Ah, the start of summer in Michigan. Strawberry-rhubarb pie! Crisp, sunny days! Shockingly cold water temperatures at the Lake! But nothing says early June in West Michigan more than…. the annual kick-off for the Hope Summer Science Camps! This year, of course, things look a little different for us. But nothing can keep us back …
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STEM@Home: Citizen Science
Pardon me, are you Citizen Science? No, that’s not a hip new prefix for your name – it’s a description of your new summer hobby! Citizen science is science where everyone participates – including PhDs, amateurs, students, volunteers. Then, professional researchers use the collected data to come to real-world conclusions. Why citizen science? Well, we …
STEM@Home: For the Birds
“Bird Song Hero” and The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Academy Ah, the sweet sounds of a Michigan spring day. The whisper of a breeze, rustling through branches just burst into leaf. The burble of a creek, swollen with snowmelt and April showers. The vibrant trills of songbirds, swooping and nesting overhead. Wouldn’t it be …
STEM@Home: Kid-ventions
The United States Patent and Trademark Office for Kids Calling all kid-ventors! Are you itching for an at-home kid-venture? Maybe you’ve got dreams of making money with a new product as a kid-vendor? Don’t just whine about it, like a kid-venter – STEM@Home is here to help you become a kid-inventor! The U.S. Patent and …
STEM@Home: Let’s Spark! At Home
The Smithsonian Institution’s Spark!Lab at the Holland Museum Sure, ExploreHope and the Hope Summer Science Camps are your go-to for hands-on summer science experiences. But did you know there’s a nationally-recognized, year-round STEAM lab for kids just down the street from us? The Holland Museum has been a longtime partner for our camps, but especially …
STEM@Home: LEGO Lesson Love
Explore the world of simple machines with LEGO challenges from Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls! Sure, your LEGO blocks have been VIP of the toy room for years now. Your minifigs could populate a small city. You’re got LEGO Hogwarts, the LEGO Death Star, and the Eiffel Tower (in LEGO) in places of honor …
STEM@Home: Earth Day, Your Way
Did you get your party hats? Crepe paper streamers? Make sure to blow a noisemaker or two, because April 22, 2020 is a special day for Planet Earth – it’s the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! Sure, 50th anniversaries are technically known as “golden” anniversaries – but don’t worry, Earth isn’t expecting anything flashy from …
STEM@Home: Dyson Engineering
Week 5: The James Dyson Foundation Challenge Cards More than vacuum cleaners – although their vacuums ARE boss. More than super-fast hand dryers, bladeless fans, and space age heaters – the Dyson name goes along with creative, clever solutions to everyday problems. Hey! You’re clever! You’re creative, too. And you certainly live every day in …
STEM@Home: Potter-ology
Week 4: We Are Teachers – Harry Potter Science Calling all Potterheads! Taking a break from syllabi and curricula doesn’t mean no more mischief to manage. Nurture your wizard-in-training with this great roundup of real-life science activities at We Are Teachers inspired by the magical world of Harry Potter. Hagrid’s pounding down the door and …
STEM@Home: Moving Stories
Week3: The Tinkering Studio at Exploratorium.edu Hands getting itchy to make and do? Head buzzing with ideas? Fingers tingling? ExploreHope knows the feeling, and we’re here to help! This week we’re highlighting The Tinkering Studio, located at one of the coolest museums in the country, the Exploratorium. Tinkering and storytelling unite as you build a …