Young people and seniors gathered at the Glen Cove Senior Center on Tuesday for an afternoon of chemistry, combustion and curiosity as Mad Science of Long Island presented its interactive “Fire and Ice” show.
The free program featured live demonstrations exploring the properties of fire and ice, with experiments that included igniting paper to demonstrate combustion and using dry ice to create thick fog that drifted through the center’s cafeteria. Young people volunteered to participate in the interactive show, in which they used hair dryers to levitate Ping-Pong balls while parents, grandparents and senior center members watched.
The event was part of the facility’s ongoing effort to offer intergenerational programming to connect older adults with younger generations.
“We really make a point of providing several intergenerational activities so that members of all ages can enjoy our programming,” Eric Shuman, the center’s activities coordinator, said.
Shuman added that grandparents are encouraged to bring their grandchildren to the center for the programs, which introduces younger families to its services. “These intergenerational programs are so important because they love seeing the kids around the center,” he said. “The seniors just get that energy themselves, and then the kids love it because of all the attention and feeling special.”
The center hosts intergenerational activities throughout the year, including a pen pal program with Theodore Roosevelt School students and monthly visits from students from Friends Academy, who play games and spend time with members.
“They’re very shy and quiet at first,” Shuman said of the students. “But then, after a couple of minutes of sharing stories and experiences, they end up becoming very friendly with the seniors.”
Some students return later as volunteers, he added.
Among those at Tuesday’s gathering were Ralph Ciano, president of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America Loggia Glen Cove No. 1016, and Valentina Saidy, who brought their grandchildren Amelia Saidy, 3, and Ivonne Ciano, 3.
“Science is always nice to watch, and we had the opportunity to come, and we came,” Ciano said. “They seemed to have liked it also. They were mesmerized.”
He added that the demonstrations reminded him of his own experience with similar experiments when he was an instructor at the New York Hall of Science in Queens.
The Ciano and Saidy families had previously attended a senior center event featuring reptiles, and now regularly looks for programs the children can enjoy. “We try to bring them out if there’s something going on that we’re aware of now — we try to bring them with us,” Saidy said. “As long as it’s catering to them as well.”
She said she enjoyed learning alongside the children. “It was a very nice show,” Saidy said. “I actually learned. It was informative for me.”
Mad Science of Long Island has been in operation for 23 years, and serves schools, camps and community organizations throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Presenter Shannon Sass, who performs as “Static Shannon,” said the company specializes in combining entertainment with science education.
“We do ‘edutainment’ productions, basically, for schools, community centers, obviously this is a senior center, camps, stuff like that,” Sass said. She explained that many schools have limited opportunities for hands-on laboratory experiences, making Mad Science’s demonstrations a valuable supplement.
“We’ve found our niche in being able to go to places and kind of do things that are both visually stimulating, engaging, and also educational at the same time,” she said.
Sass, who has worked with Mad Science for six and a half years, said the programs appeal to audiences of all ages. “I’ve definitely done birthday parties where the adults come up to me and they’re like, ‘Even I was entertained,’” she said.
Although this was her first performance for a senior center audience, Sass said that the audience’s enthusiasm reflected what she sees at schools and community events across Long Island. “It definitely engages people,” she said.
The Glen Cove Senior Center, at 130 Glen St., has served older adults since 1979, and now supports roughly 1,600 members with nutrition programs, educational activities, social services and an adult day program. Membership is open to Nassau County residents age 60 and older, with transportation available for eligible members in Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, Glen Head and Glenwood Landing.
