Sciencenter Summer Camp Update (6/9)

We have unfortunately decided that the Sciencenter will not hold in-person summer camp this year. While camp is an important piece of our mission, we feel we would not be able to provide the camp experiences we value while maintaining social distancing, and our top priority is to keep our staff and community members safe. We have sent out information about refunds and a new virtual Sciencenter summer camp experience to those who were already registered for summer camp. However, we are excited to announce that we have decided to hold a VIRTUAL Summer Camp this Summer. More details below.

2020 Virtual Summer Camp Programs
Grades (K-6)

Session 1: July 27-31 Invent, Design, Build!
Session 2: August 3-7 Explore the Natural World
Session 3: August 10-14 Invent, Design, Build!
Session 4: August 17-21 Explore the Natural World
Session 5: August 24-28 Invent, Design, Build!

Session Details (Grades K-6)

Below is information for our 2020 VIRTUAL Session.

Invent, Design, Build!
(SESSION 1, July 27 – 31)
(SESSION 3, August 10 – 14)
(SESSION 5, August 24 – 28)

Sessions 1, 3, 5 are identical. Please choose only one.

What will you invent? Daily engineering challenges will allow campers to explore building with a variety of materials and techniques. Experiment with rockets and circuits, and get creative to design your own Rube Goldberg chain reaction machine at home!
Cost: $100 member, $120 non-member.
(Activity box to be picked up at the Sciencenter. If you are unable to pick up the box, shipping can be provided with a small shipping fee).
If you have multiple children from one household that you are signing up for a session, you can purchase a second box at a discount ($80), this 2nd box will omit some of the materials that it will not be necessary to have two of.

Explore the Natural World
(SESSION 2, August 3 – 7)
(SESSION 4, August 17 – 21)

Sessions 2 & 4 are identical. Please choose only one.

Join us as we investigate nature at home and beyond! Campers will use biology, chemistry, and even astronomy to explore the natural world. Use new tools to look at life on a new scale, and watch living things grow before your eyes!
Cost for virtual camp & Science Activity Box: $100 member, $120 non-member.
(Activity box to be picked up at the Sciencenter. If you are unable to pick up the box, shipping can be provided with a small shipping fee).
If you have multiple children from one household that you are signing up for a session and they do not want to share one Activity Box, you can purchase a second box at a discount ($80).

Session Details (Grades 7 - 9)

Below is information for our 2020 VIRTUAL Session.

The CIT+ program is an extension of our year-long Future Science Leaders program, which invites middle school students to the Sciencenter to develop science content, communication, and leadership skills. This summer, we’re offering two one-week virtual sessions, and CIT’s are welcome to join us for either OR both of them. CITs will meet several times during the day, with both facilitated and unfacilitated activities and projects. CITs will have a chance to select some of the projects that we work on, including helping to create and run activities for our virtual summer camp, participating in citizen science projects, creating short videos, and working to design parts of an upcoming exhibit space. Sessions:

SESSION 1, August 17-21
SESSION 2, August 24-28

Cost for virtual CIT+ program: $100 member, $120 non-member.

REGISTRATION

Virtual Summer Camp online registration will open on June 15, 2020 at 10 am. Online registration is the most effective way to secure your place in camp. Online registration requires payment in full by credit card. The Sciencenter cannot guarantee spaces in camp prior to completed registration*.

Member Discount

In order to qualify for special member discounts, your membership must be current at time of registration through August 2020.

If your membership will expire before September, you must renew it before completing your camp registration in order to receive the member rate. When you renew your membership now, your new membership year is activated when your current membership expires. To purchase or renew a membership, click here or email ltomik@sciencenter.org

Members Please Note: to receive the member discount on the online registration form, you will need to input your membership ID number and expiration date. This information can be found on the front of your membership card.

No refunds will be given for memberships purchased after camp registration is completed.

Membership benefits are not transferable, and membership discounts for camp cannot be used to register extended family members.

Financial Assistance

If the cost of Virtual Camp is prohibitive for your family please reach out to us. We do not want the cost of camp to be a barrier for anyone wishing to attend.

Please contact Elizabeth McDonald via email emcdonald@sciencenter.org if you are in need of financial assistance for Virtual Camp.

Cancellation Policy

Camp fees will not be refunded if you have already picked up your activity box, or if it has already been shipped to you.

A $20 processing fee will be charged for all refunds. Request for a refund must be submitted no later than 24 hours before your camp session is scheduled to begin.

In order to withdraw your camper, you must send an email to emcdonald@sciencenter.org

A Typical Day at Virtual Sciencenter Summer Camp

Dive into the day with an interactive experiment with your fellow campers each morning, followed with a “solo challenge” extension, for campers to try on their own time with materials from their Science Activity Box (such as building a boat, or observing growing yeast!). Then, come back online in smaller groups for the afternoon for some team building and another interactive activity (maybe a rocket launch, or mini volcanoes!).

Schedule

Virtual Summer Camp begins each morning at 9:30am with virtual interactive experiments with the other campers and Sciencenter educators.
Then there will be “solo challenge” time for campers to try on their own time with materials from their Science Activity Box.
Then campers will come back online (between 2-3:30, as designated by a Sciencenter Educator) in smaller groups for the afternoon for team building and another interactive activity.