An introduction to the world of STEAM

Gioia Pickering, a third grade student from West Elementary School, learns how to complete a basic electrical circuit using a graphite pencil versus wires that tied together a nine-volt battery and an LED lightbulb. Hosted by Mountain Home's joint parents and teachers together leadership group, the gathering featured a number of hands-on lessons taught by representatives from the Mountain Home Air Force Base, Micron, Idaho Power and the Mountain Home Visual Arts Guild.

Sparks go flying as Russ Weedon from Idaho Power explains the dangers of high voltage electricity and how it can be transmitted from metallic objects on the ground to unsuspecting individuals.

Master Sgt. Lisa Peart with the 366th Dental Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base shows Ryan and Hailey Holdredge the various tools used to extract teeth from patients.

Allison Montgomery, a sixth grader at Hacker Middle School, takes time to test her artistic abilities. Members of the Mountain Home Arts Council were among the various organizations present during last week's program.

Tech. Sgt. Derek Fisher with the 366th Civil Engineer Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base helps Joey Malave try on a helmet worn by members of the squadron's explosive ordnance disposal flight during an event held last Wednesday at Hacker Middle School to introduce students and their parents to the growing world of STEAM, which is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. . The helmet worn by Malave, which by itself weighs 18 pounds, is part of the protective gear worn by members of the base bomb squad.