April 2019 
From the Executive Director                                                           
Spring into STEM
 
Each spring, STEM activities gear up so fast, from STEM festivals and Earth Day celebrations to Maker Faire, there are so many opportunities for exploring our world - what science is all about! Even if you are squeezing in STEM fun between spring sports, there are lots of options. I love all the creativity that springs up this time of year - doesn't a "Party for the Planet" sound like great fun?

Spring is also the time where our team gets very serious about planning some seriously fun summer STEM programs. It's going to be a big summer, with camps, the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, our citizen science project and Summer of Science Celebration in the works. This month my hat is off to all the creative science educators out there, those on our team, in our schools, and many other organizations - they are so good at making learning fun!
 






Executive Director
Children's Science Center
What's Happening at the Lab
New this month!

Give your basic slime an explosive update!  After creating a non-Newtonian polymer with glue and borax, mimic the flow of volcanic lava with the addition of baking soda and vinegar.  Two reactions; one exciting experiment!

Check out the  calendar of events  for information on what's happening at the Lab all month long! 
Kids Night Out - Spring into STEM
Drop off the kids for a night of fun!

The Lab will be closed to the general public to allow our guests to "SPRING into STEM!" Register your child (grades K-6) for a night of fun activities geared to all things to love about spring.

Guests will:
  • Learn about circuitry and simple electronics while creating a one-of-a-kind take home bug!
  • Discover all the hidden colors within a flower petal using capillary action to bring out pigmentation with Flower Power!
  • Give the Earth some love! Upcycle a container from home and work with our staff to plant sustainable seeds.
  
Pizza, fruit, drinks and dessert will be served in the Garage. Guests will learn from our experienced team of STEM Educators and work alongside them to complete each activity.

Designed for grades K-6
$40 per child.

Participants may sign up with siblings or friends.  Receive $5 off additional tickets with the Discount Code: SPRING  



Planning a Birthday Party Just Got Easier!
Online booking now available

Does the idea of planning the perfect birthday party for your child stress you out?  We make it easy for you to relax and enjoy the process when and where it's convenient for you.

Start by booking your party directly online. Choose from one of 7 different engaging STEM activities, including 3 different versions of our popular Slime. Our staff will contact you before the party to discuss details and ensure a smooth and festive event.

The day of the party, you will be assigned a STEM Personal Party Assistant to guide your child and their guests through the various activities. Don't want to sweat the details? We can provide guests with plates, napkins and cutlery.  We can even suggest vendors in Fair Oaks Mall that can deliver food. 

Skip the stress, and enjoy the day! Check out the website for more details and easy registration.
May the 4th Be With You!
STAR WARS FAMILY NIGHT

Join us and fellow STAR WARS fans as we  come together to celebrate May the 4th Be With You STAR WARS Night at the Lab!

Come dressed as your favorite character and ready to begin your Jedi training at the Children's Science Center Lab, you must. Padawans young and old are welcome to immerse themselves in several hands-on, fun, scientific STAR WARS themed activities.

May the force be with you as you help program a droid, free Han Solo from being frozen in carbonite, create lightsaber greeting cards by fashioning your own paper circuits, and more! 

Designed for STAR WARS fans of all ages. 

Saturday, May 4th
6:30 - 8:30 pm

 
Spring & Summer Camps Open Registration
Last call for Spring Break Camps

We have just a few spots left open for single day Spring Break Camps (April 15 -19). 

Monday, April 15

Tuesday, April 16

Wednesday, April 17 

Thursday, April 18

Friday, April 19


Summer camps run from June 17 through August 23. Single day camps offered July 1-3 & 5. There is no camp on July 4th. 

Campers will spend the day alongside our STEM Educators exploring a variety of content, building their knowledge of key science concepts, all the while having fun and making new friends!

We look forward to seeing your camper! Feel free to email us with any questions.

Critter Chitter Chatter
New Series of Programs

Come and learn more about the creatures we have around the Lab.  Our Animal Husbandry team have now started offering 30 minute talks twice a week.

Seahorse Science Tales
Every Friday at 4pm

Fish Feeding Frenzy
Every Saturday at 2pm

Amazing Adaptations
Every Sunday at 2pm

Alien Invaders
Every Monday at 4pm

These engaging, interactive  talks, and sometimes touch, offer insight into the animals, their habitats, and their feeding cycle.  More to come, so keep an eye on the calendar for new and updated programming. 
Corporate Sponsor Spotlight


The Children's Science Center is grateful to Raytheon for their sponsorship of a new activity exploring robotics and computer programming with Ozobot Evo.


Visitors to the Lab in May and throughout the summer will test this interactive coding activity using logic, reasoning, and sequencing to program the Ozobot Evo robot to complete a series of maneuvers and tasks. Thanks to the generosity of Raytheon, we will bring this new activity to thousands of students and their families at our Family Science Nights beginning this fall and possibly a sneak peek at a library near you this summer.  

"The Children's Science Center is a pioneer in providing innovative educational opportunities that inspire students of all ages," said John DeSimone, Vice President of Cybersecurity and Special Missions at Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "With more than 3 million cyber jobs that will go unfilled by 2021, programs like these that introduce cyber skills ensure the next generation is prepared to tackle the challenges of the future."

Raytheon is a global technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity markets throughout the world. It provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cybersecurity and a broad range of mission support services. 
 
Thank you Raytheon for inspiring our next generation of innovators!
Try It At Home:
Peep Boat Engineering Challenge 

We're ringing in Spring which means those marshmallow bunnies and chicks are popping up everywhere. But you can do much more with Peeps than simply eat them. You can use them as building materials to explore buoyancy. This experiment is a fun way to explore engineering - if you don't eat all the marshmallows!



The Children's Science Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and your gifts directly support our mission and programs.