Blog Archives

The Lancaster Science Factory is pleased to offer Robotics Workshops in our Science Cafe August 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6, 2016.

Learn about programming a Baxter Robot and explore Lego Mindstorms with guest instructor, Rich Nolt, from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

Sessions run at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1pm and 2pm.

All activities are free with your paid LSF admission or membership.

Feel free to call our Front Desk ( 717.509.6363 x 0 ) to check on that day’s workshop availability.

Join us all summer long for fun and exciting projects and experiments! Camp runs Monday through Friday as either five half-day morning sessions (9:00am-12:00pm) or five half-day afternoon sessions (1:00pm-4:00pm). The cost is $135 per child per camp.

Please note:
Camps will be offered for children who are in grades K-8 (meaning they completed that grade, so our youngest campers will have just finished Kindergarten) and some camps will have age range restrictions.

Children may register for both AM and PM sessions and bring a packed lunch to eat during the supervised lunch break from 12-1pm.

Registration closes one week (Monday) prior to the start of camp.

Camps will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so sign up as soon as you can! Payment is due at time of registration (you cannot reserve a space in the camp without payment). Scholarships are available for families in need.

Volunteer opportunities for those aged 16 and above will be available.

If you have any questions about the camps, please contact Rachel Cahill, STEM Educator at 717.509.6363 X105. Or via email at rcahill@tlsf.org

Dates, camp topics and pricing is subject to change.
______________________________________________
CAMP DESCRIPTIONS
______________________________________________
Food Fight! (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
June 13th – 17th, AM Sessions.
Imagine if the events in the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs actually happened. What would it take to manage the messes all of that giant food could cause? You’re going to leverage your imagination, math, art, and building skills to clean up our town. Campers will learn all about mass, volume, and density while generating solutions to unbelievable problems.
Instructed by Jason Karcheski

Good Vibrations (completed one of the following grades: K-5)
June 13th – 17th, PM Sessions.
C’mon feel it – in this session you’ll break out the rhythm and the rhyme and feel your way through music… Create good vibrations that will bring life to your water glasses. We’ll pump up the volume as you use straws to make a xylophone sing. Strike a pose while playing a Tonoscope then join in the groove with your personal Kazoo.
Instructed by Sara Hannum

Mathemagician Academy (completed one of the following grades: 3-8)
June 20th – 24th, AM Sessions.
Have you ever wanted to be amazing? Would you like math to be fun? Become a mathemagician in five sessions! Learn about famous mathematicians and magicians while mastering mystifying magic with your mathematical super-powers. You will leave with a brain (and a magic box) stuffed full of math and magic.
Instructed by Darrell E. Yoder / aka Doc Yoder

Who Done It? (completed one of the following grades: 4-8)
June 20th – 24th, PM Sessions.
Uncover the booming field of Forensic Science through the investigation of a crime scene at the Science Factory. Employing hands on analytical techniques and problem solving will be the key to solving this crime! From testing samples to examining fingerprints, campers will be using their investigative skills to resolve and determine who committed a crime
Instructed by Chris Haines

Flight 101 (completed one of the following grades: K-8)
June 27th – July 1st, AM Sessions.
Experience the thrill of flight through hands-on experimentation and model building. Use your hands to experience aerodynamics at creating your very own kite while learning all about gravity. Try your foot at rocketry using a pressurized system for launching while discovering lift and drag…
Instructed by Craig Carlough

WILD SCIENCE: Slime, Sizzle, Space, and Stars (completed one of the following grades: K-6)
June 27th – July 1st, PM Sessions.
Experience and experiment with wild and crazy science, getting messy with slime, combining ingredients for sizzle and spark, exploring space, and studying the science of the stars. Adventure and art, creativity and cool projects abound in this wild week.
Instructed by published author, Linda Oatman High

Girls Feature: Lotions and Potions (completed one of the following grades: K-8)
July 5th – 8th, AM Sessions.
Ever spend a day at the Spa? Budding Cosmetologist will learn the science and math of those sweet smelling concoctions. Bath Salts, Bubble baths, Bath fizzies, Body lotions, Lip Balms, Hand scrubs and so much more. Bring out that Junior Cosmetologist in yourself…
Instructed by

