Centerville Elementary School first-graders did not need to take a field trip to Harrisburg to find out what the Whitaker Center offers.

Whitaker on Wheels brought the science experience to the students.

Whitaker on Wheels, the center's mobile lab, visited Centerville Elementary on Jan. 24, sponsored by the school's PTO.

"This is the first year we've had the opportunity to have them here," first-grade teacher Shannon Hess said. "We're very excited about it."

In the Mighty Engineers program, Centerville students were split into four groups and tasked with building one house at each of the four stations. The students used straws, sticks, bricks (Legos), and cups and cardboard.

"The students get to work together," said Hess. "They get to participate in hands-on activities. They're collaborating. They're making decisions."

The group science project fits nicely into the school's curriculum. "We do a lot with science and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities, extending the curriculum as far as being able to work together, being able to talk to each other, being able to listen to each other, which is a big part of being a student," said Hess. "I'm interested in seeing what the students are saying and doing and if they're making compromises."

Parent volunteers Shannon Reely and Brittaney Ortland spent the morning with their daughters while helping the entire class. They said Whitaker on Wheels is a worthwhile program.

"I think it's great," said Ortland. "We know Whitaker Center just from being in the area, and it's a great place. The Whitaker on Wheels program that is mobile I think is great to get an extra side of learning."

Ortland's daughter, Perry, enjoyed the experience. "I like it. It's fun," Perry said. "I like building with the Legos and straws."

Elyse Rittle of Whitaker on Wheels' early childhood and community outreach education team led the project at Centerville Elementary.

"I hope the students take away that when you're doing something with engineering, it goes through a cycle, and what you do the first time might not work and that you should be able to persevere through and try something again," said Rittle. "And you're always working to improve it."

Based in Harrisburg, Whitaker on Wheels travels throughout the area, including Adams, Lebanon, Lancaster, and Cumberland counties, Rittle said. "Anybody who is interested in our community outreach education program from Whitaker on Wheels, we will try to make it work," she said.

Rittle was enjoying her morning at Centerville Elementary School. "Everybody here has been so welcoming, which is so nice," she said. "Everybody was well-prepared for me to come in and had everything set up for me ahead of time, which I really appreciate. It's been fantastic working with the teachers and administration so far."

The Whitaker Center is located at 222 Market St., Harrisburg. "Whitaker Center is a really unique place," Rittle said. "We have a lot of different things housed under one roof, in one building."

The Sunoco Performing Arts Theater works with local theater groups and has big-name acts perform. The Select Medical digital cinema shows documentaries in 3-D and Hollywood movies. The PNC Innovation Zone is a gaming studio where visitors can learn about coding or play video games such as Mario Kart.

"It's a pretty open-ended space," said Rittle. "Then we also have our UPMC Science Center, which is a science center geared toward children in sixth grade and under. We are able to house a lot of different programs within that science center. We have lot of different things we do all year in that space."

Whitaker Center opened its doors on Sept. 9, 1999, welcoming visitors to a unique experience in education and entertainment. It was named in memory of the founder of AMP Incorporated (now TE Connectivity), Uncas A. Whitaker and his wife, Helen F. Whitaker, in recognition of more than $8 million contributed by The Whitaker Foundation and the Helen F. Whitaker Fund. The Whitaker Foundation was established upon Uncas' death in 1975 to support biomedical engineering research and education. Helen created The Helen F. Whitaker Fund, which supported training for classical musicians. Both foundations provided major support to build the facility. Whitaker Center is viewed as an enduring legacy to their generous philanthropy and regional stewardship, according to the Whitaker Center website.

Former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed, who was an integral part of the project, referred to Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts as "Harrisburg's crown jewel."

Before Whitaker Center became a reality, there was a need to create a place that promoted science and the arts and could culturally enrich the downtown area. Now thanks to the support of many visionaries throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding region, including more than 300 corporations, foundations and individuals have invested in Whitaker Center, a cultural center that directly impacts the area in which they live, work, or serve, the website added.

Thanks to Whitaker on Wheels, that impact can now be found at Centerville Elementary and many other local schools.