For the second year, LIGO visited Okanogan Valley GEAR UP (OVGU) school sites in north-central Washington to offer a day of hands-on wave, light and gravity activities for science classes and others that wanted to join the fun. The OVGU grant, held by Central Washington University in partnership with Northwest Learning Achievement Group, serves seven commmunities in the Lake Chelan area northward to the Canadian border. Lake Chelan is visible in the left photograph. These are only two of the spectacular winter views that are available near schools in Manson and Brewster.

The photos below, taken at Bridgeport School, provide a glimpse of a typical roadshow setup. Roughly a dozen stations provide interactive opportunities to explore some of the basic LIGO science themes. Classes of science students come to the gymnasium during throughout the day. Using a LIGO handout, they circulate through the stations in a manner that resembles the exhibit time during a field trip to LIGO Hanford. The activity time is difficult to photograph -- once the students arrive, it's full throttle science for all involved. Science teachers can use the results of these activities to add impact to their classroom instruction on waves and gravity.