November 2023

Thankful for This Community It’s the season of gratitude and this month we’re giving thanks to our amazing community! Reflecting on the past year, we are extremely grateful for… Over 500 volunteers that gave over 10,000 hours of their time to inspire children and youth in STEM with the science center Families, foundations, and businesses that invested in the Science Center’s mission today and the future Northern Virginia Science Center The 119 schools and their educators who brought their students with field trips to the Children’s Science Center Lab, hosted Family Science Night, and other programs at their schools Nearly 100 youth that worked as interns and volunteers, inspiring us, their younger peers, and industry partners Thousands of families that brought their children to the Lab and to our mobile STEM programs in libraries and schools across the region, making learning together a priority for their family The many community, industry, and public partners who collaborate with us to create a greater collective impact! It is a privilege to serve this community. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely, Nene Spivy Executive Director

STEM Kits with Micron! October 19 This past month, 20 Micron team members came to the Lab to assemble 100 STEM kits! These kits were packed with hands-on activities that will make STEM accessible and fun for local children at the Martin K. Alloy Boys & Girls Club of Manassas.

Family Costume Party! October 21 The Lab had a great time at our first ever SOLD OUT Family Costume Party. Guests had the chance to enjoy the Haunted Lab ~after hours~ with special activities including animal encounters, dissections, and a costume contest!

BIG NEWS!— Launching THREE Timed Entries at the Lab Coming December 16! We know how much you love the Lab! Beginning December 16, we'll be offering three, two-hour timed entries on the weekends. Please note the changes— ⋆ 10 AM - 12 PM ⋆ 1 PM - 3 PM ⋆ 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM Tickets are available for purchase now!  Purchase tickets!

Added Value— Astro Adventures! Sunday, November 12 • 10 AM & 2 PM This weekend!— Join the Youth Advisory Board for an out of this world experience! In addition to usual Lab offerings, guests will have the chance learn about space with hands-on activities led by local high school students! This event is included with your timed entry ticket! Purchase tickets!

Happy Thanksgiving! The Lab will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd. Need some more STEM-tastic family time? Visit the Lab on Friday, November 24th for timed entries at 10 AM and 2 PM Purchase tickets!

Winter Break Timed Entries December 16 - January 1 Need winter break plans? The Lab will be open on weekends and weekdays during the school holidays.Visit the Lab for 2 hours of un-brr-lievable STEM fun! Note—The Lab will be closed on December 25 for Christmas.

Winter Wonder Lab Begins December 9 • All Timed Entries It's time for wintry fun! Join us in the Lab for special activities which include embarking on an arctic animal expedition, exploring the geometry of a snowflake, and lighting up a circuit with slime.

Purchase tickets!

New Event Alert! Kids' Night Out: Snowed In Science Saturday, December 9 • 5 - 7 PM Who's hoping for a snow day? We know the Lab is! Join us for a kids-only event where we will build igloos, make snowmen out of slime, and engineer snowball cannons! All in the comfort of your PJs and the warm Lab. This is the perfect opportunity to get your holiday shopping done at the mall! Purchase tickets!

Save the Date! New Year's Eve Around the World Sunday, December 31  10 AM, 1 PM, 3:30 PM It's New Year's Day somewhere around the world! Join the Lab to celebrate the start of 2024 at a kid-friendly time that works for you!

Volunteer Spotlight Nelson Lattimer How did you first learn about the Youth Advisory Board? I learned about the Youth Advisory Board through a friend who was associated with the board. Tell us a little bit about yourself. I was born in Alexandria, Virginia and have lived in Maryland as well. I am currently a junior at Lake Braddock Secondary School and love science, mathematics, and computer science. I have two younger brothers and a dog. I enjoy running and going to the beach. I also enjoy volunteering around my community and mentoring younger students when I get the opportunity. Which STEM field is most interesting to you? I have always loved numbers. Math has always been my favorite subject in school, so mathematics remains my favorite field in STEM. However, as I have varied my studies, I have also become interested in chemistry and computer science and hope to do more of that in the future. What scientist do you admire most and why? The scientist that I admire most is George Washington Carver. He was an agricultural scientist who created new methods to prevent soil depletion. But past his scientific accomplishments, he is one of the most influential Black scientists during a time when Black people were not treated as equal or often accepted in the scientific community. He helped diversify the field of STEM which is a big reason why I admire him as a scientist. How can we inspire young people to become interested in science? We can inspire young people to become interested in STEM by introducing them to it early and showing them why science is both fun and useful. What is one scientific question you would like to see answered in your lifetime? Can solar energy be used efficiently and inexpensively as the main source of power for human activities, thereby reducing the rate of climate change? Nelson is a second-year Youth Advisory Board (YAB) member and serves on the YAB's Educational Videos team. They have given 42 hours of their time to the Science Center in the last year! Interested in volunteering? Visit our website.

Try It! Writing in Code The pig pen cypher is a secret way of writing traced back to the 1500s. It has been used by religious groups, countries, armies, and spies! It is a simple substitution cypher that uses geometry, and exchanges letters for symbols which are fragments of a grid. Learn more about codes in this activity! Try it at home!

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Children's Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and STEM programs traveling to schools and other community venues across the region.

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