May 2023

Museums for Creative Humans This month we have been extra inspired in our work thanks to a fantastic gathering of children’s museum professionals in New Orleans for the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) which included a visit to the brand-new Louisiana Children’s Museum. Youth from their community greeted us at the door, showcasing their creativity, talent, and love of learning. We have been following this museum’s building project for many years, learning from their efforts as we embark on a similar journey to build a vital educational resource in our own community. It was wonderful to see their stunning new museum open and thriving as we imagine walking through the doors of our own museum in the coming years. The ACM conference encouraged us to continue our work to help children be more creative humans, ensure we are serving all in our community within our walls and beyond, and build upon the science of how children learn in order to serve them best. We left with renewed confidence and new tools for the important work ahead in delivering our mission today with the Children’s Science Center Lab and our vision for tomorrow at the Northern Virginia Science Center – and with great appreciation for the world-famous NOLA hospitality! P.S. To learn more about how children's museums are growing, check out this recent article published by The New York Times.

Sincerely, Nene Spivy Executive Director

Monthly Mission Moments

3D Printer Experience: Bionic Pets Launch! April 21 The new phase of the AWSinCommunities 3D Printer Experience has launched! Visit the Lab to learn more about the prosthetic above. This phase will be on display throughout the summer so there is plenty of time to see how animals can have a better quality of life with the help of 3D printing.

Earth Day Extravaganza with the Youth Advisory Board! April 23  Guests had the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day with the Youth Advisory Board at Loudoun Water! The event included special outdoor activities and celebrations along with five of our community partners including TeamTiny House, STEAMBridge, Florence Bascom GeoScience Center, George Mason Observatory, and Loudoun Water.

Eight is Great Birthday Celebration! Saturday, June 17 • 10 AM & 2 PM The Lab is turning 8 and you're invited to celebrate! Join us during a timed entry to enjoy special activities throughout the Lab! Purchase tickets and join the fun! Want to join an exclusive hour at the Lab with even more special activities? Become a member! Purchase Tickets!

School is almost out! Are you ready for the summer?  Make this a summer your child won’t forget! Sign up for a week-long summer camp today! The Lab's camps offer young scientists an opportunity to explore STEM concepts in an interactive way. Camp themes include... ★ Mission: Space ★ Motion Commotion ★ Earth Explorer ★ Ready, Set, Game! Want a 10% discount? Become a member today! Purchase a Camp!

Visit the Lab in May! New Experiments and more... Visit the Lab any weekend of May to try new experiments at the Experiment Bar and Tinker Shop— Doodle Discovery and Solar Ovens. Need Mother's Day Plans? Visit the Lab this Sunday, May 14th to spend some quality time with that special person! Bonus! The Lab will be open on Memorial Day (Monday, May 29th) for timed entries at 10am and 2pm. Purchase Tickets!

Volunteer Spotlight Harriet DuBois How did you first learn about the Children's Science Center?  I became aware of this wonderful initiative when I was leading a STEM oriented philanthropic initiative at my company in 2010. I volunteered for the “Museum Without Walls” (now called Family Science Night), and at special events.   Tell us a little bit about yourself: Where are you from, occupation, homelife, etc. I moved to DC from NY to attend college. Although originally interested in veterinary school, I decided to switch majors and graduated with a math/computer science degree. That allowed me to stumble into the best career ever: telecommunications. Being involved in the (r)evolution from private networks to the public internet was such a gift. It was also a gift to get married to Craig, and have 2 wonderful children, Joe & Robert.   What do you enjoy most about volunteering with the Center?  I cannot get enough of working with young children, encouraging them to think, ask questions, figure things out, see the scientific side of this world, and so on. Seeing the joy in their faces when they complete an experiment, build a hovercraft, or build that windmill - those are the rewarding moments I cherish.   What scientist do you admire most and why? Albert Einstein had such a brilliant mind and was insanely curious. His deep sense of wonder was amazing. He not only asked the questions (how does…, why does…) but he then figured out the answers! His quote is my favorite: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. The important thing is to not stop questioning.   How can we inspire young people to become interested in science?  Someone I met years ago at a Children’s Science Center Founder’s Society event said something that stays with me to this day: we have the children in elementary school yet lose them in middle school. Keep exposing these young minds to experiments; encourage wonder and curiosity; create moments of awe and excitement; explain the science behind how daily activities work (i.e., how do the words I type get from my phone to my friend’s phone when I text?) and tell them about all the opportunities that abound with a background in STEM. What is one scientific question you would like to see answered in your lifetime?  How can we beat cancer? We have made great strides in finding and treating cancer. “Treating” often means putting it in remission. It would be great to find better ways to screen for, and non-surgical ways to eliminate cancer. Harriet volunteers regularly for field trips at the Lab during the school year and supports special events and community events throughout the summer. Interested in volunteering? Visit our website.

Try It At Home! DIY Rock Candy Have you ever wondered how to make your own candy at home? Experiment with us by using the materials and instructions here to make your own rock candy! Try it at home!

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Children's Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and STEM programs traveling to schools and other community venues across the region.

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