Informal, out-of-school-time (OST) programs are an effective way to improve children’s science education. Beginning with our Science is Fun initiative in the 1980s, we’ve maintained a strong commitment to OST programming. Our family science events, afterschool programs, science carnivals, and summer camps have provided terrific venues to get children and their parents excited about science. Many of our teacher workshops require teacher participants to conduct family science events, and our staff is always available to conduct OST science events for youth clubs and other organizations.
The ,ajor OST initiatives (described below) were funded by a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Ohio Board of Regents, and Miami University. Our Science Is Fun camps and carnivals have been sponsored by the Middletown Community Foundation.
HealthRICH: Health Risks, Information, and Choices
HealthRICHis an education partnership designed to use informal education events to help young teens and their families better understand environmental health science issues. The HealthRICH project encourages teens to make informed personal choices to reduce their environmental health risks. The project developed print materials and web resources for young-teen and family programming, held training programs, developed supporting materials, and conducted informal education events for young teens and their families.
HealthRICH materials are unique and valuable resources. (See Strive to Thrive! series below.) They are thoughtfully designed to appeal strongly to the young teen audience with detective-style scenarios, magazine style readings, and popular imagery. Designed for informal, self-directed or small group-learning environments such as science clubs, youth organizations, and after-school programs, the books will draw teens’ families and friends into discussions of important health topics.
HealthRICH was funded by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.
Family Science Programs
Our Family Science programs provide opportunities for children and their adult partners to explore science concepts through a variety of fun and exciting activities. We believe that getting families involved in their children’s education in positive ways, such as through a Family Science event, is one of the best ways to improve student performance in school.
Our family science efforts resulted in the publication of Science Night Family Fun from A to Z (see below), a book filled with 26 fun, family-tested activities. We have recently released a Spanish supplement to this book geared toward Latino families in which English is a second language.
Science Night Family Fun A to Z was produced through funding from the National Science Foundation and the Ohio Board of Regents Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Program.
Informal Education Resources
- Strive to Strive! Book Series
- Family Science Series
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