Union Elementary STEAM program students make their way to the Old Hickory Powerplant in Hendersonville, Tenn., on May 4. The students greeted Old Hickory personnel along the way with high-fives and excited smiles. (Photo by Misty Cunningham)
Features

Third-Graders Tour Old Hickory Lock And Dam

May 18, 2022 By Waterways Journal

By Misty Cunningham
Nashville Engineer District

With smiles, excitement, some high-fives and lots of questions, third-grade science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) students from Union Elementary, a Sumner County magnet school, participated in a special tour of Old Hickory Dam for Environmental Awareness Day earlier this month.

The group of about 80 children, accompanied by 20 chaperones and five teachers, were divided into three groups, which took turns visiting the powerplant, lock and dam and playground area during a tour of the hydropower facility May 4.

“Here at the Nashville District, we really want to give the kids a unique look at the Corps of Engineers and some of the science and technology that goes on behind the scenes, and tie that into their education and real-life experience,” Project Manager Capt. Brian Sekita said.

Old Hickory Powerplant personnel and park rangers ensured the children seamlessly moved from one event to the next, answering any questions they had along the way.

“We have presenters here helping with educational presentations so the kids can learn about water quality at Old Hickory Lake,” Natural Resource Park Ranger Emily Johnson said. “We have participants from the state of Tennessee, as well as the city of Hendersonville, here to see what goes on around the lake.”

The children attended an outdoor hydropower system class where they viewed a miniature town replica, which sustained different levels of replicated rainfall, showing the impact rain has on a town if there are no water management structures in place to prevent the free flow of water.

“My favorite part was the little dam because it was fun to see the tiny houses get washed away with water, but I’m sure it’s not as fun when it’s big houses getting wet in real life,” STEAM student Gunner Kingrey said.

David Withers, a biologist from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, shows Union Elementary STEAM students a small salamander habitat after teaching them the importance of hydropower to the local wildlife at the Old Hickory Lake picnic area in Hendersonville, Tenn. (Photo by Misty Cunningham)
David Withers, a biologist from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, shows Union Elementary STEAM students a small salamander habitat after teaching them the importance of hydropower to the local wildlife at the Old Hickory Lake picnic area in Hendersonville, Tenn.
(Photo by Misty Cunningham)

David Withers, a biologist from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, explained how salamanders are affected by the environment and their importance to the ecosystem. The children viewed live salamanders up close learned about their carnivore diets.

STEAM student Liam Sporin said his favorite part of the day was getting to learn about salamanders. “I want to be a marine biologist when I grow up, so I was excited to see amphibians here today,” he said.

Sporin, whose father works at the powerplant, said he’s proud of his dad and the hard work he does.

“I am so glad my class got to come here and see where my dad works,” he said. “We got to see places in the powerplant I hadn’t seen before.”

Power Plant Senior Electronics Mechanic Nathan Sporin coordinated the field trip with Union Elementary as a way to give future engineers a look at how hydropower and STEAM go hand in hand.

 “As the father of one of the children on this field trip, I’m proud to stand with all our team and show my son the important work that we all do each day, the amazing facilities and resources that we have guardianship of, and the incredible individuals I get to work with daily,” he said.

Civil Engineeer Gabe Wagner commented on the students’ knowledge.

“It was pretty impressive how much these children knew about hydropower and the questions they asked showed a deep interest in the topics we were covering with them,” he said.

Old Hickory Lock and Dam Equipment Mechanic Supervisor Justin Gray walked Union Elementary STEAM students to the lock, where they watched the gates open and asked questions about daily lock operations. (Photo by Misty Cunningham)
Old Hickory Lock and Dam Equipment Mechanic Supervisor Justin Gray walked Union Elementary STEAM students to the lock, where they watched the gates open and asked questions about daily lock operations. (Photo by Misty Cunningham)

Johnson said it was a great experience having such a large group visit Old Hickory facilities, and now that COVID restrictions have changed, she hopes more field trips like this happen soon.

“It’s great that we get to do this because we don’t, normally,” she said. “As a park ranger, this is not usually what we do here at Old Hickory. Our jobs are a bit different. So, it’s nice that we get to come out and do this and count it as our Environmental Awareness Day.”

The Nashville district hopes to conduct more STEAM tours to give students thinking of entering related fields a look at potential job opportunities.

Caption for top photo: Union Elementary STEAM program students make their way to the Old Hickory Powerplant in Hendersonville, Tenn., on May 4. The students greeted Old Hickory personnel along the way with high-fives and excited smiles. (Photo by Misty Cunningham)

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