ISU water rocket festival gives kids and parents hands on science lessons

It’s a warm, sunny Sunday here in Pocatello. As the first week of summer comes to a close, parents and kids are thinking about science. It’s not because of an upcoming test or presentation, school is out.

Rockets, water rockets to be exact, had people of all ages gathering early this morning in Tydeman Park.

For the fifth year, ISU’s physics department held its water rocket festival, giving kids, and parents, a chance to get some hands on experience with the science behind water rocket launches.

You may not think soda bottles taped to water bottles make for a good rocket, but some participants were able to send their’s more than 120 meters.

Events like this allow professors an opportunity to highlight the exciting parts of science, something students wouldn’t necessarily see in a classroom.

Believe it or not, this event actually gets a bit competitive. Luckily, no one is limited to one turn. Most launched their rockets, with some variation added or removed, several times.

At the end of the day, the event really allowed people, young and old, to enjoy some scientific experimentation that they might otherwise not seek out.