October 2019 
From the Executive Director                                                         
Falling in Love with STEM

Working in a field dedicated to children and STEM, I am often reminded of what I loved learning about when I was growing up. I remember being fascinated about the possibilities of alien life forms and whether mind-reading or "ESP" could really happen; I thought it was so cool that our bodies perfectly and efficiently processed waste; I found it great fun to draw objects from various views and dimensions. I marveled at the beauty of all the science and engineering around us. 

Whether admiring a fantastic skyscraper or the spectacular fall foliage, looking back, I realize that falling in love with STEM was a big part of my childhood development. Now as an adult, I cherish the opportunity to help children and youth discover the wonders of the world around us and help them fall in love with STEM too.






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

This month at the Experiment Bar, learn about making observations and testing hypotheses in Geology Rocks! Become a rock detective and identify 3 different types of rocks using characteristics such as density, magnetism and reaction to water.

NEW! Makerspace Live! 
Every Thursday at 4:30 pm. in the Tinker Shop.  Become a  m aker and assist  our maker in residence to  design, build, and engineer.  Our current project series   centers   on building with circuits and magnets .  This program is included with  same day paid admission to the C hildren's Science Center Lab and is appropriate for all ages with an accompanying adult. Also well suited for upper elementary and junior high students.  

Be sure and check out the  calendar of events for information on what's happening at the Lab all month long!
Note Special Operating Hours:
  • Open Tuesdays at 1pm (opens at 10am on school holidays)
  • Closed for Sci-sational Girl Scout Day, Sunday, October 20
  • Closing at 4 pm for private party, Saturday, November 2
School Holiday Camps
November 4 and 5

Looking for fun and engaging activities for you child while school is out? Look no further than our Single Day Camps!
 
Monday, November 4 - Slime Time!
Tuesday, November 5 - Blast Off!
 
Designed for children in grades K through 5. Camps run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with after-care available for an additional charge.

Girl Scout Day at the Lab!
October 20

The Children's Science Center Lab is proud to offer its first Sci-sational Girl Scout Day! Celebrate Girl Scout Founder, Juliette Gordon Low's 159th Birthday Party at the Lab and learn how you can help make the world a better place!
 
Use self-exploration guides to experience the Lab with other scouts and leaders. Visit pop-up demonstrations, special animal encounters, and the Van De Graff generator. 
 
All scouts will receive a unique Children's Science Center Lab Fun Patch with their admission. Please register for a specific time frame to explore the Lab. 
 
Time slots available are:
 
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
 

A Conference of Moonshots
ASTC 2019 

This year's annual conference of the Association of Science and Technology Centerswas held in Toronto, Canada. It was no coincidence that Toronto's own science center, the Ontario Science Centre, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and that the theme of the conference "Moonshots" was in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. The conference proved just as inspirational and challenged over 1,500 attendees to identify their institution's own moonshots to better support their communities, nations and planet.
 
Highlights included:
  • Our own Program Manager, Laahiri Chalasani serving as emcee for the main plenary session and ASTC 2020 preview.  
  • Learning from leaders in the international science community, including:
    • Jenn Gustetic, from NASA, who was inspired as a teen at her local science center in Jacksonville, FL. She shared "moonshot thinking" with highlights from a number of US agencies' projects to address grand challenges.
    • Fifteen-year-old citizen scientist Stella Bowles from Nova Scotia, who shared how her science fair project in water sampling four years ago, grew into a major initiative where Bowles successfully worked with local, provincial and federal governments to eliminate pipes that dump raw sewage into waterways on Nova Scotia's South Shore.
Children's Science Center representatives attended dozens of sessions and seminars, learning from best practices and strategies among science center industry leaders from across the world.
Save the Date:

Fair Oaks Mall 
Mall-o-ween
October 31, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Try It At Home:
Pumpkin Crystals

October is here, which means falling leaves, cooler temperatures and of course, pumpkins. Try out this fun experiment to grow your very own crystals in the shape of pumpkins while learning about saturated solutions. 



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