Summer Week 1 - Space Theme

As we move into summer, I am attempting to manage our own "summer camp" at home.  I have a 6 and 9 year old, so they are at varying abilities to self direct.  I am also still working full-time, so I need to be able to focus on my own work for much of the time.

The image below is my current attempt to organize our week with fun themes and a mix of digital and screen free activities.  This is not intended as a complete summer camp and still requires some coordination.  It is a group of ideas and suggestions for how to break up the day and have some fun activities to look forward to.

This week is Space Week, to ride the excitement around the recent SpaceX launch.  It includes astronomy activities, as well as rocket STEM projects.

I saved some of the activity ideas on my Pinterest page here.
Another source for kid space websites is here (Great Websites for Kids).

Would love to hear additional ideas for home Summer Camp and space themed activities.

Good luck!

Virtual Meeting best practices for kids

As we are trying to figure out how to continue staying connected during Shelter In Place, I am capturing ideas and suggestions for how to run group meetings for kids (scouts, etc).

What I have learned so far:

• Start with a game, while waiting for others to join;  Pictionary, scavenger hunt (find something like “this”)
• Plan on 30-45 min max
• Include an opening and closing activity/tradition to provide consistency
• Set expectations on when to on and off mute and when/what to share
• Have an extra adult as co-presenter that can help with technical coordination (letting people in from waiting room, muting as necessary, watching chat for appropriateness, etc).

Let me know if you have other tips and tricks as we navigate this new reality. 

Video Play date ideas

Shelter-in-Place post

I don’t know about you, but I feel like my kids are getting way too much screen time during this Shelter-in-place. Remote learning requires the computer. Calling relatives involves screen time. Even interacting with friends involves virtual play dates and more screen time.

We have tried a couple different apps with friends (Messenger kids, Houseparty, Marco Polo), but I try to encourage old fashioned games while video chatting with friends.

Here are some of our favorites:
- Uno;  if both families have one at home, you use your own deck and call out what you are playing.
- Battleship (if both families have the game)
- Pictionary or charades
- chess
- dress up/fashion show

What are yours?

East Bay Museum Memberships

For those of you that are about as excited as I am about more “stuff” cluttering up the house and toy closet after this season, here are some ideas for local museum memberships.  The great benefit of giving an experience, like a museum membership, allows the gift to be used multiple times in the year and allows the giver to build memories with the recipient.  Plus, it does not take up any space.  Many of these museums also offer reciprocal benefits for other children’s museums, so you can get discounts when you are traveling as well (see links below).

Here are some of my favorites in the East Bay.  Some of them have discounts for Cyber Monday, so check it out today. 

Oakland Zoo (AZA), http://www.oaklandzoo.org/

Address: 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland, CA 94605

Family membership (2 adults, up to 4 children) $159

Benefits:  Free admission, free parking, summer early entry

Discounts:  10% at gift shop, birthday parties, ZooCamp, Special Events (like ZooLights)

Reciprocal Benefits:  Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

Children’s Fairyland, http://fairyland.org/

Address: 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610

Family membership (2 adults and 3 children) $107

-          1 adult and 3 children   $91

-          3 adults and 3 children $123

Benefits:  Free admission, guest pass, special edition Fairyland key

Discounts:  Special events (Jack O’Lantern Jamboree, Fairy Winterland), Café and gift shop, park rental, birthday party, summer camp

Oakland Museum of California, http://museumca.org/

Address: 1000 Oak St, Oakland, CA 94607

Family membership (4 adults and all children)  $95

Benefits:  Free admission, 2 guest passes

Discounts:  eNews, Invitations to special events, OMCA store, Bay Area businesses (OMCA Perks)

Reciprocal Benefits:  If Supporter membership ($175), North America Reciprocal Museums (NARM)

Chabot Space & Science Center (ASTC, ACM), http://www.chabotspace.org/index.htm

Address: 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619

Earth Family membership (2 adults and up to 4 children)  $99

Earth Orbiter includes Family + guest and ACM reciprocity  $150

Benefits:  Free admission, free Planetarium shows, e-newsletter

Discounts:  gift shop and café, summer camp, events and classes

Reciprocal Benefits:  Science centers and museums (ASTC), ACM with Earth Orbiter membership

