By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Kids at Alabaster’s Kids First Awareness Community Center got hands-on lessons on methods used by NASA engineers during a recent event at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center.

On March 16, visitors from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville spent the day visiting with Kids First members as they learned about space and completed several cosmic-themed projects.

“The theme of the day was inspiring tomorrow’s leaders, and I think the kids were definitely inspired,” said Kids First Executive Director Cindy Hawkins. “We had a great day.”

During the visit, the kids completed several activities such as building a lunar rover, solving simulated problems and working as a team, Hawkins said. The kids built and launched compressed air-powered rockets, and watched as NASA personnel shot off a small fuel-powered rocket.

The event was part of the NASA Beginning Engineering, Science and Technology program, which is designed to introduce kids to the engineering process through hands-on activities, Hawkins said.

“They really got into that stuff. They were very competitive,” Hawkins said of the kids. “It shows me that all you really have to do is give them a little bit of learning and they will take it and run with it.”