For photos of Sunwheel gatherings from 1997-1999, click here.
For photos
of the Sunwheel gatherings with the tall standing stones, click here.
The Sunwheel has made a
significant impact in raising awareness and
scientific understanding of the solstices and equinoxes. The rising
attendance at the summer and winter solstice presentations I
give at the Sunwheel speaks loudly to the growing appeal of this
project. For the winter solstice of 1999, there were a record 250 visitors to
the Sunwheel sunrise and sunset gatherings ! In May 1999, I placed
a guest book at the site for visitors to sign in. My records now
indicate that over 9000 people have visited the Sunwheel,
from 43 of the United States and 45 foreign countries, including
Australia, Russia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, about 1000 visitors per year
attend the seasonal sunrise and sunset gatherings, and about 300
students and teachers visit the Sunwheel during the day
to supplement the school science curriculum.
The Sunwheel is valuable because it takes a complex scientific phenomenon and
puts it into an everyday context which people of all ages can experience
and understand for themselves. Visitors
learn how the Sun's position in the sky changes with the seasons.
The everyday observations which people make at the Sunhweel become part
of their daily lives, enabling them to pay more attention the
the universe around them. Not only that, but visiting the Sunwheel
is fun. Watching the sunset is a peaceful and beautiful activity.
I hope that in the year 2100, the
Sunwheel continues to serve as a gathering spot for the public to
experience the passage of the seasons and to learn 'everyday astronomy'.
A frequent educational use of the Sunwheel is through visits made by school
groups and the general public. Since 1997,
I have given 16-18 presentations annually at the Sunwheel, to ~300 students
and teachers. The presentations are primarily
for grades 6-12, on topics including (1) The Seasons, (2) Measuring Time,
(3) Light and Shadows, (4) Phases of the Moon, and (5) Eclipses.
Additionally, over 70 local public school teachers attended 4 Sunwheel
presentations designed to aid them in teaching the astronomy
curriculum.
The response to the Sunwheel by the general public has been enthusiastic and
positive, beyond my wildest imaginings. There is a real hunger in
people to understand the natural environment, and the Sunwheel provides
a place to observe the universe in action. The rising attendance
at the solstice and equinox presentations I give at the Sunwheel speaks
loudly to the growing appeal of this project. In June of 1998, there
were 78 visitors to the Sunwheel for the summer solstice sunset, while
in June of 1999 the summer solstice sunset brought 143 visitors. More
astounding still were the 214 visitors to the Sunwheel for the 1999 winter
solstice sunset!! This was the largest attendance at a single gathering,
until the summer solstice
of 2002. At a single sunset gathering on a beautiful sunny evening,
223 people were present at the Sunwheel! Invariably, a
core group of interested adults and children stays well past
sunset to ask questions, and some families come two nights in a row or year
after year. The Sunwheel has already become a community gathering spot
for people to learn astronomy together and to celebrate the arrival
and the passage of the seasons.
WRITTEN COMMENTS FROM VISITORS: "Great educational experience!"
"Cool rocks."
"An experience that broadens my understanding of the universe." (Adam Van
Devente)
"Learned lots I didn't know."
"Much needed knowledge. Thanks." (Anne Marie Manning)
"Wonderfully clear demonstrations."
"I can't wait to come back at night." (Debbie Paddock)
"This is great."
"Inspires further study." (Donna D'Fini)
"Very interesting."
"Thanks for the experience." (K. Meyers)
"This is so cool."
"This is a great real world representation of the models."
"Admirable ambitious project." (John Davis)
"I hope to bring back my family."
"Thank you for the field trip to the Sunwheel. The experience will stay with me
forever."
"The Sun is new everyday." (Phylis Morrison, from Heraclitus)
"Dramatic." (Philip Morrison)
Comments in Letters from 6th Graders:
"Thank you for having us to your rock clock circle. I hope to study astronomy
when I grow up." (Julia Berkowitz)
"I learned many things."
"I think the Sunwheel is a great project." (Michael Cardop)
"I hope I get to see the Sunwheel again."
"I think it would be fun and interesting to be an astronomer." (Jennifer Hunt)
"I hope that you are able to raise the money to put in the 10' rocks." (Jenni
Shultz)
"I'm so happy that it's our community that gets to have a Sunwheel." (Damaris
Delgado)
"I learned alot even though I went to the Sunwheel last year in 5th grade."
(Skyler Wiemokly)
"The trip to the Sunwheel was very educational and I look forward to going there
again with my family." (Brooke Steinhauser)
Written Comments from Teachers: "This is a wonderful addition for my astronomy unit." (Renee Romano -- middle
school teacher)
"I can't wait to take students here." (Carolyn Close, Shutesbury Elementary
School)
"Thank you for the wonderful presentation. You do an invaluable service for the
Amherst Schools. I learn something each time I take a group."
(Dulcie Trowbridge, 6th grade teacher)
"Just right for our 5th grade unit." (Michael Kostoroski)
"Great project to complement my science unit." (Mary Andrade, 6th grade
teacher)
EVALUATION OF THE SUNWHEEL
I now have 5 full years of quantitative and qualitative data on the
impact and effectiveness of the Sunwheel. In 1998, there were 73
visitors who came to the Sunwheel for summer solstice sunset.