Lindsay Wildlife Experience (ASTC, ACM), https://lindsaywildlife.org/

Address: 1931 1st Ave, Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Family membership (2 adults and all children and/or grandparents at same address)  $80

Benefits:  Free admission, use of “members only” library, Lindsay’s newsletter, 2 guest passes
Discounts:  10% at Lindsay store, educational programs, birthday parties and classes

Reciprocal Benefits:  Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), science and nature centers across California

Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley (ASTC, ACM);  www.lawrencehallofscience.org

Address: 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720

Family Membership (2 adults and all children in household plus guest) $95

-          Family Premium (4 adults plus 2 guests and ACM Reciprocity)  $135

Benefits:  Free admission, 2 guest passes, 2 Digital Theater passes

Discounts:  camps, classes and birthday parties

Reciprocal Benefits:  Science centers and museums (ASTC), ACM with Family Premium membership

Habitot Children’s Museum (ACM), http://www.habitot.org/

Address: 2065 Kittredge St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Family membership (up to 4 household family members), $22/month, minimum 4 months

-          Premium membership (up to 6 household family members and ACM reciprocity), $34/month, min 4 months

-          10 visit (Individual) pass, $89

Benefits:  Free admission, e-newsletter

Discounts:  $9 guests, store purchases

Reciprocal Benefits:  ACM with Premium Membership

Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA),  http://mocha.org/

Address: 1625 Clay St #100, Oakland, CA 94612

Family membership

·         Novice (2 people) $100

·         Apprentice (4 people) $150

·         Master (6 people) $200

Benefits:  Free admission

Discounts:  art parties, camps and field trips

Reciprocal benefits: Add $25 for Association of Children’s Museums (ACM)

East Bay Regional Parks, http://www.regionalparksfoundation.org/join/benefits

Family membership (2 individuals and children in household)  $105

Benefits:  Day use parking, annual dog pass, horse/boat trailer permit, free swimming, admission to Ardenwood Historic Farm, Black Diamond Mines Underground tour (must be at least 7)

Discounts:  camping, group facility rental at The Ranch at Little Hills, tram tours at Angel Island State Park

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, https://www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/store/season-passes

Gold Level Season Pass (Individual), $225; $64.99 Cyber Monday

Benefits:  Free parking, free admission (rest of 2017 & all 2018) to all Six Flags theme parks and Waterworld Concord, includes Holiday in the Park and FrightFest.

Discounts:  Friend ticket discounts, limited offers during the year

Dining Passes can be purchased for Lunch and Snack at each visit (starting at $48)

Quick Links to find participating museums across the country:

Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), https://findachildrensmuseum.org/

Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), http://www.astc.org/about-astc/about-science-centers/find-a-science-center/

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), https://www.aza.org/find-a-zoo-or-aquarium

North America Reciprocal Museums (NARM), https://narmassociation.org/

Other Bay Area museums/parks:

Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito (ASTC, ACM);  www.BayAreaDiscoveryMuseum.org

Children’s Creativity Museum, SF (ASTC);  www.creativity.org

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, SJ (ACM);  www.cdm.org

CuriOdyssey, San Mateo (ASTC);  www.curiodyssey.org

Exploratorium, SF;  www.exploratorium.edu

The Tech Museum of Innovation, SF (ASTC);  www.thetech.org

USS Hornet Museum, Alameda;  www.uss-hornet.org

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, SJ;  http://www.hhpz.org/

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, Gilroy;  https://www.gilroygardens.org

California’s Great America, Santa Clara;  https://www.cagreatamerica.com/

Science on I-80

We make the drive from the Bay Area to Sacramento almost monthly, so we look for milestones to mark the progress of our trip, as well as share some science information.

(I-80) Oakland Port

Even when it's not running, the cranes look pretty cool. You can even chat about import and export and what things may be on the ships. 

Bridges (Carquinez or Benicia)

Bridges are always fun and great educational opportunities. 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/civil/bridge6.htm

(I-80) Vallejo - roller coasters at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

(680) Martinez Refineries - cooling tower and tall chimneys

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_tower

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_flare

Scandia fun center - mini golf (after 680-80 connection);  ok, not science, but a fun break. 

