Station operators: prep and learn

Draft Not yet confirmed with the school. Plans may change.

How this works

1. Find your station below.
2. Watch its video. Coming soon.
3. Read the prep and the steps. Short, and in the order you will do them.
4. On the day, prep from 12:15 with the rest of your station's crew.

Reaching the organizers: Zello

On the night we talk over Zello, a free app that turns your phone into a walkie-talkie. Hold one button, talk, and the organizers hear you straight away, so you never have to leave your station to find us. It works on Wi-Fi or cell data, and you can delete it afterwards.

Please set it up before you arrive. It takes about two minutes.

1. Install Zello from the App Store or Google Play and make an account. When it asks, allow the microphone and notifications, or you won't hear us.
2. Set your display name to your first name, so we know who is calling.
3. Open zello.com/EE-STEAM on your phone and join the channel. The password is in your volunteer message and on the card at check-in. Then say a quick hello so we know you're on.
4. Hold the big button to talk. Let go to listen.

On the night:

• Start with who you are calling: "Grace, it's the rockets station…"
• Keep it short. Every volunteer hears every call. Anything long or private, find us in person.
• Bring a charged phone, and a battery pack if you have one. Keep your volume up; one earbud helps a lot in a noisy room.
• No children's full names on the channel.
• Stuck? We'll help you at check-in.

Zello is not for emergencies. If someone is hurt or in danger, call 911 first, then tell us.

The day, in order (draft times)

These times are a draft. The anchors (12:15 setup, 4:30 doors, 6:30 close) were stated by the organizers and are not yet confirmed with the school.

Prep is done on the day, by each station's own crew, in parallel. That only fits the time if everyone starts at 12:15 and sticks to their own station.

Needs time to bake

Only a few things can't be done on the day:

• Homemade Boba — Mix the juice and the seaweed powder the night before. It must rest overnight so the bubbles go away.
• Which Plate Came From Where? — Swab and plate 5 to 7 days before, after a check with the school. Grow the plates at room temperature, not somewhere hot.
• Secret Messages — Paint the turmeric papers ahead and let them dry flat. Drying time: to be confirmed.

Everything else at the stations is day of, from 12:15. Shopping and packing the station totes happen the week before.

Rules for everyone

• Stay at your station. Ask Grace if you need a break or a hand.
• Safety first. Safety glasses for everyone at the rocket stations. If you are short, ask Grace before you launch. Kids stand back once a lid or cork is on.
• Allergies. Ask about latex before balloons, and about wheat before the flour-filled squishy toys. Edible stations follow the school's food rules, which are still being confirmed.
• Photos. Ask the organizers before taking any. The school's media rules are not known yet.
• Nothing from an experiment gets eaten unless the organizers say it is OK.
• Wash hands after messy or germ-related stations.
• If you are unsure, ask. Grace walks the floor all night.

Find your station

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