A Fresh Angle on Sports (completed one of the following grades: 3-8)
July 5th – 8th, PM Sessions.
Whether it’s a spare or a strike in Bowling; all air and nothing but net in Basketball; dogging the nine in Billiards; scoring a birdie in Golf; or simply riding the rail in Shuffleboard….. It’s all about the angles… Take a fresh look at the science behind the sports… while trying it too…
Instructed by Dana Droz, NCAA Golfer

You’ve got a Golden Ticket (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
July 11th – 15th, AM Sessions.
If you like the story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this camp was made for you. Expect some sweet, sour, and chocolatey experiences as you deal with challenges involving chemistry, physics, and math. With a little luck nobody will wind up as a blueberry.
Instructed by Jason Karcheski

High Steel Presents: Bridge Mania Arcs and Arches (completed one of the following grades: 4-8)
July 11th – 15th, PM Sessions.
Take a journey through the world of Structural Engineering and Technology. Investigate two phenomena that revolutionized bridges around the world and in your backyard, while shedding light on arc welding and arches. Join the competitive world of bridge building as you encounter design and construction challenges along the way. Instructed in Cooperation with High Steel Structures

Master of Messy Mayhem (completed one of the following grades: K-5)
July 18th – 22nd, AM Sessions.
Get down and dirty with some of the messiest experiments we could find, and not get in trouble with your parents. Create sloppy slime and bubbling chemical reactions and so much more. Find out how to take utter chaos, science and even a little magic can create a work of art.
Instructed by Master of Mess Luke Netherton

Excer-Science (completed one of the following grades: K-5)
July 18th – 22nd, PM Sessions.
Learning the most about exercise through physical science activities, let’s put it in motion and make science move! Jump, push, run & stretch your way through experiments based on body mechanics, muscle movement, energy, force, gravity, balancing acts and more! 3, 2, 1 GO!
Instructed by Carla Beam, General Manager & Certified Personal Trainer at emPower Training Systems

Junk Drawer Robotics (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
July 25th – 29th, AM Sessions.
Learn the science and mechanical engineering-based skills behind robotic design with everyday household items! You will build your own fully functioning robotic arm that moves with its own hands and grippers!
Instructed by Christopher Blackmon

The World of Motion (completed one of the following grades: 5-8)
July 25th – 29th, PM Sessions.
Come explore the different ways of getting around the world. This camp will explore the different methods of land, air, and water transportation. Kids will learn about force, motion, friction, propulsion etc. through hands-on activities such as designing and testing a hovercraft or a sailboat.
Instructed by Erica Roth

Catapulympics (completed one of the following grades: 4-8)
August 1st – 5th, AM Sessions.
What is greater than building catapults? (the answer is not, “nothing”) Building a catapult and competing in Olympic style events! Not all catapults are created equally. Test your ingenuity of design with models made for speed, height, accuracy and more… Be ready for anything as you compete against your fellow campers.. You will have to build for speed, for height, and for accuracy depending on the event!
Instructed by Andrew Read

Power of the Sun: Solar Cookers (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
August 1st – 5th, PM Sessions.
This camp really COOKS!!! Harness the power of the sun and use it as an alternative energy source. Create your very own solar cooker from scratch. Make hot chocolate from the heat of the sun. Cook your own lunch from hotdogs fresh out of your personal SUN OVEN. Let’s not forget those Yummy s’mores!!
Instructed by Andrew Read

Oooey Gooey (completed one of the following grades: 1-8)
August 8th – 12th, AM Sessions.
In this camp, you will be getting your fingers slimy, sticky, and into various chemical experiments. Some experiments will be safe to eat; some will stick to your feet! Campers will get to see different chemistry topics that involve household products and will even get to take home some of their final products. This camp is for those who love to get their fingers (and toes) sticky!
Instructed by Jamie Bresch

