Science-U 2021 starts this month!
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June 2021
We are excited to start Science-U this month and to meet the campers virtually! Also, campers may attend more than one camp now! Stay tuned to our social media posts to see how our camps are going! The links are at the bottom of the newsletter. Topics we've included in this month's issue include:
- Science-U 2021 Virtual Camp Registration
- Summer Activities BINGO card
- Young Women in STEM Workshop announcement
- Partnership with the WPSU Virtual Summer Camp
- Activities at the Arboretum
- Our Virtual Science Festival continues
- Welcome to a new team member
- Sustainability goals and observances
Have a great June and stay safe! ~ The Science Outreach Team
Summer 2021 Registration
Several virtual Science-U camps still have spots available! Families are invited to register for more than one camp! Check out the website links below and register your campers before registrations close in a few weeks!
- Designing the Future Club (Grades 5-6); June 21 - August 6 for $99
- Nature Explorers: Animal Adventures (Grades 2-4): July 5 – July 9 for $99
- NittanyBots: LEGO® Robotics – The Journey to Master Builder (Grades 3-5): July 5 – July 9 or July 12 – July 16 for $99
- Make It Matter (Grades 9-12): July 12 – July 16 for $50
- Life...In Space! (Grades 6-8): July 19 – July 23 for $99
- Build, Fly, Code - STEM Camp for Students on the Autism Spectrum (Grades 9-12): August 2 – August 5 for free
If children can't attend virtual Science-U camps this summer, we look forward to seeing them next year when Science-U plans to be back in-person on the University Park campus of Penn State!
Summer Activity Ideas
In our first newsletter last summer, we shared a fun BINGO card from our Nature Explorer's camp. This year, we created a BINGO card with activities related to several of our Science-U camps! Summer is a great time for families to learn about science together and this game may get some scientific curiosity flowing. You can download the BINGO card using the link below.
Be sure to stay safe when doing any of the activities and to supervise young children closely. Let us know if you learn something new and share pictures with us if you want! Have a great summer!
GWIS Presents: Young Women in STEM Workshop
Starting June 9th, the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) at Penn State will host a Virtual S.T.E.M. Studio for girls in grades 5-10 who are interested in learning more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Click on the photo to download a flyer or use the link below to register for this free online program!
WPSU Virtual Summer Camp
The Office of Science Outreach is partnering with WPSU on their Virtual Summer Camp! This online program encourages families to go on adventures around the world - and expeditions right outside their doors! Each weekday during the summer, starting June 14 and going until August 6, WPSU will release videos and activities that will explore the Earth's seven continents. Researchers from the Eberly College of Science will showcase their discoveries from around the world on STEM Thursdays! Each presentation will also include a fun and educational activity from our office that families can do at home! WPSU has different topics available for the other weekdays such as Music Mondays and Cooking Tuesdays. Click the button below to receive weekly camp updates and announcements.
Activities at the Arboretum
The Arboretum at Penn State is offering several events for community members this month! Check out the upcoming programs using the links below, or by visiting the Arboretum's website.
- Bee Hotel Workshop - Free for families, June 5th
- Food from Forage - Free for adults, starting June 8th
- What are Gall Wasps? - Free webinar for adults, June 9th
Virtual Science Festival
Looking for fun science activities to do at home this summer? Don't forget about our Virtual Science Festival! New content has been added and more will be included throughout the summer months.
Welcome Tabitha!
We are excited to introduce Tabitha Johnson, our newest addition to the Office of Science Outreach! Tabitha has been in the Eberly College of Science since 2016 as an Administrative Assistant in the Information Technology office across the hall from us. Her background includes quality and inventory control in logistics and various nonprofit work throughout PA. She also has volunteered at some of our outreach events in the past! When she’s not in the office assisting faculty and staff, or taking classes with Penn State World Campus, you can find Tabitha serving as a sergeant in the Army National Guard. Please help us welcome Tabitha to the team!
What is sustainability?
The term "sustainability" has many definitions and can mean different things to different people. At Penn State, sustainability is defined as the simultaneous pursuit of human health and happiness, environmental quality, and economic well-being for current and future generations.
Some other "fun facts" about sustainability at Penn State:
- The Penn State Sustainability Institute works to advance the causes of the planet and its people.
- The Eberly College of Science has it's own Sustainability Council that works as part of the Sustainability Institute and with researchers and groups within the science community.
- The 2030 Global Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations are the guideline for all sustainability efforts. These 17 Sustainable Development Goals, shown above, are global requests to improve the quality of life for all people while also preserving natural areas.
How can you contribute to these goals? The United Nation's calendar highlights several observances that you and your family can recognize and celebrate this month! Here are a few examples:
- June 3 - World Bicycle Day - The bicycle provides a healthy form of exercise and is an environmentally fit means of transportation!
- June 5 - World Environment Day - This United Nation's website includes a downloadable playbook that shares information about ecosystems, the #GenerationRestoration movement, and a school curriculum known as the T.R.E.E.S. School Program (Teaching Reforestation, Environmental Engagement, and Sustainability) to make learning about the environment fun!
- June 8 - World Oceans Day - If you can't visit and celebrate the ocean in person this day, the United Nations has created a website that invites everyone to a virtual event, The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods, which will feature over 40 international speakers.
Meet our team!
Our Office of Science Outreach staff members are happy to assist you with any questions related to Science Outreach. Bookmark our website at https://science.psu.edu/outreach for more information or email us at outreach@science.psu.edu.
We would love to hear from you!
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