FINDLAY, OH (WLIO) - Families came out to the University of Findlay's Mazza Museum on Sunday to learn all about space, the eclipse, and meet a real-life, trailblazing astronaut.
This month's Funday Sunday at the Mazza Museum had over two dozen space themed crafts and activities to get kids thinking about a future in STEM, or maybe even in space. Kids could also go home with their own copy of the picture book "How to Spacewalk" and get it signed by the co-author and subject of the story, Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space.
When Dr. Sullivan was born in 1951, women in science careers were almost unheard of, but her relentless curiosity took her even further than outside Earth's atmosphere.
"It's that honest orientation in the world that has brought Kathy to the bottom of the ocean, to Antartica, three shuttle missions, working for NOAA for the government, leading the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. So, she's had a rich career in the sciences," said Michael J. Rosen, who co-authored and illustrated "How to Spacewalk."
Sullivan hopes that hearing and reading her story shows kids that nothing can come between them and their dreams as long as they're willing to work hard and learn everything they can, like she and her fellow astronauts did.
"Many of them never imagined being an astronaut; many of them came from poor circumstances or a weak education. They're accidental astronauts; lots of us are accidental astronauts. It's not about knowing where you want to go necessarily; it's not about aiming at that job I want; it doesn't have to be. It can just be loving to learn, always liking to stretch yourself, to try new things," Sullivan said.
Similar to other Funday Sunday events, the book "How to Spacewalk" is used as an example of how many different ways a child could turn their passion into a career.
"Having their work here, along with the space theme, eclipse, really just ties it all together in using art and writing," added the Mazza Museum's director, Ben Sapp.
