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Hello scientists and science families!
I miss you all so very much! I miss the sounds of your voices, your smiles, your excitement and curiosity. I miss saying good morning to you as you arrive to the Lab, eager to learn and explore. Things are hard right now, maybe even a little bit scary. Sometimes I feel sad when I think about it, and that’s ok. There’s a lot of big things happening in the world right now and with it comes a lot of big, mixed up feelings. I want to apologize to my students for not saying more when I knew. I didn’t know what to say, so instead I taught you about germs, the importance of washing our hands the right way, and covering our cough/sneeze. I wanted to hug each and every one of you oh so tight as you left that last time, but was concerned about possibly transmitting germs, so we waved and high-fived instead. Deciding to close the Lab when we did was a difficult, but necessary decision. This was more than an abundance of caution, it was the scientifically responsible action given what we knew. As the weeks go by, it's clear that this is not a short-term situation, and that we will not be opening our doors for regular programming as soon as we’d hoped. There were big plans to grow new things in the garden with our young scientists this summer. We would have spent time in the backyard with the chickens, and cooled off inside while exploring science together. Knowing this isn’t going to happen makes me very sad. It’s hard when the plans you made and the things you worked so hard for seem to suddenly fall apart. Things are not easy right now. Despite the sadness, fear, and frustration, I still have an unwavering confidence in science. I want you to know that no matter who or where you are, science is with you. There is nothing that can stop us from continuing to ask questions, to wonder, explore, and learn. The awe and power of science can never be extinguished. It is a part of us, our world, the solar system, and beyond. Science binds us to each other, no matter how far apart we may be. When we look up at the sky, we all see the same sun and moon. Put on your thinking caps scientists, and let’s imagine a better world. Love you and miss you, Ms. Carmen On Tuesday morning, the Brooklyn Book Bodega dropped off 750 books at the Kiddie Science Lab. Combined with the grant from Awesome NYC, and individual donors like you, Kiddie Science is going to be pushing out learning resources for the children in our community which includes books! This generous donation includes selections of new and like-new books for age 2 to 10. Book bundles and science kits will be available later on this month, stay tuned for details! During this time of extraordinary circumstances, the support of many allows us to continue to fulfill our mission in new and exciting ways. Together, we will continue to engage and inspire young learners so that we may continue to plant the seeds of science, and much more. Thank you for your incredible support during this difficult time. Although our doors are closed, you make it possible for our impact to go far beyond our walls. We have some news!! Kiddie Science is the recipient of a grant from Awesome NYC in support of our science kit initiative. This means more science kits are coming!! And there's more!!! In collaboration with the Brooklyn Book Bodega, each kit will also contain new and like-new books. UPDATE: Science Kits are coming the week of May 24th! Families with children age 5 and under will receive a book bundle only, families with children age 5 to 10 will receive a science kit and a book bundle. Science kits are limited to one per family and include materials for exploring geology and color & light. Includes log-in information for live Zoom workshops that support the learning associated with the science kits. We are working with local volunteers to deliver science kits and book bundles to families throughout the community and will have kits and books available for local pick-up at the Kiddie Science Lab. Follow our Facebook page for the latest updates.  Over the years, Con Edison has played an integral part in supporting our mission through programming grants. These grants allow us to secure necessary items for hands-on science exploration without having to pass costs onto our participants. Con Edison's commitment to Kiddie Science has made several programs possible, which have impacted the lives of hundreds of young scientists. We are delighted to share that Con Edison has awarded Kiddie Science $5,000 toward the Family Science program! The goal is to get families exploring science together and continue the engagement at home through custom science booklets. We aim to empower, educate, and support families in becoming more engaged in science. Over the next ten months, we will be developing and presenting family-friendly hands-on science workshops on weekends and select holiday dates. Learn more and register online.  |
