Date: April 1, 2011

Explorit will host science camps in summer!

By Liz Shenaut
Special to the Enterprise

For curious kids, Summer Science Camps are a fun time to be social away from the family, and a unique opportunity to learn and play with Explorit’s science-loving staff.

Depending on each week’s theme, Explorit educators will guide campers through discoveries of art, science mysteries, transportation, animals and even science careers. From using scientific principles to creating music and art to considering alternative energies to complete engineering challenges, camps will be memorably hands-on.

Each day will include structured time for collaborative projects and individual experiments, as well as unstructured time for free exploration.

The Monsanto Fund is partially sponsoring Explorit’s Summer Science Camps this year. Monsanto Fund is the philanthropic arm of Monsanto Company, an agricultural biotechnology company with offices in Davis.

Explorit’s camps run from Jun. 13 through Aug. 19. The random drawing (lottery) registration deadline is Apr. 15; and if spaces remain, open registration will be available May 2 through Aug. 11. Paper forms can be mailed to Explorit or delivered in person during business hours.

Three camp levels are available so children can be placed with others in their age group. The first level is for children entering preschool or kindergarten, with a minimum age of 4. The second level is for children who will be entering 1st and 2nd grade. The third level includes children entering 3rd, 4th and 5th grade.

Camps are held from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, with a full day option for incoming 1st through 5th graders that runs until 5 p.m. Preschooler and kindergarten level camps meet three days a week and end earlier, at 11 a.m.

To find out more about Summer Science Camps, go to http://www.explorit.org/camp. There you will find camp dates, fees, and a downloadable registration form.

If you wish to enroll your child in camps, print and fill out the registration form, then deliver it by mail as indicated on the form or in person to Explorit at 3141 5th Street.

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Coming events:

• Apr. 4-8: Explorit will be open at its 3141 5th Street site for Spring Break visitation hours from 1:00-4:00pm Monday-Friday. Visitors will have the opportunity to the explore “Game On! Science of Sports” exhibition, meet Explorit’s resident animals, and stroll through or picnic in the adjoining Mace Ranch Community Park.

• Today through May 20: If you know of someone who may be interested in volunteering as a Science Teaching Assistant during summer camp, he or she can contact Explorit Volunteer Coordinator, Kristin Sizemore at kristin@explorit.org. Applicants must be at least 12 years of age before June 13th.Ê Volunteer orientations will be held on May and June for accepted applicants.

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Explorit Science Center’s 3141 5th St. site is the location for field trips, programs for groups, and astronomy club meetings.Ê It is also the hub for Explorit’s traveling programs that reach an 18-county region.Ê The site is open to the public for special events and to groups by reservation. For more information call (530) 756-0191 or visit http://www.explorit.org.