do. The program encourages teamwork to learn scientific

information from books, make observations and predictions, and then conduct science

experiments to investigate answers. Leap into Science is geared to children in Grades K – 5 and

their families.

Olewiler is a graduate of William Penn Senior High School and earned his undergraduate degree

in elementary education at Mount Saint Mary’s College. He completed his master's degree at

Penn State University and currently teaches fifth and sixth grade math and science at the

STEAM Academy for the School District of the City of York.

“Our STEAM programs at York County Libraries are more than just tinkering,” says York County

Libraries Youth Services Director Jaclyn Cassidy. “By participating in STEAM programs like Leap

into Science, children are engaging in hands-on experimentation and working together with

other children through the scientific process.” Leap into Science is a nationwide program from

the Franklin Institute that integrates open-ended science activities. The program series is

provided free of cost to participants, thanks to the generous support of the Anne & Philip

Glatfelter III Family Foundation and the Donley Foundation.


According to York County Libraries President Robert F. Lambert, STEAM programs at York

County Libraries help students build connections between the disciplines of science,

technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. “Our libraries are a place where children and

their families can build knowledge and skills while having fun together,” says Lambert.

“Educational programs at the library can enhance children’s critical thinking, creativity,

problem-solving, and collaboration skills; all key factors for future success in school and life.”

Families interested in participating in the upcoming Leap into Science programs should register

at yorklibraries.org/events as space is limited. For those planning to attend, physical distancing

in family groups and masks are recommended for ages two and up.

York County Libraries include 13 libraries that provide the latest in print and electronic

information, best sellers, Wi-Fi, story times, book discussions and more. They offer digital story

times, over 80,000 digital library materials for loan, 80 electronic databases, and online book

discussions. All are available for free with a York County Libraries card. Community members

without a card are invited to request one at yorklibraries.org at no cost.