Em3… 2…1…BLAST OFF!

by PAMELA GRANT

Cove Leader-Press

Excited teenagers laughed with delight as colorful, water-powered rockets shot through the air spewing a trail of water in whatever random direction they decided to head. The Copperas Cove Public Library hosted a Rocket Launch as part of their Summer Reading Program events. Wednesday’s event invited teenagers between the ages 11-16 to make and shoot off their own water bottle rockets or stomp rockets. The event kicked off with the teens being allowed to shoot off rockets that had been left behind by teenagers at last year’s event. Allowing the teens to test rockets made the previous year, they were able to assess which features aided and which hindered the distance and trajectory of the water bottle rockets. Some of the rockets had fins, others had streamers, some were heavy, and others were light. Some flew straight, while other veered off in an unpredictable manner. “My idea is to make it a little bit heavier than normal because when it’s heavier, it goes straight up and then straight down so it doesn’t go any other direction,” said Mackenzie Jones (11). After the test runs, the eager teenagers rushed back into the library to create their very own rockets. “I’m thinking about using the streamers because once it’s in the air they’ll wave around. And I’ll attach fins [sideways] so it’ll swim like a manta ray in the air,” said Othniel Em3erson (15) as he worked on crafting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed rocket. The teenagers began with empty soda bottles provided by the library and materials needed to craft fins, streamers, or other embellishments to add to their creations. Also provided was a large variety of colorful tapes to give their rockets additional flair. Copperas Cove library director Kevin Marsh and Reading Program leader Martha Dye encouraged them to be as creative and imaginative as they could be. “I’m excited, but kinda nervous because my thing might not fly,” said Dziari Jones (11) who designed her rocket as a tribute to her dog. At the end of it all, the teenagers were left with various fun colored rockets with a wide range of themes from TMNT-themed, to zebra-themed, to psychedelic. When they were finished, the teenagers were able to fill their rockets with water, affix them to the launching device, pump them full of pressure, and let them fly! “I grew up with books and I’m trying to get them to do the same,” said Yvonne Jones whose daughters Mackenzie (11) and Lilly (13) both participated in the rocket launch. Jones said that she really likes the Summer Reading Program and added that, “The kids always seem to really enjoy them…More kids need to participate in this. It’s a really good way for them to spend their summer.” The next Summer Reading event for teenagers will be a Super Hero Day next Wednesday at 2 p.m. where the teens can dress up as their favorite hero or villain.