With WVU and community support, Remake Learning Days in West Virginia celebrates new, returning partnerships and hands-on learning

West Virginia University is part of a global effort to spark curiosity and inspire creativity among young learners and their families during the Remake Learning Days festival, which will run from May 4-16.

The festival, led by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative in the WVU Office of the Provost, is celebrating 11 years of bringing hands-on learning focused on science, engineering, technology, the arts, reading, and outdoor learning to children of all ages and their families.

This year, almost 40 new and returning event hosts will offer exciting activities. Events will take place at libraries, schools, tech centers, museums, community centers and more to reach hundreds of West Virginia families across the state.

Pierpont Community and Technical College is joining Remake Learning Days this year to invite children and families into its state-of-the-art culinary teaching kitchen in White Hall, where they will work together to prepare a healthy meal, build practical skills, and explore cooking, nutrition and food-related careers.

The event aims to highlight how food intersects with community, creativity, science, culture and career opportunities.

"Serving the local community guides the work we do at every opportunity," said Chef John "Chappy" Adair, an instructor in Pierpont's Food Service Management program. "At its core, food service education supports an essential life skill, and we believe everyone should have the opportunity to build practical knowledge and understanding in this area."

Participants will work with culinary faculty and students to prepare homemade sourdough tortillas, prep fresh vegetables and craft a simple bean-based spread. At the end of the event, they will participate in a brief service activity, plating their food and passing it through a window designed to mimic a food truck or walk-up restaurant counter. The event will conclude with participants sharing the meal they created together.

Adair said the goal of the event is to strengthen family engagement by encouraging confidence and connection through shared cooking experiences.

"We hope participants will be reminded that the kitchen can be a space where all family members can contribute. Kitchens are for cooking, of course, but they can also be a place for forging stronger connections with family and friends."

Michael Waide, interim president of Pierpont, said the partnership with the WVPEC and Remake Learning Days exemplifies the institution's mission as a community college.

"It reflects the heart of who we are as our community's college. This event gives us the opportunity to welcome students and families together, spark curiosity, and demonstrate how learning at Pierpont supports both personal growth and the future of our region - in the kitchen and beyond."

Among this year's returning event hosts is the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling University, which is building on the excitement surrounding space exploration generated by the recent Artemis II moon mission.

During the Center's free event, young learners and their families will step into the role of engineers, scientists, and problem-solvers to explore the fundamentals of rocketry and, through guided instruction and hands-on design, build and test their own rockets and light-up planets using engineering concepts.

Jackie Shia, director of the Challenger Learning Center, emphasized the Center's focus on family-centered learning and making STEM education accessible to all learners.

"We believe that when families learn together, it strengthens confidence, curiosity and long-term interest in STEM fields. Remake Learning Days provides a platform where parents, grandparents and children learn collaboratively, breaking down barriers to STEM and creating shared moments of discovery. This event aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire the next generation through hands-on, immersive experiences that connect science to real-world exploration."

Donna Hoylman Peduto, WVPEC executive director, said it is the creativity and collaboration from organizations and institutions - like Pierpont Community and Technical College and the Challenger Learning Center - that has made the Remake Learning Days festival a statewide success.

"Remake Learning Days in West Virginia demonstrates the innovation and dedication that goes into making learning fun and accessible for young learners in West Virginia," Peduto said. "Each year, we challenge new and returning event hosts to create immersive learning experiences, and each year, they deliver."

The WVPEC encourages families to learn together at the activities happening in their communities.

Visit this year's events to:

• Defy gravity with the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy through interactive demonstrations on spacetime and gravity. Plus, enjoy a sweet treat made using liquid nitrogen.

• Create a groovy tie dye shirt and use basic graphic design skills to customize it with an original design at Braxton County Middle School.

• Cook up a delicious snack inspired by a book with WVU Extension in Wheeling.

• Craft Mars-ready rovers from wiggle bots with the WVU STEAM Technical Assistance Center in Wyoming County.

• Go down under on a Shipper STEAM Days adventure with Bluey, creating magical feather wands and learning the science behind "keepy-uppy" at WVU Potomac State College in Keyser.

• Celebrate mothers around the world with interactive stations themed around Mother's Day with the Huntington Children's Museum.

Most events during the festival are free to attend. See the full lineup of events.

Statewide activities run parallel to other Remake Learning Days festivals happening in 13 regions across the United States, plus two international locations in Uruguay and the United Kingdom.

Remake Learning Days is funded by The Grable Foundation, led by Remake Learning and supported by the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, along with 16 lead regional organizations.

-WVU-

kc/5/1/26

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristen Cosner
Director of Communications, Academic Support and Services
WVU Office of the Provost
[email protected]

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