Why Nuclear? The American Nuclear Society has Answers!

My why can be found on the American Nuclear Society Facebook profile page (ANS) of which I'm proud to be a member.

The ANS is an organization devoted to peaceful, and beneficial applications of nuclear science and technology.

If you are looking for reliable, and credible information about nuclear power the ANS is a good place to begin your research.

If you're looking for something educational to do with the kids this summer check out their Nuclear Explorers Program.  Or run a quick google search to see if there's a nuclear plant near where you live that offers children's programs such as the Girl Scout Get to Know Nuclear Badge.

Presenting to students 

My own children, spent many a summer at the Harris Energy & Environmental Center in North Carolina, helping me develop my children's story on nuclear power plants.

Tabitha & her friend James

Before the illustrations were completed for Nuclear Power: How a Nuclear Power Plant Really Works! we used puppets to entertain the audience of summer science camp students we called lab rats.

with staff member Kim Crawford 

My children enjoyed the exhibits, loved the staff,

Jordan Frahm

and in hindsight being required to help their mom do research marketing for her children's book wasn't so bad either!

"Connected to the Community" 

 6th Annual Community Day at the Harris Nuclear Plant 

 Saturday, September 10th

 10 AM - 2 PM

Progress Energy invites you and your family to their 6th Annual Community Day.  It will be a fun-filled, high-energy day, complete with control room simulator tours, and behind-the-scenes information about Harris Nuclear Plant.

This year they have invited me to participate!  I will be explaining to children and adults, Nuclear Power: How a Nuclear Power Plant Really Works!  


Professor Chubby Rat will be reenacting his tail-trimming fission chain reaction demonstration, and Nutcracker 
Publishing will giving away some freebies.  Hope you live near enough to make it!

Organization: Harris Nuclear Plant
Location: New Hill, NC 27562
Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011

Time: 10:00am to 2:00 pm

Harris Energy and Environmental Center

3932 New Hill-Holleman Road

New Hill, NC  27562

More Information about the Harris Plant may be found at HARRIS VIEW.

While the weather outside soared to triple digits, I was inside Progress Energy’s air-conditioned Energy and Environmental Center at the Harris Nuclear Plant, on an Energy Safari with Senior Community Relations Representative, Kim Crawford, my son Jordan, and about forty Wake County, North Carolina fifth graders and their teachers.

It was a good day to learn how nuclear power plants produce electricity and even better day to point out it takes electricity to power our air conditioners. 

Last year students participating in the Wake County Energy Camp  were recruited to be my personal guinea pigs for my nuke book, which was still a work-in-progress.  This year’s students got to critique the finished product.

Despite the air conditioning, I was perspiring with nervous anxiety.  These were not just any guinea pigs,  but children that have an aptitude for the sciences. It was obvious from the get-go we had several future engineers in our audience.  

What a relief to receive the endorsement of the experts! 

The only thing hotter than the weather was Nuclear Power: How a Nuclear Power Plant Really Works!