Hands-On Science Camp Makes Summer Fun at the California Science Center

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Science Center's Hands-on Science Camp offers a class for every age and stage to inspire young imaginations. Camp begins June 13 and continues through August 12, 2016.  

Hands-On Science Camp features 172 classes and over 30 unique week-long courses, including popular parent-and-child classes that give families a chance to investigate science together. Campers can choose space-themed courses such as "Planet Patrol" (Pre-K), "Spaced Out" (Kindergarten), "3, 2, 1 Blast Off!" (1^st/2^nd grade), "Go for Launch!" (3^rd/4^th grade), "Mission to Mars" (5^th/6^th grade), and "Working in Space" (7^th/8^th grade) to learn more about our universe and space travel. Students will also visit the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion.

"Our classes combine fun, classroom activities with unique experiences. Classes may include the Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibit or guest appearance by one of our aerospace or ecosystems curators," says Ron Rohovit, Deputy Director of Education.

The Science Camp's Little Learner programs offer parent-child classes for the Pre-K age group that focus on a scientific theme with exciting hands-on activities and crafts. For example, in "Now I See You," young campers discover the physics of light and optics, investigate the visible and non-visible spectrum of colors, and explore vibrant colors that help us observe the world. In "Sticky, Icky, Yucky," kindergartners explore how chemicals react to all kinds of stinky, slimy, and gooey blobs and will make their very own Slime, Gak, and even some Oobleck! "Science Stew," for 1^st/2^nd graders, uncovers the connections between culinary creations and chemistry, and how to make those taste buds go crazy!

Additional highlights include full-day classes such as "The Science of Animation: Basic Animation," where students learn animation principles while creating an animated film, and a course titled, "The Science of Animation: Enhancing Your Design," where advanced techniques including character modeling, keyframe animation, and sound are used to produce a longer animated film.  "aMAZEing Robots," shows campers how to design and build a robot that can navigate through a maze using its own senses. A new class has been added for 9^th/10^th graders, "Soap Box Derby Racers," that explores friction, momentum, potential and kinetic energy as students engineer a soap box derby car.

Hands-On Science Camp takes place in the Science Center's Wallis Annenberg Building for Science Learning and Innovation. The facility offers state-of-the-art themed classrooms and the 32,000 square-foot Big Lab, with its large-scale experiment platforms. Many courses take advantage of the Big Lab's unique features with hands-on investigations involving air flow, buoyancy, gravity, ecology and more. 

Courses vary in price with half- and full-day session rates. California Science Center Foundation members receive a discount rate.  An extended day program is available for kindergarten – 8^th graders.

Create a Camp
For group leaders who need a science learning experience for a group of 15 or more, a customized camp program can be developed to meet your needs, whether it's a specialized summer camp, short winter camp, long spring camp or anything in between.

Call the Hands-On Science Camp Hotline at (213) 744-7444 for a free brochure, or visit www.californiasciencecenter.org/camp for a complete list of course offerings and registration form.

More Education Programs
The Science Center has an array of science program options including Science Saturdays, Home School Days, Scout Days and Educator Professional Learning Workshops. Visit our website for descriptions and dates.

About the California Science Center
The California Science Center's mission is as follows: "We aspire to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning in everyone by creating fun, memorable experiences, because we value science as an indispensable tool for understanding our world, accessibility and inclusiveness, and enriching people's lives."

The California Science Center and IMAX Theater are located in historic Exposition Park just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway at 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission to Science Center exhibits is free. For recorded information, including IMAX show times, call 323.SCIENCE (323.724-3623). Parking is available in the guest lot at Figueroa and 39th / Exposition Park Drive at $10 per car, $25 for buses or oversized vehicles. Both the Science Center and IMAX Theater are wheelchair accessible. For further information, please visit our website at www.californiasciencecenter.org.

Media Contact:
Paula Wagner | (213) 744-2144
pwagner@cscmail.org

SOURCE California Science Center