Girls Only: The World of Motion (completed one of the following grades: 3-8)
August 8th – 12th, PM Sessions.
Come explore the different ways of getting around the world. This camp will explore the different methods of land, air, and water transportation. Kids will learn about force, motion, friction, propulsion etc. through hands-on activities such as designing and testing a hovercraft or a sailboat.
Instructed by Erica Roth

Glow in the Dark (completed one of the following grades: 1-6)
August 15th – 19th, PM Sessions.
Discover the shiny nature of things that glow in the dark! Learning about luminescence is fun when you experiment with glow sticks, bracelets, black light bubbles, slimy marble games, and more. Explore creatures that glow and create your own. You can even make your own skin glow blue in the dark!
Instructed by published author, Linda Oatman High

 

Join us all summer long for fun and exciting projects and experiments! Camp runs Monday through Friday as either five half-day morning sessions (9:00am-12:00pm) or five half-day afternoon sessions (1:00pm-4:00pm). The cost is $135 per child per camp.

Please note:
Camps will be offered for children who are in grades K-8 (meaning they completed that grade, so our youngest campers will have just finished Kindergarten) and some camps will have age range restrictions.

Children may register for both AM and PM sessions and bring a packed lunch to eat during the supervised lunch break from 12-1pm.

Registration closes one week (Monday) prior to the start of camp.

Camps will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so sign up as soon as you can! Payment is due at time of registration (you cannot reserve a space in the camp without payment). Scholarships are available for families in need.

Volunteer opportunities for those aged 16 and above will be available.

If you have any questions about the camps, please contact Rachel Cahill, STEM Educator at 717.509.6363 X105. Or via email at rcahill@tlsf.org

Dates, camp topics and pricing is subject to change.
______________________________________________
CAMP DESCRIPTIONS
______________________________________________
Food Fight! (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
June 13th – 17th, AM Sessions.
Imagine if the events in the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs actually happened. What would it take to manage the messes all of that giant food could cause? You’re going to leverage your imagination, math, art, and building skills to clean up our town. Campers will learn all about mass, volume, and density while generating solutions to unbelievable problems.
Instructed by Jason Karcheski

Good Vibrations (completed one of the following grades: K-5)
June 13th – 17th, PM Sessions.
C’mon feel it – in this session you’ll break out the rhythm and the rhyme and feel your way through music… Create good vibrations that will bring life to your water glasses. We’ll pump up the volume as you use straws to make a xylophone sing. Strike a pose while playing a Tonoscope then join in the groove with your personal Kazoo.
Instructed by Sara Hannum

Mathemagician Academy (completed one of the following grades: 3-8)
June 20th – 24th, AM Sessions.
Have you ever wanted to be amazing? Would you like math to be fun? Become a mathemagician in five sessions! Learn about famous mathematicians and magicians while mastering mystifying magic with your mathematical super-powers. You will leave with a brain (and a magic box) stuffed full of math and magic.
Instructed by Darrell E. Yoder / aka Doc Yoder

Who Done It? (completed one of the following grades: 4-8)
June 20th – 24th, PM Sessions.
Uncover the booming field of Forensic Science through the investigation of a crime scene at the Science Factory. Employing hands on analytical techniques and problem solving will be the key to solving this crime! From testing samples to examining fingerprints, campers will be using their investigative skills to resolve and determine who committed a crime
Instructed by Chris Haines

Flight 101 (completed one of the following grades: K-8)
June 27th – July 1st, AM Sessions.
Experience the thrill of flight through hands-on experimentation and model building. Use your hands to experience aerodynamics at creating your very own kite while learning all about gravity. Try your foot at rocketry using a pressurized system for launching while discovering lift and drag…
Instructed by Craig Carlough

WILD SCIENCE: Slime, Sizzle, Space, and Stars (completed one of the following grades: K-6)
June 27th – July 1st, PM Sessions.
Experience and experiment with wild and crazy science, getting messy with slime, combining ingredients for sizzle and spark, exploring space, and studying the science of the stars. Adventure and art, creativity and cool projects abound in this wild week.
Instructed by published author, Linda Oatman High

