2009 Summer Science Program Sessions
During Session I (June 22-26), Session II (June 29-July 2), and Session V (July 20-23), all one day trips, we enjoy a wide range of selected science activities that put the students in direct contact with scientists working on cutting edge science. Session I (CANCELLED Session I only) includes fossils, rocks, minerals, experimental hypersonic aircraft, and classical demonstrations in physical science. Session II is geared to the budding marine biologist, visiting the Marine mammal Care Center for recovering and rehabilitating stranded marine mammals, diving physiology, plankton hauls, dredging of Santa Monica Bay, and more. Session V visit industrial labs, such as a soap manufacturing company, a genetics research lab, an engineering company in Orange County that redesigns and engineers Mustangs to new high performance specifications, trip to Malibu for an experience of a lifetime, and more. Locally the classes are held from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Of the remaining four weeks, we have scheduled 28 days of wonderful science treats! |
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Session III: July 3-9, 2009. Costa Rica. (CANCELLED) Parents and siblings can participate on this trip. Costa Rica is nature’s cradle of biodiversity. Only 185 miles across at the widest point, this tiny Central American country has the greatest variety of plants and animals in the hemisphere. This tropical landscape is a biological crossroads between North and South America, harboring an astounding assortment of birds and wildlife from each. These include howler monkeys, jaguars, poison dart frogs, quetzals, parrots, and one fifth of all the hummingbirds found in the world. From mountaintop cloud forests to white sand Caribbean beaches, the diversity of habitats in Costa Rica provide for this biological bonanza. We circumnavigate the country and observe leatherback turtles laying eggs, monkeys, butterfly gardens, and bat caves to name just a few. The wildlife is simply fantastic, and students who wish to zipline may do so. |
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| Session IV (July 13-17, 2009) is all about rocketry. In local classes, students build at least three to four rockets of varying skill levels. At the end of the week we journey out to the Mojave desert to launch them and visit two military base rocket launching facilities. We journey to Vandenberg Air Force Base to tour the launch complexes there as well as go under ground to tour the launch complex of rockets ready for insertion into Earth orbit. We lunch at the Officers’ Mess Hall. Edwards Air Force Base will be visited for a behind the scenes look at their rocket launch site and the human factor laboratory with some fantastic demonstrations. |
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| Session VI: July 24 – August 3, 2009. The Galapagos Islands. Parents and siblings can participate on this trip. Limited enrollment of 19 participants. We spend two nights in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and fly to The Galapagos Islands. We board our ship for 7 nights and 8 days, visiting 8 of the 12 islands. Wet and dry landings are made. This trip will change you forever. We journey to the Galapagos Islands where we visit eight of the 12 islands, with a special visit to the Darwin Lab. This will be the last year this trip will be offered because of the dramatic changes that are taking place. The costs will go up significantly next year and the year after. Take advantage of this year’s trip at a nominal fee; things are changing dramatically at the Galapagos Islands. |
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Session VII: August 10-14, 2009. Northern California. (CANCELLED) We travel to San Francisco to the Exploratorium, to The California Academy of Sciences, then to Stanford University and visit the Engineering and Orthopedic Departments, continue our journey to Santa Cruz and visit the Seymour Science Center, visit Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, visit a great tide pool and observe many of the marine life, travel to Parkfield, California the earthquake capital of the world and visit the famous bridge which straddles the great San Andreas Fault. This is an awesome site to see as we hike along the San Andreas, stopping at several of the research sites for a briefing. |
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