At the end of every week the BI60 STEM Camp takes a field trip to a different place related to what they're learning in class. Last week I was invited to their field trip to Southwest Airlines HDQ and Dispatch Center, were we had a great time.
Once we entered, we were amazed by the miniature air planes hanging from the ceiling and we were quick to take pictures. There had to be at least a dozen in different colors and sizes. Shortly after we introduced ourselves, we began a tour around the building were we saw room after room with their own characteristics. For example, we saw a lot of different offices that were named after different places or greetings like "Aloha". Others had different colors on the walls and different types of furniture to go along with the theme. Even the eating areas had different types of funky cool furniture. I'm sure no employee there can say they don't have a seat. My favorite thing about the Airlines, and probably one of the kids favorites as well, was the atmosphere of the building. Inside and out, it was cool, calm, and collective. All the students shared their excitement with their smiling faces and hands constantly raising with questions. On their best behavior, they were paying attention, as usual, and learning a little history behind the airlines. Also, why and how things work there, the main thing being communication. One thing we all learned that day was that "communication is key and is the key to being successful", therefore the students realized why so much group work in school is so important.
Article and photos by: Stephanie Holmes, Lancaster ISD Communications Summer Intern
Once we entered, we were amazed by the miniature air planes hanging from the ceiling and we were quick to take pictures. There had to be at least a dozen in different colors and sizes. Shortly after we introduced ourselves, we began a tour around the building were we saw room after room with their own characteristics. For example, we saw a lot of different offices that were named after different places or greetings like "Aloha". Others had different colors on the walls and different types of furniture to go along with the theme. Even the eating areas had different types of funky cool furniture. I'm sure no employee there can say they don't have a seat. My favorite thing about the Airlines, and probably one of the kids favorites as well, was the atmosphere of the building. Inside and out, it was cool, calm, and collective. All the students shared their excitement with their smiling faces and hands constantly raising with questions. On their best behavior, they were paying attention, as usual, and learning a little history behind the airlines. Also, why and how things work there, the main thing being communication. One thing we all learned that day was that "communication is key and is the key to being successful", therefore the students realized why so much group work in school is so important.
Article and photos by: Stephanie Holmes, Lancaster ISD Communications Summer Intern