Cumming Library hosts hands-on polar exploration for families

Forsyth County families gathered Monday afternoon at the Cumming Library’s meeting room for The Library Laboratory — Polar Exploration, a 90-minute, hands-on program that walked attendees through the discovery of Earth’s poles, animal survival strategies in extreme cold, and connections between polar regions and the planet’s magnetic fields. The program ran from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM on January 12 in the Cumming Meeting Room and required no registration.

Organized by Forsyth County Public Library staff, the session targeted a broad audience: parents with young children, middle and high school students interested in STEM, and other residents curious about polar science. Its all-ages format and no-fee entry lowered barriers to participation, allowing families to combine informal science education with routine library services. Hands-on activities and facilitated discussion aim to make abstract concepts tangible for youth, reinforcing classroom learning without cost to taxpayers or families.

The local impact of events like this extends beyond a single afternoon. Libraries that offer regular STEM programming serve as low-cost incubators for early science exposure, which contributes to a stronger local talent pipeline over time. For Forsyth County that can translate into a better-prepared cohort of students entering nearby colleges and workforce training programs, and ultimately a more competitive local labor market for tech and health employers that increasingly seek STEM-capable workers.

From a municipal finance perspective, library-sponsored programs represent high public value because they leverage existing facilities and staff to deliver educational programming at minimal per-attendee cost. For parents, free programs reduce household out-of-pocket spending on enrichment activities and help working families access child-friendly learning during daytime hours. For schools, community programs supplement curriculum with experiential learning that can raise interest in science careers and improve long-term educational outcomes.

The Polar Exploration event also served an outreach function, reinforcing the library’s role as a community hub. Offering contact information—ask@ForsythPL.org and 770-781-9840, option 3—ensures residents can follow up on upcoming Library Laboratory sessions and other calendar items. The session’s content—how the poles were discovered, animal adaptations, and magnetic field effects—provides timely context as climate and geoscience topics remain central to regional planning and environmental literacy.

The takeaway? Events like this are small investments with outsized returns: they boost STEM curiosity, support working families, and help build human capital for Forsyth County. Our two cents? If you missed Monday’s session, keep an eye on the library calendar, bring the kids next time, and enjoy science without bundling up—no parka required.