Making Slime with the USO Science Guy

The closure of all schools in Colorado due to the global pandemic has made it challenging for children of all ages to continue building their knowledge. Many kids are watching TV and playing video games all day long, while parents are searching for ways to enrich their kids’ minds. Our fun and educational program Slime with the Science Guy gave military kids and their parents the opportunity to bond while creating ooey gooey slime together and sneak some learning in at the same time!

Military kids and their parents huddled around their computers, sharing laughs and smiles (and a couple disgusted looks!), and, most importantly, got messy making the slimy substance, Oobleck! With just a little water, a large mixing bowl, the special slime mixture and our participants’ hands for mixing, our crowd of more than 25 families was able to create this goop-like substance. Afterward, families expressed gratitude for this event sharing, “the best part was the joy on his face” and “[this was] such a fun event to watch all kids having a blast!”

Making slime was an educational and fun experience to help put both the children’s and parents’ minds at ease for a moment during this tough time. One family summed up what the USO is all about: “The USO has been a part of our family for 11 years between mine and my husband’s military careers. The care the staff provide to all military [service members and families] is incredible. We appreciate the constant support and activities that help bond us even more.” This program highlights the mission of the USO by providing a sense of normalcy and an opportunity to strengthen family bonds for our service members and their loved ones.

Kitchens got a little dirty, clothes were splattered with colorful slime, and kids even learned some new fun science facts! Our team thoroughly enjoyed creating this program for military kids all across Colorado and we were delighted to receive feedback that this program “helped the family feel like part of the community.” We truly believe Slime with the Science Guy was a huge success and a great way to close out the Month of the Military Child! Seeing smiles on all of the children’s faces and watching family interactions was priceless - for a moment it felt like we were all together rather than stuck at home.