NETL welcomes the children of employees this week for Bring Your Kids to Work Day festivities, which reflect the Lab’s strong commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education outreach.

All three NETL sites will celebrate Bring Your Kids to Work Day. Festivities will begin in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Tuesday; continue in Albany, Oregon, on Wednesday; and wrap up in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Approximately 200 children are expected to participate across all locations.

Employees will host interactive indoor activities, engaging outdoor demonstrations and educational Lab tours for the children to enjoy before spending the afternoon shadowing their parents. In years past, NETL volunteers have used slime, LEGO bricks, magnetics and more to excite participating kids about the wonders STEM as they learn about the Lab’s fossil energy research and development.

Bring Your Kids to Work Day is organized each year by NETL’s Equal Employment Opportunity Office for Diversity and Inclusion, in conjunction with the Office of Science and Technology Career Management. The annual event supports NETL’s efforts to inspire and train the next generation of energy researchers, engineers and scientists, who will one day carry the charge of leading the United States to energy independence.

“This is such an exciting event that our employees and their children really look forward to each year,” said Denise Huenefeld, who coordinates the festivities. “It’s important for kids to know and understand what Mom and Dad do for a living. This is a unique opportunity for employees to merge their personal and professional lives in a way that supports NETL’s mission by promoting STEM education.”

To learn more about NETL’s K-12 STEM education outreach work, click here. Students and parents can access online resources here or learn more through STEM videos available here.