Windmills - there are a couple big ones near the Jelly Belly factory/Budweiser

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-power.htm

Fairfield - Jelly Belly factory (who does not love to see how things are made, especially candy?)

http://www.jellybelly.com/california-factory-tours

Vacaville - Nut Tree

This used to be a favorite stop when I was a kid. It has changed a lot, but still has a carousel and mini playground, as well as plenty of food and shops. Our favorite is Amici's pizza. 

Fruit orchards

We like to play the "what kind of tree is that?" Game. Most of the time I make up the answers, but they don't know that. Plus there might be fruit stands open. 

Dinosaur skeleton? - I swear I saw one on the East side, just before Davis. At night it was lit with lights. Mystery...

UC Davis

https://www.ucdavis.edu/museums-collections

Grain elevator

Perfect segue to talk about where our food comes from. 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_elevator

Watch birds along Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area

https://localwiki.org/davis/Vic_Fazio_Yolo_Wildlife_Area

Downtown - tower bridge

Depending on the time of day and weather, it looks like a different color. 

California Train Museum

This is a good half day stop in Old Sacramento for all ages. Big trains, little trains and even toy trains. A must for any train enthusiast. 

http://www.csrmf.org

Other resources

https://localwiki.org/davis/Good_Places_to_Take_Kids

Science on I-5

I-5 can be a long, boring drive. Here are some suggestions for Science discussions with the kids, from the Bay Area to LA. 

Windmills (after Livermore)

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-power.htm

Rock quarry (Granite)

http://nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/quarry/

Nut & fruit trees

Can you guess what kind?

California aqueduct

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Aqueduct

Santa Nella

- pea soup anderson (I always wanted to stop here as a kid and I still have not, but I love soup)

http://www.peasoupandersens.net

Feed lots

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feedlot

Dams or trains?

Start your own debate between more water and high speed trains. 

Power grid, power station

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/power.htm

Wild sunflowers

Greenhouses

http://www.scienceagogo.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=49233

Coalinga

- Harris ranch - you've seen the feedlot, now visit the restaurant!

- airport (small planes you can see from the airport)

Mirages

http://science.howstuffworks.com/mirage.htm

Irrigation

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation

- Water pumping station (Kings county line)

- Water tanks

- canals

Bravo farms (restaurant and shops)

Kettleman city

http://www.bravofarms.com/kc/

"Radar enforced by aircraft"

http://mentalfloss.com/article/54070/how-are-speed-limits-enforced-aircraft

Exit 278- Loves gas and food

Kern wildlife refuge - wintering habitat for migratory birds

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kern/

Eucalyptus trees

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-03-14/news/nc-166_1_plant-trees

Pollinating bee boxes

http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-pollination/

Oil drills. 

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/oil-drilling.htm

Dust devils

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_devil

Bird repellant methods (on grapes)

- Shiny markers

- netting over the vines

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/98-035.htm

Tejon

- Tesla charging station

Tejon pass

- Fort Tejon State Historic Park

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=585

Magic mountain - roller coasters

Science in the Neighborhood

Science is everywhere, especially in our own back yards.

Here are 10 places in your neighborhood that you can visit with your kids to learn how things work.  Some may be easier to get a tour with a group (school, scouts, etc), but you may be able to go during a slow part of the day and get a private tour or interview.

Ask the professionals to share what tools and technology they use. 

1.  Utilities - Recycling, water sanitation

Some local utilities have specific dates for public tours or will schedule group tours.

2.  Fire station, police car, ambulance

Ask community helpers to show the inside of their trucks and tools they use.

3.  Local Restaurants

The kitchen in your local restaurant usually has well planned logistics to get food out quickly.  Pizza places sometimes offer tours to groups.  Even fast food restaurants have interesting tools they use to get food out fast and consistently.

4.  Grocery store

Peak behind the scenes in the stock room to see how food gets from truck to shelves and into our homes.

5.  Bank

Help kids understand money is not just about a credit card.

6.  Library

Ok, I am a Dewey Decimal system nerd and love the order of sorting and reshelving books.

7.  Repair shop

Lots of cool tools to ask about.

8.  Gas station

Where does the gas come from and how does it get into our cars?

9.  Local farm, upick or farmer's market

Whether there are animals or fruits and vegetables, there are plenty of learning opportunities  about where our food comes from.

10.  Construction site

Big tools and trucks.  Make sure you watch from a distance and everyone is safe.