Ahead of launching a hybrid summer science camp, the counsellors are making sure everything's ready.
Miah Dumoulin and Jessica Kim are two of the members of the 2020 Hybrid Science Expedition at Science Timmins. Recently, the two were making a test video to make sure they're ready when the program starts next week
For the new program, participants will pick up kits curbside at the Timmins organization. The counsellors will lead them through the experiments virtually.
The 10-week camp is for ages four to 14. You can sign up for a day or by the week.
Kim, who is in her second year as a counsellor, is looking forward to offering participants the experience she had as a child.
“Stimulating their minds and making their interest in science that much more fun and that much more exciting I find is what we want to deliver. Even though we can’t do that in person I believe it’s still just as important so doing the hybrid program still allows us to give them that message and still allows us to do science projects and just keep having fun with it. And hopefully, when they’re older they can also contribute to the science program,” she said.
Dumoulin and Kim are both excited about the new hybrid camp.
“You get to be a part of something a lot bigger and finding a lot more creative solutions to do things. And who knows, maybe if people like this then maybe we’ll be able to integrate it somehow extra into the program in years to come,” said Kim.
Science Timmins has run youth summer camps for the past 18 years, said president and CEO Antoine Garwah.
Its doors have been closed to the public since March because of COVID-19.
Garwah said they never thought of cancelling the summer program, the struggle was how to replace it and keep the momentum of science going in the community
“Youth are used to science during the summer and this year we don’t want to cancel it, we don’t want to drop it," he said.
"We decided on a hybrid program where we give them the opportunity to have hands-on activities at home and virtual interaction with our counsellors online."
Each day, explained Garwah, there will be virtual interaction and then participants can break to do the experiments. When they come back they can talk about the challenges and lessons of what they did.
“The element of hands-on, we didn’t want to kill it. Virtually it’s fine to watch a video but it’s not as interactive as touching, feeling,” he said.
For younger kids taking part, he said they expect adult supervision or help, while the older participants should be able to manage the experiments on their own.
The camps run June 29 to Sept. 4 and each week has a different theme.
The cost for a week is $70 for Science Timmins members or $80 for non-members. To take part for a day it's $20 for members of $25 for non-members. There is a limit of 12 people per day.
With changes at the provincial level for operating in-person summer day camps, that is still an option for Science Village.
“We’re working with a plan with the health unit...if they approve it we’ll do it. But it won’t be the same as the past where we have 30-40 kids, it will be distancing, washing,” said Garwah.
If an in-person day camp is offered, Garwah said the hybrid camp will go ahead as planned.
To register for the camp, email [email protected].
