In partnership with Science of Sport, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) hosted its annual STEM Field Day Tuesday. More than 500 students from the Compton and Inglewood Unified School Districts participated in activities that connected baseball with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The field day took place at Dodgers Dreamfields at Gonzales Park in Compton, home to Jackie Robinson Stadium and Kershaw’s Challenge Training.
Dodgers outfielder Jonny DeLuca and retired Dodger James Loney were in attendance at the event, teaching kids about the game of baseball and participating in fun activities with students.
During STEM Field Days, students engage in hands-on learning experiences that enhance the Science of Baseball curriculum. Every year, teachers are trained at Dodger Stadium and receive complimentary classroom kits to integrate these lessons into their classrooms throughout the school year. Over 26,000 students have benefited from LADF’s Science of Baseball curriculum since 2018.
Since 2019, STEM Field Days have taken place every year. Students are split into groups and rotate from station to station, learning about topics like geometry by calculating the area of their strike zone. Students also learned how to balance, how to run the bases, their vertical jump, and more.
“They’re learning different subjects every day and you know you’re always wondering how can I apply this to the real world? I’m glad that we’re able to show them that today and they’re having fun with it,” Loney said. “They’re out there engaged and having a good time.”
Loney said introducing students to the science of baseball was fun.
“To explain it to [students], you know, explain angles of hitting a baseball and things like that, so ya we’re having a great time,” Loney said.
Through LADF’s continued commitment to STEM funding through a five-year strategic plan, the Science of Baseball curriculum has been developed with Science of Sport to foster an interest in STEM subjects among young students. The LADF Science of Baseball curriculum was launched in the Inglewood Unified School District in 2018 as part of LADF’s STEM education program.
Students are also exposed to STEM career opportunities in sports through LADF’s collaboration with the Dodgers Performance Science team.
Daniel Cornejo, a 5th grader who participated, said it was motivating to partake in the STEM field day.
“I feel very happy and very motivated. It’s very good motivation to become a baseball player,” Cornejo said.
There are many athletes who have a strong connection to one team they played for.
Loney explained how special it is to be part of the Dodger family.
“Obviously, the Dodgers’ name carries so much positivity, I think any time you associate with them and also with the kids, to try to mold them into whatever that is they’re going to become by giving them the tools and resources to do that.”
For more information, visit the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation website.