Summertime STEM is Back!
Since reopening a month ago, we are feeling the joy of having kids and families back in the Lab and our van back on the road for outreach programs. Our pandemic-invented virtual camps are back too!
While we are operating differently at the Lab with campers only on weekdays and families visiting for timed-entry sessions on weekends, our new model has allowed for deeper and more meaningful experiences for all. Campers love spreading out with activities throughout the Lab. On weekends, families are enjoying the occasion for hands-on learning together without the worry of overcrowded conditions. They tell us how much they like having more space and time to interact with our exhibits, educators, and interns. And our community partners appreciate having the science center come to their venues to serve children both in-person and virtually.
While normal has not fully returned for our core audience of children under 12, their families, and educators, we are excited to be back with safe and fun STEM experiences this summer, both in-person and virtually. Thank you to all of our supporters who have made it possible to persevere and evolve to best serve the community!
Sincerely,
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Nene Spivy
Executive Director
Children's Science Center
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STEM Summer Camps
Virtual and In-person Options!
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Citizen Science Summer
Explore Open Oceans in July
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Join us for a month of Open Oceans! We will highlight resources to learn more about how to conserve and protect our waterways and the creatures within them. Get out and get practical with the Marine Debris Tacker App, and join us for Shark Week! Follow along with us on social media and come to the Lab for one of our weekend times to explore!
July 6 – Look for our One-Pager Activity all about the oceans
July 16 – Join us for a Facebook Live event!
July 20 – Join us for a Facebook Live event!
July 19 – 25 – Celebrate Shark Week with us at the Children’s Science Center! Free shark teeth to weekend visitors under age 12 while supplies last!
Purchase advance tickets and save $2 per ticket when you purchase online!
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Northern Virginia Science Center
Visit the Launch the Future Zone!
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Just two months ago, we revealed the name, brand, architectural design, and a fly-through of the Northern Virginia Science Center at our Celebrating Science Launch the Future Watch Party!
Be sure and check out the new Launch the Future Zone when you visit the Lab! Learn about the project, the meaning behind the Novamark (logo), and see our vision for tomorrow!
You can still enjoy the powerful testimony from youth, educators, business, and community leaders as well as special messages from Governor and Mrs. Northam, and Vint Cerf, Father of the Internet and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google. Watch the encore presentation of Celebrating Science at novasci.org.
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Youth Development Initiative
Summer Internship Program
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Our interns have been busy this summer! Our robust in-person and virtual internship programs engage youth in important skill development while helping us carry out our mission of inspiring a love of STEM.
In partnership with Commonwealth Cyber Security Initiative (CCI) Nova Node and George Mason University, our CCI interns engage in one week of professional development at the Children’s Science Center before starting a paid internship at a Northern Virginia cybersecurity workplace. Twenty local high school students and college freshman completed their professional development “boot camp”, visited the Lab, and presented well-received cybersecurity activities they created for the Children’s Science Center. Next, they begin a five-week industry internship provided through community partners: Chainbridge Solutions, ManTech International Corporation, NT Concepts, Inc., Oceus Networks, Inc., SYSUSA, inc., and Widelity, Inc.
Our amazing camp interns have been a tremendous help — in the Lab and online! Our virtual camp intern opportunities were developed last year when the Lab pivoted to all virtual content. With support from a generous regional funder, our six STEM Youth Development interns have also played an enormous role in supporting the Lab’s weekend operations.
Across all of our programming, we are fortunate to have 25+ interns which is vital to the Children's Science Center's continued success. We are so proud of how everyone has adapted to meet the needs of the Center — and the community of young adults we serve!
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Equinix is one of the Science Center’s newest corporate champions. We are grateful for their support of our vision to build a world-class science center in Northern Virginia, and today, we recognize Equinix’s role as an advocate for STEM learning with their gift to the Launch the Future campaign as a Community Partner!
Founded in 1996, Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company. Digital leaders harness our trusted platform to bring together and interconnect the foundational infrastructure that powers their success. Through the proliferation of digital media, social media, and cloud applications, Equinix is now a $2.4B powerhouse, with over 220 data centers on 5 continents. Equinix strives to make positive and economic impacts on the communities in which it operates. Equinix’s commitment to being a good neighbor aligns strongly with the mission, vision, and values of the Science Center, and we look forward to working with Equinix in the future to make Northern Virginia a beacon for STEM in the region.
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Try It At Home
Slushy Science
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When you're smack in the middle of a summer full of sunshine, sunglasses, and tons of activities, all you crave is a cool drink! This is a fun and refreshing experiment! It’s even more fun when it’s the result of a science experiment you can do at home! It takes a while to finalize and the results are a sweet surprise. |
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The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a
non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
We could not continue to share our mission virtually without our community of supporters. Your gifts directly support our mission and programs. THANK YOU!
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