Newsletter Articles

STEM at the Stadium

On Wednesday, May 22^nd, over 1,400 students from across the state participated in the "STEM at the Stadium" event at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats game. This event is a New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association initiative to spark interest in the golf industry.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Studying these disciplines early in life is important for students to help them develop crucial skills like critical thinking while having fun in an academic setting.

During this recent event held at Fisher Cats Stadium in Manchester, NH, students were able to visit a number of different booths and speak to a variety of vendors and educators. Kids were able to engage in hands-on learning through participation in activities set up in the stadium.

Representing the NHGCSA, Kevin Doyle, Pat Lanman, John Clark and I spoke to interested students about several facets of golf course management. We fielded many good questions and were impressed by the knowledge and level of interest expressed by the participants. We hope to inspire tomorrow’s superintendents by promoting a rigorous STEM based education in schools across New Hampshire.

The students went through four stations pertaining to golf course and turf-related topics. Participants:

  - Identified turf grass species by looking at leaf blades.

  - Engaged in identification of four common turf seeds.

  - Used a Field Scout TDR moisture meter to test moisture levels in two different soil samples.

  - Viewed turf grass leaf blades and seeds under a macroscope.

The day was a success for promoting the partnership between STEM educators and students and the NHGCSA. We look forward to the next opportunity to further this exciting initiative.

Best Regards,

Greg Hollick

Nashua Country Club