NORFOLK, Va. (April 20, 2023) – Tidewater Tech delivered newly constructed training aids to Nauticus for use in their youth programs. Students and faculty in Tidewater Tech’s HVAC and Building and Construction Trades programs have been working diligently on the design and build of over a dozen bridge hats and a large tunnel table. Now that construction is complete, the equipment will provide hands-on training for youth in Hampton Roads during summer camps and other outreach programs at Nauticus.
The bridge hats will serve as both a visual and physical example of the differences between suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges, as students will be able to wear the hats and feel the variations in where the load is concentrated between the two bridge types. The tunnel table will allow students to fill the compartment with sand and design tunnels to withstand the weight and pressure. These training aids will be unveiled to youth involved in summer camps and other outreach programs during the 2023 season and beyond. Nauticus hosts summer camps from June 26th to August 11th for hundreds of students in the Hampton Roads area.
This is a natural extension of the relationship Tidewater Tech and its sister schools have developed with Nauticus over the years, most notably in constructing elf doors and other projects for Winterfest.
“Tidewater Tech and Nauticus have a shared passion for bringing youth programs and STEM activities to the community. When Nauticus came to us with the opportunity to have our faculty and students design creative, cool, and useful learning tools for future generations, it was an obvious yes,” said Ben Clark, Director of Outreach & Development for Tidewater Tech.
“We’re looking forward to using these training aids during summer camp and through our outreach programs. It’s very important to provide the youth of our community with engaging, hands-on programs to get them excited about STEM and maritime sciences, we’re grateful to Tidewater Tech for the partnership,” said Nate Sandel, Director of Education & Community Engagement.