BLISS Team Welcomes Local Summer Weather Camp

The BLISS (Boundary Layer Integrated Sensing and Simulation) research team recently had the exciting opportunity to welcome a group of K-5 students from Norman’s First Baptist Church summer weather camp. This visit, organized by Emily Lenhardt, a PhD Candidate at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Meteorology, was part of the first weather camp hosted by Norman First Baptist.

On a warm June morning, our team members gathered outside the National Weather Center to provide young campers with a hands-on experience in weather research and science. The event featured an impressive array of equipment, including:

• NSSL’s NOXP mobile radar
• NSSL Doppler lidar truck
• OU UAS (Uncrewed Aerial Systems) truck
• Coptersondes

Interactive Learning Experience

Campers had the opportunity to explore each piece of equipment up close, engaging directly with our researchers and asking thoughtful questions. The highlight of the day was a live weather balloon launch, where every student participated in either holding the balloon or supporting the radiosonde package before its release.

Fostering Future Scientists

At BLISS, we believe that educational outreach is crucial for building a strong, diverse pool of future scientists. Visits like this allow us to:

• Spark curiosity in young minds
• Showcase real-world applications of meteorology
• Provide hands-on experiences with cutting-edge technology
• Encourage diverse voices in the scientific community

We’re grateful for the enthusiasm and joy the students brought to this event, and we look forward to continuing our educational outreach efforts.

Special thanks to Emily Lenhardt for organizing this visit and to Norman’s First Baptist Church for bringing their campers to learn about our work. We also appreciate the contributions of NSSL’s Addison Alford and all the BLISS team members who made this event possible.