June 25, 2010

Science and Health Education Programs in 17 counties
By Derek Woller

Looking for something to do with your school or organization that is exciting, science-related, and educational, to boot? Naturally, my first inclination is to tell you to bring everyone over to Explorit's hands-on museum, open to the public at 2801 Second Street.

However, a field trip is not always a possibility for large groups of people due to transportation and time constraints. Do not despair, though, because Explorit has the answer in the form of Family Science Nights and Science Assembly Programs! Instead of you coming to us, Explorit will come to you. We currently serve 17 Northern California counties, so there is little doubt that we can bring one of these programs right to you.

There are two types of Family Science Nights: Science in Your World and Health in Your World.

Basically, you decide which one to choose, you pick the starting time (usually between 6 and 7 P.M.), you make sure you have a few volunteers and a decently-sized venue (multi-purpose rooms work great!), and we arrive about 3 hours before the start time and do the rest.

Each program travels to the site inside of one of our hard-to-miss Explorit vans and is set up by one of our trained staff members. Essentially, you are getting a traveling museum!

Each Family Science Night lasts for 90 minutes, serves 100 to 600 children and adults, and everyone has a wonderful time. The layout consists of about fifteen stations, each one covering a different topic, and watched over by a volunteer who assists visitors with activities and questions. So, now, what exactly are the differences between each of these programs?

Science in Your World is made up of numerous science topics and encompasses multiple branches of science, such as entomology (insects), ornithology (birds), mathematics (geometry), electricity and magnetism, human anatomy, and more! Popular activities requested year after year include 'hair raising experiences' with the Van de Graaff static electricity generator, touching real sheep organs, meeting hissing cockroaches, and building arches and bridges.

Health in Your World is focused on the human body and all its components, which are explored through topics, such as basic genetics, a look into the lungs (accompanied by real, inflatable pig lungs), heart, and the digestion process. There are even stations that focus on the well-being of our bodies, such as "Fitness" and "Air Pollution."

Science Assembly Programs happen during a school day, can serve up to 300 children with one adult chaperone per class, and two presentations can be done in a day. The program's content, like Health in Your World, is focused on human anatomy, and audience members are invited to go on a journey through the human body with two of our trained staff members utilizing a computer presentation and screen, a video microscope, various props, and, yes, even volunteers! As with the Family Science Nights, you just tell us your preferred time, make sure you have the right kind of room, and we show up and do the rest.

All of Explorit's programs would not be possible without the generous support from local foundations, corporations, and individuals. Donations in 2009-2010 from Soroptimist International of Davis, The Venture Club of Davis, The J.M. Long Foundation, and the Safeway Foundation provided a Health in Your World scholarship to Esparto Elementary in Esparto and a Science Assembly Program scholarship to Whitehead Elementary in Woodland.

For the 2010-2011 school year, Explorit has received support from the SureWest Foundation to provide a Family Science Night in Placer County. Explorit has also received $10,000 from Kaiser Permanente to support both Health in Your World and the Science Assembly Program. Kaiser is a very strong supporter of science education throughout the region, and sponsorships such as this allow Explorit to continue to bring these programs to schools all over Northern California.

A third grade teacher in Elk Grove told Explorit that she loves, "the opportunity for parents and children to learn and have fun together at Explorit's Family Science Nights." All in all, Explorit's traveling programs have something for everyone. So, wait are you waiting for? Book one today!

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Explorit news and events:

o Through July 3: Explorit is one of the top five finalists in the 2010 Charity Paint Give-Away from Brooks Painting. Explorit could potentially win a $10,000 charity makeover! Please visit www.brookspainting.com/vote to cast your vote, and please encourage all those who support Explorit to login and vote, too. The system will only allow one vote per computer IP Address. Thanks to everyone for spreading the word!

o Tuesday, July 13: Thanks to a recent donation from IKEA and the hard work of a volunteer from Genentech, Explorit has been able to enhance our Toddler Tuesdays to now include an "IKEA Little Explorers Corner." The donation included new shelving, rugs, tables, chairs, many toys, and arts and crafts activities for all our little explorers. The unveiling of the "IKEA Little Explorers Corner" will be July 13 during our normal museum hours.

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Explorit Science Center, at 2801 Second St., has two exhibitions on display: "Move It! Science in Action" and "Take Matter Into Your Own Hands." Admission is $4 general, free for teachers, and ages 3 and under. The museum is open to school groups by reservation and to the general public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. For more information call (530) 756-0191 or visit http://www.explorit.org.