Girls Feature: Lotions and Potions (completed one of the following grades: K-8)
July 5th – 8th, AM Sessions.
Ever spend a day at the Spa? Budding Cosmetologist will learn the science and math of those sweet smelling concoctions. Bath Salts, Bubble baths, Bath fizzies, Body lotions, Lip Balms, Hand scrubs and so much more. Bring out that Junior Cosmetologist in yourself…
Instructed by

A Fresh Angle on Sports (completed one of the following grades: 3-8)
July 5th – 8th, PM Sessions.
Whether it’s a spare or a strike in Bowling; all air and nothing but net in Basketball; dogging the nine in Billiards; scoring a birdie in Golf; or simply riding the rail in Shuffleboard….. It’s all about the angles… Take a fresh look at the science behind the sports… while trying it too…
Instructed by Dana Droz, NCAA Golfer

You’ve got a Golden Ticket (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
July 11th – 15th, AM Sessions.
If you like the story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this camp was made for you. Expect some sweet, sour, and chocolatey experiences as you deal with challenges involving chemistry, physics, and math. With a little luck nobody will wind up as a blueberry.
Instructed by Jason Karcheski

High Steel Presents: Bridge Mania Arcs and Arches (completed one of the following grades: 4-8)
July 11th – 15th, PM Sessions.
Take a journey through the world of Structural Engineering and Technology. Investigate two phenomena that revolutionized bridges around the world and in your backyard, while shedding light on arc welding and arches. Join the competitive world of bridge building as you encounter design and construction challenges along the way. Instructed in Cooperation with High Steel Structures

Master of Messy Mayhem (completed one of the following grades: K-5)
July 18th – 22nd, AM Sessions.
Get down and dirty with some of the messiest experiments we could find, and not get in trouble with your parents. Create sloppy slime and bubbling chemical reactions and so much more. Find out how to take utter chaos, science and even a little magic can create a work of art.
Instructed by Master of Mess Luke Netherton

Excer-Science (completed one of the following grades: K-5)
July 18th – 22nd, PM Sessions.
Learning the most about exercise through physical science activities, let’s put it in motion and make science move! Jump, push, run & stretch your way through experiments based on body mechanics, muscle movement, energy, force, gravity, balancing acts and more! 3, 2, 1 GO!
Instructed by Carla Beam, General Manager & Certified Personal Trainer at emPower Training Systems

Junk Drawer Robotics (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
July 25th – 29th, AM Sessions.
Learn the science and mechanical engineering-based skills behind robotic design with everyday household items! You will build your own fully functioning robotic arm that moves with its own hands and grippers!
Instructed by Christopher Blackmon

The World of Motion (completed one of the following grades: 5-8)
July 25th – 29th, PM Sessions.
Come explore the different ways of getting around the world. This camp will explore the different methods of land, air, and water transportation. Kids will learn about force, motion, friction, propulsion etc. through hands-on activities such as designing and testing a hovercraft or a sailboat.
Instructed by Erica Roth

Catapulympics (completed one of the following grades: 4-8)
August 1st – 5th, AM Sessions.
What is greater than building catapults? (the answer is not, “nothing”) Building a catapult and competing in Olympic style events! Not all catapults are created equally. Test your ingenuity of design with models made for speed, height, accuracy and more… Be ready for anything as you compete against your fellow campers.. You will have to build for speed, for height, and for accuracy depending on the event!
Instructed by Andrew Read

Power of the Sun: Solar Cookers (completed one of the following grades: 2-8)
August 1st – 5th, PM Sessions.
This camp really COOKS!!! Harness the power of the sun and use it as an alternative energy source. Create your very own solar cooker from scratch. Make hot chocolate from the heat of the sun. Cook your own lunch from hotdogs fresh out of your personal SUN OVEN. Let’s not forget those Yummy s’mores!!
Instructed by Andrew Read

