By: Tom Wickersham

Summer Science Classes a Success

It seems like "years" ago when Explorit Science Center announced its 1998 Summer Science Class schedule. Actually, it was April. But today, after eight weeks of summer science fun, the last remaining classes have come to their conclusion.

And what a summer it has been! Over 200 different kids from Folsom to Fairfield were enrolled in one or more weeks of 12 different science classes, including "Creepy Crawly Critters," "Science Wizardry," and "Be a Geo-Explorer."

Every week, every day, brought new kinds of activities, experiments and discoveries. During one week kids were engaged in building walls, bridges and giant sand structures in one class, while in another class, kids built their own electromagnets. One week kids were making rockets and another they were designing and making marble paper.

Although definately not a zoo, Explorit Science Center introduced rabbits, snakes, a desert tortoise, cockroaches, dragonflies, turkey vultures, burrowing owls, a llama, a goat, a chicken, a gecko, spiders, beetles, snails and worms to kids of all ages. They even "built" their own animals.

If you missed this summer's fun, don't worry; Explorit offers vacation science classes during the winter and spring breaks, too. Keep your eyes here for details, or call Explorit at 756-0191 and ask to be put on a mailing list.

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Special acknowledgments go out to Explorit's dynamic teaching team. They developed and delivered this year's successful summer program. The 1998 summer teachers were Leslie Berry, Pam Emery, Annie Holte, Talib Huff, Christina Leuteman, Chris Pilon, Mary Superak and Elizabeth Wood. Leslie, Pam, Talib and Mary will continue to teach at Explorit throughout the next year, while Annie, Christina, Chris and Elizabeth will go back to their classroom teaching positions or other activities they more regularly do.

Of course, we can't forget the exceptional assistance given by our Summer Science Class volunteers. Our volunteers are an indispensable element of our summer programs. Arriving well before classes begin and staying after class ends, these volunteers assisted with almost every aspect of the classes.

They helped parents at the sign-in table, prepped materials for classes, assisted and encouraged kids with projects, prepared snacks, helped clean up at the end of the day (they'll never forget "Ooey, Gooey, Grubby" or "Mix It-Make It -- Test It-Take It"), and even took care of the occasional scraped knee.

Thanks again to this year's volunteer crew: Clover Bench, Lauren Dickey, Alejandra Dubcovsky, Diane Geng, Jenni Harrison, Huong Huynh, Charlie Krauter, Kie Kuwabara, Reecie Levin, Robert Luu, Heather McLin, Anjali Putnam, Justin Spence and Ozlem Tuli.

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Whether or not you were involved in Explorit's Summer Science Classes, you can still come experience summer science fun in Explorit's current exhibition, "The Way the Ball Bounces: The Science of Toys and Games." Escape the hot days of August in Explorit's air-conditioned facility, while you learn about the science behind your favorite toys and games.

Explorit Science Center is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is The Way the Ball Bounces: The Science of Toys and Games. Public hours are Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission is $3; members, teachers (with school ID) and children under 4 are free. For more information, call Explorit at (530) 756-0191 or visit Explorit's web site at www.dcn.davis.ca.us/GO/EXPLORIT/.