In the Air: Weather, Waves, and Live TV
On Wednesday, February 4, our Wednesday Adventure brought us to KEYT News Channel 3-12, where our learners stepped into the fast-paced world of television broadcasting as part of our exploration of the element of Air. Hosted by Chief Meteorologist Mackenzie Lake, the kids were welcomed into the studio and introduced to how weather forecasts are created, prepared, and shared with the community. Mackenzie walked them through her forecasting methods, the software she uses on air, and how she prepares for each day’s shows, highlighting how science, technology, and communication all work together.
The kids then dove into the magic of the green screen. They learned which colors work and which do not on camera and experimented with pieces of green fabric to see what happens when clothing matches the background. Each learner took turns using the clicker to change weather maps, talked about local weather and surf patterns, and discussed how forecasts are tailored for real-world events, like what attendees might expect during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
We toured the studio and headed upstairs to the control room, where a producer showed us the many screens, buttons, camera angles, and switches that make a live broadcast possible. Back downstairs, the children watched the live midday show as it happened, seeing Mackenzie in action. As a complete surprise, our learners were invited to join news anchors Andie Lopez Bornet and Joey Vergilis live on television, introducing themselves and answering Joey’s questions on air. A special moment of connection came when Andie shared that she was homeschooled herself, offering a powerful real-life example of where a homeschooling journey can lead.
After the show, the kids explored the cameras, learned how teleprompters work, and visited the editing room, where they met Joyce, a camerawoman who explained how crews respond when news breaks locally and head out into the community to capture stories. The awards in her office made quite an impression. We were generously guided throughout the day by Andrew, and we are deeply grateful to Mackenzie, Andrew, Rick, Joyce, Gene, Joey, Andie, and the entire KEYT team for such a welcoming, hands-on experience. The day wrapped up with lunch and playtime on the back patio overlooking Santa Barbara, while some family members at home spotted Campus Earth learners on TV in real time. Enjoy the video clips and photos below of Campus Earth Learning Co-op at KEYT News Channel 3-12. 📺🌬️
