As you carry out your many summer adventures, what do you observe that intrigues you?  Think of Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math as you look, and some amazing things pop out all around you.  Your challenge this week is to snap a photo of something STEAMy that interests you along the path of your life.  Share it on your blog, send it to me to share on mine, or add a comment to this post.  Here are a few STEAM samples that have grabbed me lately.

***Brookfield Floating Bridge:  Vermont recently reopened the famous Brookfield floating bridge, and it is only a few miles from my parents’ house so we love to walk there.  It is the state’s only floating bridge, originally built in 1820 across Sunset Lake, which was too deep for traditional pillared span bridges.  The bridge’s architecture is so unique, as it was buoyed by floating barrels and now longer-lasting pontoons.

***NH Grand Hotels:  Part of NH’s state history includes grand hotels built for tourists who wanted to escape the heat and humidity of summer in the cities, once trains were in place for convenient travel.  I grew up not far from the Sunset Hill House (now demolished) and the Mount Washington Hotel, and the architecture and sheer size have always fascinated me.  There are four remaining grand hotels, and one of my bucket list treats a few years ago was to finally travel up the Cog Railway and then stay a night in the Mount Washington Hotel.

***Our Yard:  STEAM is everywhere, as you can see from our family project today.  My brother is using a fulcrum to level a step at my parents’ house.  (Bonus to you if you can spot other STEAM besides the fulcrum here.  Leave a comment.)  You, too, will be using your STEAM skills day by day in your life to solve the actual problems around you!