High schoolers help younger students conduct basic experiments on Science Day at Humphreys High School in Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — High schoolers on this U.S. Army base south of Seoul turned their gym into a hands-on science lab over the weekend, giving elementary-aged children a chance to explore experiments, robotics demonstrations and interactive STEM activities.
Humphreys High School students organized and led the event as a community outreach effort and service project, gaining leadership and communication experience while introducing younger students — from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade — to science concepts through hands-on learning.
The event has grown quickly since its inception three years ago, prompting organizers to expand the number of science stations and improve planning to accommodate larger crowds, said physics teacher Cheryl Loken, a sponsor for the Science National Honor Society and the school’s Robotics Club.
“Last year, we prepared for maybe about 100 kids, and we had over 200 students,” she told Stars and Stripes during Saturday’s event. “This year, we have 27 stations and eight robots, and we’re expecting over 200 students.”
Loken on Monday estimated that 450 people attended Saturday’s event.
High schoolers help younger students conduct basic experiments on Science Day at Humphreys High School in Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
The gymnasium floor was filled with tables offering simple, hands-on experiments, with high-schoolers serving as facilitators rather than demonstrators so younger students could do the mixing, building and testing themselves.
“We make sure there’s no hard chemicals – just vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, water, milk, sugar,” Loken said. “Some of the students don’t know how to read, so all the instructions are like six steps or less.”
The event lets younger students experience science in a way that feels fun and accessible, said Sophia Baek, a junior and president of the Science National Honor Society at Humphreys High.
“There’s 27 experiments in the gym, and we’re allowing elementary school students to experience different fields of science,” she said. “It’s like a bunch of fun experiences.”
High schoolers help younger students conduct basic experiments on Science Day at Humphreys High School in Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
Foam reactions, slime-making and other visually engaging experiments quickly became favorites, drawing children back to stations multiple times, Baek said.
Military organizations also participated, helping link science, technology, engineering and math learning to real-world careers. Representatives from the dental clinic and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers engaged with families throughout the day.
Baek said the most rewarding part was seeing younger students become excited about science, and realizing older students can shape how children view learning.
“It’s really sort of endearing that we get to share our passions, and see them help future scientists,” she said. “No matter how hard pursuing science can be, you should always follow your dreams.”
High schoolers help younger students operate a robot on Science Day at Humphreys High School in Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Feb. 7, 2026. (Alejandro Carrasquel/Stars and Stripes)
