Aurora church caps science camp with chicken-egg crash tests

Chicken eggs replaced crash-test mannequins at an Aurora church.

A family science night at Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora July 26 featured making and crash-testing mini egg carriers.

Jim Merk, a Wesley congregant and retired West Aurora school science teacher, led the event.

While the activity was geared to children ages 8 or older, younger children were invited to work in family units.

After a free dinner, Merk distributed plastic bags with materials that were assembled by families.

Materials included four wheels, a chicken egg, straws, craft sticks, dowel rods, wood cubes, rubber bands, a 2-oz. cup, and hot glue gun.

Participants launched completed egg-carriers down a ramp from a stage in the Gathering Place room.

Pastor Tammy Scott recorded speeds of a dozen entries. She said carriers' times ranged from 7.9 to 3.6 mph.

About a half dozen eggs survived crashing into a concrete block.