Science

Amazing Animal Adventures     Grades 1–4
Did you know that an iguana has three eyes? Or that a dolphin listens with its lower jaw? Join Niko the German Shepherd, and Kristine, an animal scientist, as we actively explore animal adaptations for survival in the wild, meet both furry and scaly creatures, and create some remarkable projects. Get up-close, hands-on experience with the fascinating world of animals.

Animal Training 101     Grades 5–9
Do you love animals? Now is your chance to gain some hands-on experience! Come learn the basics of animal care, training with Niko the German Shepherd, and have the opportunity to train your own mouse! Working in pairs, campers will take turns being primary trainer and backup trainer, and will even train each other. Campers with parental permission (and an appropriate cage) can take a mouse home at the end of the summer.
Note: Appropriate behavior, maturity, patience, and dedication are required to guarantee a safe and rewarding experience for all.

Astronomy - A Trip to the Stars     Grades 3-4
The day and night sky will never look the same as we explore telescope building, safe sun observation (in case of eclipse), stargazing, scale models of all of our planets, and more! We will create our own planet and a simple solar cooker, march off the distance between the planets and the sun, and act out the sun, moon, and earth in their yearly travels. The sky is not the limit!

The Big Dig      Grades 1–4
Roll up your sleeves and dig into the exciting world of rocks, crystals, and fossils. Join us as we grow our own crystals, learn how to identify rocks, and pan for real gold in a homemade river. Join the excavation team as we dig up an entire dinosaur skeleton and put it together. Amaze your parents by making and painting your own mold of a T-Rex tooth and Oviraptor claw to bring home.




Back by Popular Demand!

CSI: Summer Place     Grades 5–9

There is a whole set of new crimes to solve this summer! Who tried to poison the popsicles at break? Solve the case of the long lost Viking. Become a crime-scene investigator—learn how to analyze fingerprints, tell human hair from pet hair, test chemicals, ID blood types (using simulated blood), and many other forensic techniques. We will collect evidence and solve a different mystery each day.
Note: All cases involve non-violent crimes and non-hazardous materials.

Flight School     Grades 5-9
Are you interested in aviation? Does aerodynamics fascinate you? We’ll build and launch complex paper airplanes that loop, glide, and spin! We’ll send a slingshot helicopter into the sky, launch a hot-air balloon, send boomerangs flying, and design and build our own kites. We’ll also experiment with flying discs and even play a round of Frisbee Golf.

Nature’s Window     Grades 1-2
Do you like to catch fish, frogs, and other fascinating creatures? Investigate the wonders of nature as you explore the different habitats on campus and make your own plant and animal collections. You’ll even go on a special trip to Spice Bush Park and learn about the secrets of pond life. If wading through streams with mud on your boots is your idea of a fun time, then Nature’s Window is just for you!

Rocketry     Grades 5-9
Experience the excitement and satisfaction of successfully launching rockets that soar into the atmosphere to heights of close to 1,000 feet—well above any building on campus! You will assemble, paint, and launch each rocket that you make. This incredibly popular course is designed for both beginning and experienced rocketeers.

Water Rockets     Grades 3-4
Get ready for launch! In this introductory course you will learn how to construct your very own water rockets out of two-liter soda bottles. Add fins and nose cones to create an aerodynamic design. Achieve maximum altitude on launch day and become a Summer Place junior astronaut.

 

Carbon Footprint     New!     Grades 3-9
Explore alternative energies and 21st century green design by building, racing, and cooking your way to energy efficiency. Build your own energy efficient house, construct solar ovens to make S'mores, and battle solar robots. Learn how to find the “power vampires” that are draining the electricity from your homes and visit Watkinson School’s new energy-neutral building running off solar power and geothermal heating/cooling.

Catch That Bug!     New!     Grades 3-4
Can crickets swim? How fast do millipedes run? Do mealworms prefer Cocoa Puffs® or Rice Krispies® cereal? Find the answers to these questions as you become an entomologist handling real, live, non-biting, non-poisonous insects! You will make your own “Cricket Castles” and other insect homes as you take care of, study, and experiment with these people-friendly bugs!

Crazy Chemistry     Grades 1–4
Join the Crazy Chemistry lab as you discover and experiment with basic science concepts to become a Summer Place chemist. Explode pop rockets, launch a huge 50 foot solar balloon, get lost in a dry-ice cloud, build your own chemical volcano, create gooey slimes, send geysers of soda high into the sky, create "worms" and "snow" by mixing just the right liquids and powders, and even shake and make ice cream. This course is sure to excite the curiosity of all future scientists!






 


Summer Place Programs | University of Hartford  | 200 Bloomfield Avenue  | West Hartford, CT 06117
Phone 860.768.4432  | Fax 860.768.4233  | Email  splace@hartford.edu

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