PrepareAthon, a free festival encouraging community preparedness, is coming to the Science Museum of Virginia on Saturday, August 27.
Teaching the community how to be more resilient and protect their families during an emergency, the festival will feature local experts, hands-on workshops and life-saving information.
Guests are invited to register for a disaster preparedness workshop, where they will receive a preparedness kit valued at $45, and take part a rain Barrel workshop to collect rainwater at home. PrepareAthon activities include learning hands-only CPR, riding inside of an ambulance simulator, getting up-close with emergency response vehicles, and learning critical information on how to be prepared when a disaster strikes.
“PrepareAthon raises awareness and opens up an important dialogue with the community,” explains Chief Wonder Officer Richard Conti with the Science Museum of Virginia. “Making sure we are informed and prepared for emergencies can save lives and help make better decisions to preserve the environment.”
Gathering twenty community partners, from meteorologists and emergency responders to energy experts and health officials, PrepareAthon invites families to speak with local professionals and learn essential safety preparedness tips. Resiliency-themed climate change activities will include environmental data projected on a six-foot suspended globe, Science on a Sphere, and hands on experiments inside of the museum’s labs. Other activities include building water filters, constructing solar ovens, and using a bicycle-powered blender to make smoothies.
PrepareAthon guests are invited to step into The Dome to watch special presentations of the giant screen movies Forces of Nature and Grand Canyon Adventure. Other Dome Features include Wildest Weather in the Solar System and We Are Stars which feature all-live astronomer led presentations.
PrepareAthon and Science Museum of Virginia exhibit admission are free on August 27, 2016 only. Additional fees apply for Dome Features. Pre-registration is required for workshops, call 804-864-1400 to reserve a space today.
