May 2019 
From the Executive Director                                                           
Summer & Water, Of Course!
 
I often joke that water is one of the most magnetic experiences at the science center because people are "magnetically" drawn to water. At science centers larger than ours (ok, that is almost all science centers), the hands-on water galleries are the ones I have always had to drag my kids out of. Adults are equally mesmerized by water and what lives within it. It will be a few years before we have a water gallery of our own at the future science center, but we are not waiting! This summer we are celebrating streams, inside and outside of the Lab. With our citizen science project, we encourage our larger community to explore our region's watershed. It's a perfect time and reason to get outside.
 
The "runs" here are among my favorite features of our natural landscape, and I love hiking the trails beside them. I've often wondered: why are they called "runs"? Are they different than streams? It turns out that it is more about the region than the science. Check out this cool map of what waterway terms are most prevalent by region across the US.   But more importantly, check out the xSTREAM citizen science project we have planned for the summer and join us!
 





Executive Director
Children's Science Center
What's Happening at the Lab
New this month!

This month's newest experiment is xS tream Chemistry . 
 
Have you ever wondered where our tap water comes from? The infrastructure of local streams and rivers is vital in providing us with our every day use of water; that's why monitoring stream health is important.   Your challenge is to create a model that demonstrates the effects of some of those actions.


Mother's Day
Sunday, May 12
Free admission to all mothers, grandmothers and godmothers with the purchase of a child's admission. One paid admission for every one free admission.
Armed Force's Day
Saturday, May 18

Free admission to all veterans and active duty personnel and their families with proper identification. Must live in same household as military member.
Lab Late Opening
Thursday, May 23

The Lab will open at 1pm due to an extra large field trip. 

Check out the  calendar of events  for information on what's happening at the Lab all month long! 
Kids Night Out - Sliding Into Summer
Saturday, June 8, 6:30 - 8:30 pm 


Our popular Kids Night Out program means after-hours fun at the Lab for your kids while you enjoy a grown up evening. This program is for children in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
 
Pizza, fruit, drinks, and dessert will be served in the Garage while watching science videos, followed by rotations through various science activities including: 
  • Use chemical reactions to power a boat built by you! Race friends to the finish line.
  • Using pool noodles and the engineering design process, work with your team to create an awesome Marble Run.
  • Rocket Flingers! - design a rocket made of pool noodles and see just how far it will go.
Sign up with a sibling or friend and receive $5 off additional tickets with the promo code:  SLIDE 

Please note that this is a drop-off only event. If your child experiences separation anxiety or needs individual attention to eat or visit the bathroom, this event is not recommended.



Calling All Girl Scouts!
Why is STEM important?

Want to get your Girls Scout involved in STEM?  Did you know that the Children's Science Center Lab offers badge opportunities for Daises, Brownies and Juniors designed exclusively for Girl Scouts of America. Scouts may come to the Lab for a hands-on, engaging 2 hour workshop that leads to the successful completion of specific badges.

The Girl Scout Program has become a staff favorite with Kayanne Coote, Girl Scout Ambassador, as well as a STEM Educator at the Children's Science Center LAB. This past year, Kayanne earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. She was also recently named the GSCNC 2019 Young Woman of Distinction. "I believe STEM fosters a strong foundation for the leadership skills girls learn through Girl Scouts," says Kayanne. "As a younger Girl Scout, opportunities for STEM exploration, such as those at the LAB, have helped me develop communication, persistence, and a life-long love for learning."  Today, as a STEM Educator, she has the opportunity to develop the Girl Scout program, and help younger scouts explore their passions for STEM.

Badge workshops are offered Monday - Thursday, 4-6 pm and Sundays, 10 - 12pm. A minimum of 8 scouts are needed with a maximum of 16. The cost is $12 per scout and can be combined with General Lab exploration before or after the program for an additional $5.  To learn more about the badges offered and sign your troop up today, visit our website for more details.
Summer Camps are Here!
Plan ahead and secure your slot

Our STEM focused Summer Camps are Monday - Friday from 9am to 3pm for Rising Grades 1-4.  After Care from 3pm - 5pm is available when purchased in advance for $125 for the week.  Summer camps run from June 17 through August 23. Single day camps offered July 1-3 & 5. There is no camp on July 4th. 

Campers will spend the day alongside our STEM Educators exploring a variety of content, building their knowledge of key science concepts, all the while having fun and making new friends!

Coming Soon to the Children's Science Center Lab!

We will be rolling out our 2019 Citizen Scientist project; Creek Critters and all of our xSTREAM Science programming  in June. Check our website and upcoming emails for more details coming soon.  In the meantime, sign up for our first big event below!
XSTREAM Science!
Go on a stream walk with Loudoun Water 

Because stream health is important, w e are all about Xstream science this summer!

The Children's Science Center is excited to partner with Loudoun Water to offer our first ever stream monitoring event.  Healthy streams mean a healthy water supply!  Learn about what you can do to help!

During the first hour, Loudoun Water will lead you through their Ashburn Aquiary, a destination for children and parents to learn about wetlands, water conservation, and water treatment in Loudoun County.  Children's Science Center will also guide you through some hands-on activities exploring water pollution and prevention.  

In the second hour, you will work alongside trained stream monitors to analyze water samples from Loudoun Water's stream.  Utilize Audubon Naturalist Society's Citizen Science Project,  Creek Critters, to identify organisms and generate stream health reports. The event will end with an optional picnic, to eat alongside the Center's and Loudoun Water's staff.

Volunteer Spotlight
Minkee Kim

How did you first learn about the Children's Science Center?

It was right after I signed up for Volunteer Matters website and started searching for volunteer services that interests me. I tried to find which services were a good fit for me, and that is when I discovered the Children Science Center.
 
Tell us a little bit about yourself: Where are you from, occupation, homelife, etc.
I was born in Chicago, Illinois. I graduated from high school around 2010 and began taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. I already graduated with the bachelor's degree in Mathematics and associate's degree in Computer Science. My interest in Math came after high school and since then I began studying and expanding my learning experience. 
 

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with the Children's Science Center?

I enjoy seeing parents bring their kids to the Science Center and walk away satisfied with what they learned. The Science Center is a place for children to have fun, and as long as they are having fun, then we are having fun also.
 
What scientist do you admire most and why?
Albert Einstein. He is a scientist I admire because he is the reason why learning is integral to our education.
 
How can we inspire young people to become interested in science?  The fact that there is no right or wrong answer, we should try to engage young people to provide enough resources like providing more real world applications for young people to explore. For example, John presented his experiment of volcanic slime and thought kids would love it, and they did. But then I started to realize that the way he came up with it is through knowledge, reflection, creativity, observation, etc. all accumulated based on his learning process. To me that is what it means to be a learner.
 
What is one scientific question you would like to see answered in your lifetime?
If you were building another space shuttle, what is the length from Earth to Mars?

If you're interested in volunteering with the Children's Science Center, please visit our website . 
Try It At Home:
What's In a Penny? 

What happens when the metal in a coin is worth more than the face value of a coin? This has happened several times in the history of the United States resulting in the Treasury Department changing the metal composition of coins. These changes to metal composition provide opportunities to explore what's on the inside of pennies. With only a few common household items, you can explore the differences between pre and post-1982 pennies.



The Children's Science Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and your gifts directly support our mission and programs.