The Geauga Skywatchers Club aims to promote scientific thinking to the young and young-at-heart through the study and practice of astronomy.
Inaugural Geauga Skywatchers Club meeting Date: Monday, September 9th at 6:30 p.m. at the Chardon Branch of the Geauga County Public Library, 110 East Park Street, Chardon. The club, founded by Geauga County Public Library, Burton Public Library, the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society, the Foundation for Geauga Parks, and Geauga Park District, will feature monthly lectures and astronomy activities geared to a 6 – 12 grade audience.
Meetings, however, are open to anyone interested in astronomy, and will be held at various library locations in GCPL and BPL, as well as Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park. George Trimble, President of the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society, said the club will explore astronomy with the guidance of local experts and sophisticated equipment available through local organizations. “Our goal is to teach the wonders of the solar system and universe while honing skills in mathematics, engineering, optics, observing, reason, and critical thinking,” he said. “We recognize accomplishment with an optional system of advancement.”
The purpose of the club, according to Heidi O’Neil of the Foundation for Geauga Parks, is to “help make bright minds shine with the light of new knowledge” and to “inspire the next generation of working scientists in our community by ‘Looking Up.’” The Foundation for Geauga Parks has graciously supplied telescopes for the club that will be available for checkout at GCPL and BPL, in addition to financial, organizational, and marketing support. The Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society will supply teaching members with expertise and equipment. And Geauga Park District will supply teaching members/naturalists John Kolar and Chris Mentrek, as well as its observatories and planetarium at Observatory Park. Both library systems will provide books and related materials.
Prospective members can register at Geauga County Public Library
About the Geauga County Public Library
The Geauga County Public Library includes four full-service Branches in Bainbridge, Chardon, Chesterland (Geauga West) and Middlefield, two library stations housed in schools in Newbury and Thompson, and a Mobile Services fleet that serves rural areas and community centers. Its administrative center is located in Chardon, where technical services, computer services, facilities and administrative functions reside, along with a full-service public library space with limited hours of service (Monday – Friday only). GCPL houses more than 750,000 books and digital books. The collection also contains nearly 70,000 audio / video items. About 75 research databases are available via its website. GCPL is a member of the Clevnet consortium, giving patrons access to more than 12 million items. Learn more about the Geauga County Public Library at the GCPL website.
Pictured In Cover Photo: Geauga Skywatchers Club is a club founded by a consortium of organizations interested in promoting scientific thinking to the young and young-at-heart through the study and practice of astronomy. The club’s inaugural meeting will take place at the Chardon Branch of Geauga County Public Library on Monday, September 9th at 6:30 p.m.
