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News from the Chair
Fall is a time of new beginnings. September brings kids back to a fresh school year full of the excitement of learning. I am equally excited to be stepping up as the new Chair for the Children's Science Center Board. I look forward to leading a project that is so vital to the future of chjldren in our community.
On behalf of the entire Children's Science Center organization, I would like to thank Leo Rydzewski for his service at the Chair of the Board for the Children's Science Center for the past year. Under Leo's leadership, the organization accomplished a great deal including a detailed business plan, a successful series of Community Conversations and invaluable outreach to local businesses and individuals to share the vision for the Children's Science Center. We are fortunate that Leo will remain active on the Board. Thank you, Leo!
The Children's Science Center is proud to be a part of something very special, an event that our country has never witnessed before, the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival on October 23 and 24 at the National Mall. What is enormously exciting for us at the Children's Science Center is that everyone behind this huge event shares the vision that we have: inspiring the next generation, reversing the decline in interest in STEM subjects and turning on kids to the marvels and wonders of science. Why? Because we care about kids and their future and the future of our country as a global leader. Prepare to be awed and inspired when you see the length of The National Mall filled with the most amazing science and engineering exhibits the country has to offer. As you enjoy this event, visit our booth and think about bringing this level of excitement to the children of Northern Virginia every day.
We will also be hosting a series of special informative events were we will share our vision for The Children's Science Center. These "Imagine Their Future" events will be a fantastic opportunity to share your passion for this museum with others. If you'd like to get directly involved in these events, we have several ways to help. You can assist us with the planning and execution of the events, or be a community ambassador and invite those in your network to learn more about the Children's Science Center by attending an event.
Whether at this event or others we have this fall... get energized, take part in the nationwide movement to address the STEM education gap, and join our local effort to create The Children's Science Center!
Yours,
Nene Spivy
Chair, Board of Directors |
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Don't Miss the First USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo
October 23-24 on the National Mall
Imagine chatting with Albert Einstein, building an underwater robot, managing cargo in the space shuttle or watching a science magician. These are just a few of the over 1,500 interactive exhibits and stage shows planned for the first USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo, October 23-24 on the National Mall and surrounding areas. The Expo has something for everyone and includes:
- The Science behind TRON and other Hollywood movies, baseball, superheroes, Thanksgiving dinner, the mathematics of speed jump roping and much more!
- Fifty stage shows featuring science musicians, comedians, rock stars - even the Redskins cheerleaders are creating a support science cheer!
- More cool science and engineering exhibits than you can even imagine!
Bring your whole family and give your future and current scientists the experience of a lifetime. Come check out The Children's Science Center's exhibit, "Energy for Today: Renewable Wind Power," located at booth #437 between 4th Street and 6th Street, N.W.!
"Energy for Today: Renewable Wind Power," will showcase the potential of wind power, wind turbines, and the fundamentals behind this technology, providing children of all ages the opportunity to explore and participate. Visitors to the exhibit will have the opportunity to engineer their own Lego wind turbine! Next, a handheld crank generator demonstrates the physical exertion needed to power the turbine's generator in order to produce enough electricity to illuminate a light bulb. The exhibit will also explore how energy is conducted by physical exertion applied to the turbine's blades. Younger visitors will have the opportunity to make their own "lung-powered" pinwheels to take home as a souvenir!
Visit the official Festival website to view all exhibit and stage shows, download a map of the Expo grounds, and view the entire Festival Calendar: www.usasciencefestival.org. If you would like to volunteer at our booth, let us know. |
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Museum Without Walls
Join Us for These Upcoming Events
Museum without Walls events are a way to let children (and adults) experience the wonders of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through fun, hands-on activities. They enable us to begin to fulfill our mission of making STEM fun as well as raise our visibility in the community. Be a visitor or volunteer for these exciting events.
THIS SATURDAY! Fall for Fairfax Kidsfest!
Fall for Fairfax Kidsfest is a free festival on Saturday, October 2 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm held at the Fairfax County Government Center. The event emphasizes educational exhibits focused on health, fitness, safety, learning and the environment. The Children's Science Center will be hosting an activity alongside other locate exhibitors such as Inova Arcade of Health and the National Capital Trackers! This year's festival will feature a farmer's market, non-profit expo, hayrides, scarecrow making, kids' climbing wall, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, train rides, bounces and slides, a recycling road show, and live entertainment on the Ellipse and Forum stages. See their website for more information.
