Blog Archives

behindthescenes

Go behind the scenes at the North Museum of Nature and Science. At this event North Museum Members are invited to view areas normally unseen by the public. These include viewing private collections, the production of a SciDome show, exhibit construction, graphic design for interactive displays and animal maintenance with our animal care technicians.

Non-Members: Non North Museum Members may attend the behind the scenes tour as guests of attending members. Regular Museum admission rates apply for non-members.

Members: The Behind the Scenes Tour is $5.00 with Museum Membership ID.

Members must RSVP for both members and guests by May 6, 2016 at membership@northmuseum.org or 717.358.3941. Prepayment is required to reserve space on the tour.

Note: For the full behind the scenes tour please arrive promptly at 5:30 pm.

double_the_discovery

Enjoy two local science destinations for one great price.

With the purchase of a North Museum Family level membership or above you have the opportunity to add a Family Membership to the Lancaster Science Factory for an additional $45 (an $89 value).

The Lancaster Science Factory is a hands-on, interactive technology and science center in Lancaster, PA, just a few blocks from the North Museum of Nature and Science.

Additional adults may be added to certain membership levels. Please contact the Lancaster Science Factory for details or visit our site to become a member today.
Double the Discovery memberships can be purchased over the phone at 717.358.3941. For details contact membership@northmuseum.org.

tornadomachine

Brace yourself! A visitor favorite, the Tornado Machine is returning to the North Museum. Delighting visitors of all ages, this exhibit allows guests to experience a real tornado up close and hands-on, as they learn the science behind this extreme weather phenomenon.

Non-Members: The “Tornado Machine” exhibit is included in admission price.
Members: The “Tornado Machine” exhibit is free with Museum Membership ID.

MommyandMe

 

April’s Mommy and Me is all about reusing and recycling.

Protecting the planet can be fun! Developed by certified Early Childhood Education teachers, this program allows you and your little ones the opportunity to get your hands dirty in our simulated lake clean-up activity and learn how long it takes for trash to break down in the water. Additionally parents and children will have the chance to create their own beautiful art gardens out of upcycled materials. Museum collections items as well as toys and puppets will be on hand to encourage young minds to help take good care of the environment.

At each Mommy and Me, enjoy free coffee and meet other Lancaster parents. Bring your little ones, 5 and under, to the Explore Nature Gallery for a hands-on introduction to science and nature. Daddies and caretakers are also invited to attend.

Non-Members: Mommy and Me activities are included in admission price, children under 5 are free.

Members: Mommy and Me activities are free with Museum Membership ID.

 

NM_ScienceFairLogo_Final

The 8th Annual Champions of Science Dinner celebrates the latest local achievements in student science.

Featuring keynote speaker Shree Bose, her accolades include:

  • Grand Prize winner of the 2011 Google Global Science Fair
  • Current Undergraduate at Harvard University
  • Dedicated STEM education advocate
  • Girl Start Ambassador
  • Congress for Future Physicians Student Ambassador
  • Co-creator of Piper, an educational Minecraft suite designed for young engineers

The evening will start at 5:00 pm with student champions from the 2016 North Museum Science & Engineering Fair presenting and discussing their award-winning projects with guests.

Dinner and program will begin at 6:15 pm.

Tickets start at $75/per person.

Reserve your 2016 Champions of Science Dinner Tickets

Questions? Contact Kerry Briggs at kbriggs@northmuseum.org or 717.358.4077.

NorthRocks

Located at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd. Lancaster PA, 17601

North Rocks! features expansive gem, mineral, fossil, and hand-crafted jewelry collections available for purchase as well as hands-on children’s activities and educational demonstrations.

Lectures such as “Minerals of Mars”, by Dr. Stanley A. Mertzman are scheduled from 11:00 am -3:00 pm Saturday and 11:00 am-2:00 pm Sunday. Please see northmuseum.org for a full listing of speakers and topics.

All proceeds benefit the North Museum of Nature and Science’s mission of inspiring curiosity, discovery, and a lifelong appreciation of nature, science, and cultures.

Admission: Adults: $5 Children 3-12: $2 Children 2 and under: Free

Parking: Free

Members: North Museum Members receive $1 off admission with Museum Membership ID.

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.

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.