For the 1999 summer solstice,
there were 143 adults and children from New England who came
to the Sunwheel for presentations on June 20 and 21, and in 2002 there
were an amazing 260 summer solstice sunset participants -- the
largest gatherings yet! For the 1999 winter solstice, an astounding
242 visitors gathered at the Sunwheel for presentations on Dec. 21 and 22.
Invariably, a core group of interested adults
and children stays well past sunset to ask questions, and some families
come two nights in a row or year after year. The table below
presents the data I have
collected on Sunwheel attendance by school groups and the general public,
demonstrating WIDESPREAD AND INCREASING INTEREST.
ATTENDANCE AT SUNWHEEL GATHERINGS
May 1997 - June 2002
SOLSTICE GATHERINGS
Event
Date
# Attending
# Presentations
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
1997
18
2
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
1998
73
2
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
1999
143
2
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
2000
110
2 (2 cloudy)
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
2001
111
2 (2 cloudy)
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
2002
260
2 (1 clear)
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
2003
13
RAINY!
Summer Solstice Sunset
June
2004
152
2 (1 clear)
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
1997
26
1
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
1998
24
1
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
1999
214
2
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
2000
105
2 (cloudy)
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
2001
137
2
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
2002
129
2 (1 clear)
Winter Solstice Sunset
December
2003
70
2 (1 clear)
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
Group
Date
# Attending
# Gatherings
School Groups
July '97-June
'98
308
17
School Groups
July '98-June
'99
321
18
School Groups
July '99-June
'00
282
16
School Groups
July '00-June
'01
315
18
School Groups
July '01-June
'02
362
18
School Groups
July '02-June
'03
377
18
School Groups
July '03-June
'04
103 (my sabbatical)
6
School Groups
July '04-June
'05
188
7
General Public
July '97-June
'98
150
8
General Public
July '98-June
'99
268
14
General Public
July '99-June
'00
540
17
General Public
July '00-June
'01
573 (tall stones added)
21
General Public
July '01-June
'02
778
20
General Public
July '02-June
'03
477 (rainy year)
16
General Public
July '03-June
'04
389 (my sabbatical)
17
General Public
July '04-June
'05
634
23
GATHERING TOTALS
Group
Date
# Attending
# Gatherings
Total Public
July '97 - June
'98
458
25
Total Public
July '98 - June
'99
589
32
Total Public
July '99 - June
'00
822
33
Total Public
July '00 - June
'01
888
39
Total Public
July '01 - June
'02
1,140
38
Total Public
July '02 - June
'03
854 (in spite of a rainy vernal equinox AND summer solstice)
34
Total Public
July '03 - June
'04
492 (I was away spring 2004, back for equinox and solstice)
23
Total Public
July '04 - June
'05
822
30
Gathering Attendees
July '97-June
'05
6,073
254
Guest Book Signatures **
May '99-May
'05
12,638
Total Number Visitors (Guest Book + Gatherings)**
May '97 through
2004
15,466
** A guest book placed at the Sunwheel in May 1999 has recorded
signatures of 10,977 people who have visited the Sunwheel on their
own, through May 15, 2004.
Australia, Russia, and Zimbabwe. In addition, about 1000 visitors per year
attend the seasonal sunrise and sunset gatherings, and about 300
students and teachers visit the Sunwheel during the day
to supplement the school science curriculum.
The Sunwheel is valuable because it takes a complex scientific phenomenon and
puts it into an everyday context which people of all ages can experience
and understand for themselves. Visitors
learn how the Sun's position in the sky changes with the seasons.
The everyday observations which people make at the Sunhweel become part
of their daily lives, enabling them to pay more attention the
the universe around them. Not only that, but visiting the Sunwheel
is fun. Watching the sunset is a peaceful and beautiful activity.
I hope that in the year 2100, the
Sunwheel continues to serve as a gathering spot for the public to
experience the passage of the seasons and to learn 'everyday astronomy'.
I have given 16-18 presentations annually at the Sunwheel, to ~300 students
and teachers. The presentations are primarily
for grades 6-12, on topics including (1) The Seasons, (2) Measuring Time,
(3) Light and Shadows, (4) Phases of the Moon, and (5) Eclipses.
Additionally, over 70 local public school teachers attended 4 Sunwheel
presentations designed to aid them in teaching the astronomy
curriculum.
astounding still were the 214 visitors to the Sunwheel for the 1999 winter
solstice sunset!! This was the largest attendance at a single gathering,
until the summer solstice
of 2002. At a single sunset gathering on a beautiful sunny evening,
223 people were present at the Sunwheel! Invariably, a
core group of interested adults and children stays well past
sunset to ask questions, and some families come two nights in a row or year
after year. The Sunwheel has already become a community gathering spot
for people to learn astronomy together and to celebrate the arrival
and the passage of the seasons.
and children stays well past sunset to ask questions, and some families
come two nights in a row or year after year. The table below
presents the data I have
collected on Sunwheel attendance by school groups and the general public,
demonstrating WIDESPREAD AND INCREASING INTEREST.
