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Learning engineering concepts, like how different ingredients can result in a strong road surface, using chocolate and an array of add-ins, can be fun and tasty, as youngsters who sign-up for Chocolate Asphalt in Sanford set for later this month. COURTESY PHOTO
Learning engineering concepts, like how different ingredients can result in a strong road surface, using chocolate and an array of add-ins, can be fun and tasty, as youngsters who sign-up for Chocolate Asphalt in Sanford set for later this month. COURTESY PHOTO
SANFORD — How much weight will it hold? Which is stronger, chocolate and coconut or chocolate and mix-in candies, or some other delicious combination?

Wouldn’t you like to know? Wouldn’t you like to sample the results?

“Chocolate Asphalt” part of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s STEM Outreach Program, comes to Goodall Library in Sanford on Feb. 22. Library officials say the 5:30 to 7 p.m. event is aimed at 5- to 12 year-olds, who must sign-up in advance because it is expected to be very popular. 

This program follows the “slime” workshop last fall that saw 100 youngsters turn out, said Joy Haddad, who is part of the shipyard STEM outreach program.

“It was a smash hit,” said Ed Cormier, PNSY’s engineer recruiter and STEM Outreach program manager.

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“This focuses on civil engineering concepts,” said Haddad. “The kids learn a bit about what goes into making asphalt.”

She said the youngsters melt down chocolate and other ingredients in crockpots. Then, the mixture cools, creating no-bake “cookies.”

“It gets harder or more brittle, demonstrating you need the right ratio of a mixture to make a good ‘road surface,’” Haddad explained. 

The youngsters then take the cooled ”cookie” results of their labor, set them up like a bridge and put weights on them to determine how much weight each concoction can stand before it breaks.

 And, of course, they get to sample the results.

“Its a really really hands-on representation of stresses,” Haddad said.

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Portsmouth Naval Shipyard conducts STEM outreach around the seacoast area and in Sanford, which boasts the larger number of PNSY employees in York County. The STEM programs, like the Slime workshop, the Sea Perch program and now, Chocolate Asphalt, are designed to spark youngsters interest in science and engineering — and to consider a career at the yard

The event is free. Kids can sign up by calling the Children’s Room at Goodall Library at 324-4714. 

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.


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