Children attending the D.R. Moon Memorial Library’s “Color Your World” summer program were launched into a lunar adventure this week—and the excitement was truly out of this world.
While the library undergoes renovations, the program was held at the Stanley Fire Station and featured an engaging, hands-on presentation about the moon and space exploration. The session was led by guest presenter Sarah Pozdell, a NASA Solar System Ambassador with a background in astrophysics and a passion for sparking curiosity in young learners.
“Earth’s moon is something that every kid can go outside and observe,” said Pozdell. “My hope is that kids will look up at the moon and know a little more about it after the program and they will be curious to learn even more on their own.” She added, “NASA is currently working on the Artemis program which will send humans back to the moon and this generation of kids will be witness to that. Maybe by inspiring them at this age they will be one of the next humans to walk on the moon.”
The program brought science to life in creative and memorable ways. Pozdell captivated young minds by explaining how meteors created the moon’s many craters. To illustrate the concept, children used rocks and simulated “moon dust” to make craters of their own. The kids eagerly dropped stones into the soft material, watching how the dust puffed and scattered—just like on the moon.
Then it was time for liftoff! Outside the fire station, the children transformed into scientists and engineers, building homemade rockets using plastic bottles, straws, baking soda, and vinegar. One of their favorite parts? Putting on safety goggles—an essential touch that made them feel like real scientists preparing for launch. With everyone at a safe distance, Pozdell launched each rocket, sending them popping into the air to the sound of excited cheers from the children and parents alike.
After the launch, children headed back inside for more space-themed fun. Using Oreo cookies and worksheets, they recreated the phases of the moon by carefully sculpting the cream filling—learning and snacking all at once. Each child also received a moon-themed T-shirt from the D.R. Moon Memorial Library as a keepsake.
Reflecting on the day’s success, Pozdell shared her favorite part: “I love when the kids are excited about learning during the activities. If they take away nothing else, I want them to develop their curiosity, know that there are so many questions to be asked, and learn that it’s okay to get it wrong as long as you keep trying. The amazing kids who came to the ‘Color Your World - Space Exploration: The Moon’ program exemplified that. They asked lots of questions as they were making craters in ‘moon dirt’ and they were so enthusiastic to make the bottle rockets. The kids who attended really made it a fun event.”
Pozdell’s connection to the Stanley community runs deep. “I grew up in Stanley and much of my family lives in Stanley. Growing up I spent a lot of time at D. R. Moon Library. The list of books and music I checked out from that library as I was growing up is quite long. Places like D. R. Moon Library are a playground for the mind for curious kids.”
With her science and tech background, Pozdell emphasizes the importance of early exposure to scientific thinking: “The core scientific concepts are really just valuable life skills for kids to learn. Curiosity is important in science and in life—why? how? what if?, the ability to create theories and reason yourself through something is important in everyday life, and understanding that from every success and every failure we learn something that we can apply to our science and our life. Also, science is very attainable—it’s around you every day.”
As a NASA Solar System Ambassador, Pozdell continues to inspire the next generation. She encourages families to explore more space science at home through resources like the NASA Artemis Program and NASA’s learning hub.
For kids excited by the rocket launch, she shared a fun opportunity: “October 9, 2025 is Baking Soda Rocket Day. I encourage kids to get out there this summer and practice making their baking soda and vinegar rockets.”
Programs like these are part of D.R. Moon Memorial Library’s ongoing mission to keep kids learning, exploring, and imagining—even while the library itself is under construction.
To learn more about upcoming events, families are encouraged to visit the D.R. Moon Memorial Library’s website or follow them on Facebook.
For more information about NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions, which aim to return humans to the Moon in the coming years, visit NASA’s Artemis program page at www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis.
Students interested in exploring more about space science can find interactive activities, videos, and educational materials on NASA’s official learning website at www.nasa.gov/learning-resources.