Mark your calendar for our other upcoming Museum without Walls events:
Sunday, October 10
- The Collings Foundation 4th Annual WWII Reenactment at the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport, Warrenton, VA. The event will run 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Saturday, October 23 and Sunday, October 24 - Inaugural Science and Engineering Festival Expo, The National Mall. See article above and the Festival website for more information.
Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 - The Junior League of Northern Virginia's 10th Annual Enchanted Forest, Sheraton Reston Hotel
To learn more or to volunteer for a shift, please contact our Museum Without Walls leader, Lori Ann |
Welcome Our New Board Members
Adalene "Nene" Spivy is a former board member of Discovery Creek Children's Museum, leading the Strategic Planning and Marketing Committees and serving on the Finance Committee. she is a past president of the Junior League of Northern Virginia, past chair of Fairfax County's Community Action advisory Board and a Leadership Fairfax graduate. Nene's professional experience is in the telecommunications industry managing product development, new market entry, process and systems engineering with companies such as Teligent, MCI and Accenture. She has an MBA from U.Va.'s Darden School of Business and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Lori Ann Terjesen's professional experience is in the art museum field and includes curatorial fellowships at several recognized museums in the United States. Lori Ann was a member of the Department of Development and Membership at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMa). At MoMa, she supported a multi-million dollar capital campaign through prospecting and researching high net-worth donors as well as alternative funding sources.
Anne Newport has a background in child psychology, human resources, and education. Anne is currently COO of Cornerstone Montessori School in Chantilly, VA. She directs many aspects of the business of education including curriculum and program development, teach and staff training, financial operations, emergency and safety planning, federal and state standards assurance, and all facets of fundraising for the school. Anne's past experience includes working as a Montessori teacher as well as a human resources processional in the health care industry.
You can read more about all our board members at www.thechildrenssciencecenter.org |
White House Changes the Equation
President's New Initiative Places Emphasis on STEM
In Spring 2009, at the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama made a plea to Americans to step up our country's emphasis on STEM in order to compete globally in the coming century. This month he went a step further in that charge and announced the launch of Change the Equation, a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of high level CEO's who will work with both public and private sector to grow America's next generation of leaders.
To learn more about this incredibly important initiative read the White House press release
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Challenge: Discover the Hidden Colors in Leaves!
Science Activities for Kids and Adults
Note: This experiment involves rubbing alcohol. It is recommended that all the steps involving handling the alcohol be done by the adult.
Preview the Fall Colors hidden in every leaf with this cool experiment.
What You Need:  - Green Leaves
- Plastic bowl
- Sand
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Rock
- Glass Jar
- Paper
- Paper Clips
What You Do:
- Gather some green leaves. Put a few tablespoons of sand in a plastic bowl and add the leaves. With adult supervision, add enough rubbing alcohol to cover the leaves.
- Crush them into little pieces using a rock. (Be sure to wash your hands after touching the rubbing alcohol, and keep alcohol away from younger children in the house.) Crushing the leaves in the rubbing alcohol will pull the pigment out of the leaf and turn the alcohol green.
- Carefully pour the green alcohol out of the bowl and into a glass jar. (Discard the sand.)
- Now, roll a piece of paper into a cylinder and clip the ends together with a paper clip. Place the paper cylinder in the jar of alcohol, and leave it overnight (keep it away from any flame).
- The leaf pigments will creep up the paper. The pigments climb at different speeds, causing the different colors to separate from each other. In the morning, when you check the paper, you will be able to see the colors that were hidden in the leaf on the paper cylinder.
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| The Children's Science Center is an interactive hands-on museum being planned for Northern Virginia. Our mission is to excite children about science, technology, engineering, and math by making these subjects fun and enabling children to learn through play. For more information, visit www.TheChildrensScienceCenter.org. Please direct all inquiries to The Children's Science Center, 485 Spring Park Place Suite 500, Herndon VA 20170.
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