Oooey Gooey (completed one of the following grades: 1-8)
August 8th – 12th, AM Sessions.
In this camp, you will be getting your fingers slimy, sticky, and into various chemical experiments. Some experiments will be safe to eat; some will stick to your feet! Campers will get to see different chemistry topics that involve household products and will even get to take home some of their final products. This camp is for those who love to get their fingers (and toes) sticky!
Instructed by Jamie Bresch

Girls Only: The World of Motion (completed one of the following grades: 3-8)
August 8th – 12th, PM Sessions.
Come explore the different ways of getting around the world. This camp will explore the different methods of land, air, and water transportation. Kids will learn about force, motion, friction, propulsion etc. through hands-on activities such as designing and testing a hovercraft or a sailboat.
Instructed by Erica Roth

Glow in the Dark (completed one of the following grades: 1-6)
August 15th – 19th, PM Sessions.
Discover the shiny nature of things that glow in the dark! Learning about luminescence is fun when you experiment with glow sticks, bracelets, black light bubbles, slimy marble games, and more. Explore creatures that glow and create your own. You can even make your own skin glow blue in the dark!
Instructed by published author, Linda Oatman High

 

RockBox

Uncover a hidden world of color in the North Museum’s latest exhibit, the “Rock Box.

The “Rock Box” exhibit, created in partnership with ATOMIC, allows visitors to view hidden wavelengths through a combination of curated specimens from the Museum’s own geology collections, and ultraviolet light. In this specially designed dark room guests control buttons that activate bursts of infrared light. This light interacts with the carefully chosen minerals to produce a vibrant fluorescent display.

Non-Members: The “Rock Box” exhibit is included in admission price.

Members: The “Rock Box” exhibit is free with Museum Membership ID.

Buggy-but true!  Ladybugs can be grouchy in a bug eat bug world. This program is for families with children ages 2-5 years old accompanied by an adult. Siblings under two may attend along with at least one paying older child. One adult required for every four children attending.  Pre-registration is required.

Available Classtimes:

Tuesday, April 19

10:15am-11:00am                  2-5yrs

12:15pm-1:00pm                    2-5yrs

Wednesday, April 20

10:15am-11:00am                  2-5yrs

12:15pm-1:00pm                    2-5yrs

Grab a pair of binoculars and come bird watching with us as we go undercover to discover why springtime is for the birds.  Nests you can nibble on and a birdhouse you build will give you something to chirp about.

Pre-registration is required. $12 members/$15 non-members **includes museum admission for child

If you like fast, funny and froggy, you will be “hoppy” to join us for some “un-frog-gettable” amphibian activities that include choosing a tadpole of your own to take home and wait for big changes.

Pre-registration is required. $12 members/$15 non-members **includes museum admission for child

MommyandMe

At our Mommy & Me events, enjoy free coffee and meet other Lancaster mommies, daddies and caretakers. Bring your little ones, 5 and under, to the Explore Nature Gallery for a hands-on introduction to science and nature.

March’s Mommy & Me event is all about the unique and fun aspects of eggs. Learn how to make an egg float, bounce and also get an up-close look at a real Ostrich egg. There will be a chance for hands-on experiences with many replica eggs from our collections.

Free with general museum admission and children 5 and under are free.

SciDome1

Treat yourself and your family to an exciting show in our SciDome theater–Central PA’s largest planetarium. These immersive shows are both fun and educational.

Easter Monday SciDome Schedule:

11:30 am Magic Tree House

12:30 pm Dynamic Earth

1:30 pm Cosmic Journeys (Live Show)

Non-Members: Admission tickets are required for each SciDome show.

Members: SciDome admission is free with Museum Membership ID.

SciDome1

Treat yourself and your family to an exciting show in our SciDome theater–Central PA’s largest planetarium. These immersive shows are both fun and educational.

Good Friday SciDome Schedule:

11:30 am Magic Tree House

12:30 pm Dynamic Earth

1:30 pm Cosmic Journeys (Live Show)

 

Non-Members: Admission tickets are required for each SciDome show.

Members: SciDome admission is free with Museum Membership ID.