ExploreHope, Hope College’s academic outreach center, is celebrating our 25th anniversary of hands-on science for K-12 students and pre-service training for Hope college students. What began one scientist’s bright idea has turned into Holland’s premier kids science camp, and Hope College’s most fun-filled opportunity for college students to explore teaching and science communication.
Tod Guigino was a long-time chemistry department lab manager at the college before running our summer science programs. In 1996, he and several students offered the first chemistry camps for elementary students. Although he passed away in 2013, we strive to make him proud by carrying on his legacy and providing exploration-based science camps for K-12 students.
Every year, ExploreHope has built on Tod’s foundation, expanding camps to disciplines like environmental science, robotics, and paleontology, and including middle and high school camps as well. To celebrate our 25th anniversary, ExploreHope is proud to announce our accreditation with the national American Camp Association!
“Accreditation demonstrates ExploreHope’s commitment to a quality, high-caliber program,” Susan Brown, Director of ExploreHope states. “We value both the impactful training and experiential learning of our Hope student staff along with a safe and engaging experience for our campers. It marks our commitment to our families and serves as a strong foundation for us to continue to innovate and encourage life-long learning in the community.”
In 2021, ExploreHope served nearly 1000 summer campers and 20 student staff members over eight weeks of hands-on summer fun in June and July on Hope’s beautiful campus. But that’s not the end of ExploreHope’s impact with the community! During the academic year, ExploreHope continues to reach K-12 students through both virtual and in-person outreach programs. Approximately 1100 K-12 students and 60 Hope student volunteers participated in programs like Nuclear Science Day, hands-on STEAM Outdoor Art Day , and Brain Week.
Passionate about science education in the Holland and Hope community? Support the work ExploreHope is doing! Donations welcome here.
Know a kid who’d love to spend a fun-filled week (or two!) exploring science with us this summer? Gift certificates available now! Give the gift of Tykes LEGO, The Science of Harry Potter, Wonders of the Watershed, and so many more.