Science Stars – Girls Grades 2-5
Welcome to Science Stars!
A weeklong experience for girls in grades 2- 5. Discover Long Island Sound through a balance of hands-on STEM activities, collaborative team building, and other camp fun. Science Stars will get the opportunity to meet and work with professional women in STEM, equipping them with lifelong skills. By meeting live animals and sailing aboard the Schooner SoundWaters, our educators cultivate curiosity and creativity, inspiring students to take on life’s biggest challenges. For families eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, SNAP, or HUSKY, please fill out the Scholarship Form.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Tess Cimino at tcimino@soundwaters.org or call (203) 323-1978.
Science Stars April Vacation Camp
Date: April 11-15th, 2022
Time: 9 AM – 4 PM
Grades:: 2nd-5th grade
Price: $150 with lunch included
Location: Coastal Education Center at Cove Island
Science Stars is designed for 2nd – 5th grade girls in Stamford Public Schools.
Each day girls will perform experiments, conduct research, and collect data as they explore the local environment.
Possible Activities
Research -Water Analysis
Maintaining healthy water conditions in the Long Island Sound is critical to a thriving ecosystem – how does our local water measure up? Use advanced testing equipment to explore the unseen but essential factors in Long Island Sound. Is there enough oxygen in the water for creatures to breathe? Are there invisible pollutants threatening our food chain from the bottom up? Are waste products travelling across the land, only to end up in the water? And what can we do to help?
Soil filtration
At SoundWaters, we learn all about the Long Island Sound. So why should we investigate the land? Find out why! The land surrounding the Sound has a critical role to play in maintaining the health of the entire ecosystem. Collect soil samples, test and examine your findings, and use the soil itself to clean (yes, clean!) a sample of “polluted” water. How much pollution can you remove? What does that mean about our watershed? And why is this so important for our own use of water?
Bio-Engineering lab
Through a bio-engineering experiment students will conduct an in-depth examination of the horseshoe crab’s anatomy. They will observe the adaptations the horseshoe crab has that has allowed the species to survive for so long. Students will also test and witness the importance of the horseshoe crab blood in protecting them against bacterial infection in the water.
Team Building
At SoundWaters, we work the best as a team! Have fun learning how work together with your peers to be the first to complete a task. Students will work through a series of team building activities designed to increase communication, reasoning and listening skills.
Design a sail car!
After research and planning, engineer the ideal sail car to win the big race! Students will research sail designs and effectiveness. They will then build a model of their ideal sail car. Whose will be the winner at the end of the week?
Each day, the Science Stars hear from an adult female professional in a STEM-related field. The guest speaker will talk with the girls about opportunities for women in science and bring a project that challenges the girls to observe, analyze and experiment.