We've been having so much fun this summer, and we're bummed it's almost over! But never fear, even though school looms around the corner, at the Science Center, that just means it's time to go back to cool. All our regular workshops and programs return in the fall, and we have been busy concocting and creating marvelous STEAM activities to go along with each. Learn more about our Maker Days, Girls Engaged in Making (GEM) Workshops, Home School Academy, Home School Workshops for middle schoolers, and more below!
A NEW Maker Days format begins on August 6, only a few weeks away! This year, all Maker Days programs will involve our student scientists exploring science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics during hands-on, creative workshops that give learners the opportunity to create, construct, and make something new at each session. Our August 6 lesson focuses on electricity, and students will be shocked at how much fun they have while making circuits with printed models, coin batteries, and LED lights. They'll also get the chance to make their very own Popsicle stick flashlight to take home, too. For a full run down of each month's scheduled lessons through May, head to our Maker Days page to learn more. You can also register for the first class here. All our Maker Days lessons take place on the first Tuesday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 4-11.
Our Gems rock! The first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon, girls age 8-15 can explore how many different ways STEM careers and degrees can be pursued while they experience hands-on activities that teach them how to use tools, work with hi-tech equipment, and just generally have a ton of fun. This year's GEM Workshops focus on studying various trail-blazing women in science and how each of these scientists helped shape the world we live in today. Our first workshop is September 7, and we'll be digging deep to determine how paleontologist Mary Anning discovered fossils and bones way back in the 1800s. Learn more about our upcoming workshops here.
Home School Academy has grown with each year, and we're so happy to see returning faces every semester and always excited to see new ones! Home school students ages 6-12 can join our academy on the third Tuesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Every month, students get to discover a new lesson while participating in hands-on science lessons designed to foster a lifelong love of all things science. On August 20, Home School Academy students will have the opportunity to get up close with our critters while learning all about animals. For our full calendar, head to our Home School Academy page or register for August's class.
A continuance of our Home School program specifically designed for home school students in grades 6-8, middle schoolers participate in hands-on lessons designed to foster interests across science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. These workshops give students the chance to explore how all of these areas help shape our world while experiencing hands-on lessons with fun, immersive technology and programming. Each month in our workshops we'll explore a new topic. At every session, students can expect a fun and different lesson from week to week. Each session builds off one another, so it is recommended students attend all sessions for the month. Workshops begin in September and are held every Wednesday of the month from 1-3 p.m. through May. Discover our upcoming lessons here.
Even More Fun
Don't forget about our programs that continued all summer and will still bring in plenty of entertainment in the fall! Our Mini Makers and Experimenters Lab for kiddos age 3-5 is held the second and fourth Thursday of every month from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Young explorers will have the chance to listen to a fun new story every time and create during hands-on activities based on each book. For adults looking to get together and discuss books, check out our science-based book club the third Wednesday of the month from 6-7:30 p.m. starting in September. Our director, Diane, heads up this book club, and she always finds the coolest reads to discuss (and puts out a great appetizer spread, to boot). For upcoming books, click here. For science lovers of ALL ages, be sure to check out our Planetarium Nights the first and third Thursday of every month; during the fall, we have show times at 6 and 7 p.m. Spots book up quickly, so we do recommend buying tickets in advance from our event page. Finally, the whole family can have a blast during our Discover Science Saturdays, which will go back to being held both the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in September. Access to all four of these awesome programs are FREE to members, so be sure to check out our membership options. If you're looking for more museums to explore right here in our county, download our Explore Okaloosa flyer above. We're looking forward to continuing the fun this fall, and we hope to see you again soon!