Hands-On Program Turns Wind Into Energy

Young scientists will get a hands-on introduction to renewable energy when the Mastic Beach Conservancy hosts its Energy Explorers: Wind Power program Sept. 19, at the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge in Shirley.

The two-hour educational event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, will give children an opportunity to discover how wind can be transformed into usable energy through experiments, challenges and creative design.

Participants will work both independently and in teams to build, test and improve their own wind-powered creations while learning about the science behind wind energy. Organizers say the activities are intended to encourage curiosity, teamwork and problem-solving through experimentation and play.

The program is geared toward children in grades 2 through 5 and will be held at the refuge, located at 340 Smith Road. For more information and to register, go to masticbeachconservancy.org.

Educational outreach for the event is being provided by the Long Island Children’s Museum, with sponsorship from Ørsted, the Danish energy company that has been developing offshore wind projects in the United States, including Sunrise Wind. The project entails construction of an 84-turbine offshore wind farm about 30 miles east of Montauk that is expected to generate 924 megawatts of electricity, enough to power nearly 600,000 New York homes.

The Explorer program comes as wind power and other renewable energy sources continue to play a growing role in discussions over Long Island’s future energy needs. Offshore wind, in particular, has generated considerable public debate over its costs, environmental effects and potential role in the electrical grid.

Energy Explorers approaches the subject from the science and engineering side, allowing youngsters to see firsthand how moving air can be converted into mechanical power and electricity.

The event also provides families with an opportunity to visit Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex and home to extensive wetlands and wildlife habitat along the Carmans River.