You may have seen two colourful vans circling Nanaimo, headed to schools and greenspaces , or parked near community events – these have been made possible thanks to the generous support of Mid Island Co-Op and the longstanding support of the Nanaimo Science and Sustainability Society.
“Science on the Move” has been a service arm of Nanaimo Science (formerly “NS3”) since 2013, providing science programs to children and families at various sites throughout Nanaimo and beyond. Our previous vehicle brought Outreach Educators to all elementary schools in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School district, programs to preschools, daycare centres, private schools, and community groups that support people with diverse needs, plus dozens of parks, beaches and greenspaces across the region for our “Science in the Park” series during the summer months.
Nanaimo Science has always appreciated the generous support from Mid Island Co-Op – traditionally helping fund the fuel costs for our Science on the Move van, but more recently through the funding of additional equipment for on-the-go programs including a set of digital microscopes. Nanaimo Science programs have grown in the past two years, particularly with more outdoor and off-site programs. Mid Island Co-Op offered a substantial donation worth $20,000 to aid the continued growth and provision of science programming. “Investing in our island communities is a cornerstone of Mid Island Co-op’s values,” says Ian Anderson, CEO of Mid Island Co-op, “and thanks to our members, we’re able to give back to organizations like Nanaimo Science that share this same community focus. We’re delighted to help them continue to deliver engaging science education programs to children and their families across the region.”
Funding received from Mid Island Co-Op helped Nanaimo Science not only get a much needed cargo-style van for the safe transport of outdoor teaching equipment, but also allowed our organization to purchase a former commercial vehicle from their fleet. Having multiple vehicles at Nanaimo Science has allowed us to attend two different programs simultaneously, or send additional personnel and equipment to events. “We are so grateful to Mid Island Co-Op for supporting our outreach programs,” says Elaine Parker, Executive Director at Nanaimo Science, “their generosity and commitment to the community has allowed us to expand what we do and deliver more science programming, delighting children and families from all around the Nanaimo area and beyond!”
Nanaimo Science Executive Director Elaine Parker, and Outreach Coordinator Maddy Hart with the new Science on
the Move vehicles at Mid Island Co-Op on Bowen Road in Nanaimo.