Mad Science Camps make education interactive

Middletown — Mad Science Camps are being offered this summer at different locations in Orange County, as an outreach program of the Interactive Museum in Middletown. The topics include: nature, rockets and aerodynamics, robotics, and a secret agent lab. •Nature Nature Camp will focus on ecosystems, the environment, and animal adaptations. The camp is appropriate for children entering kindergarten through grade five. Participants will: explore the natural world and the adaptations that allow birds and beasts to thrive; make a new and different take-home project each day; make plaster casts of animal tracks; tie-dye T-shirts with vegetable dyes; build a bird feeder and mix their own seed blend to attract specific bird species; make recycled paper and test for acid rain; construct a bug house for observing insects; study the feeding habits of owls and dissect the remains of their lunch; and learn about geology by growing their own crystal garden and breaking open their own geode to harvest the crystals hidden inside. •Rockets & Aerodynamics Participants attending Rockets & Aerodynamics Camp, appropriate for students entering grades two through six, will: learn how different kinds of flying machines work as they explore the scientific principles that we use to move ourselves through the air; launch several kinds of rockets and use tools for celestial navigation to track their flight path; and design, build, and launch their own rocket. Take-home projects will include a mini-hovercraft, balloon helicopter, kite, parachute, and sextant. •Robotics Participants attending Robotics Camp, appropriate for students entering grades one through six, will: explore the basic technology used to design and build robots; discover how machines and robots work and how they make our lives easier; learn about simple machines, gear structure, battery wiring, motor principles, and electronic circuits; experiment with different forms of locomotion; and build their own robot and several other take-home projects. Separate sessions will be offered for different age groups, with several different age-appropriate robots and machines to build and take home. •Secret Agent Lab Participants attending Secret Agent Lab Camp, appropriate for students entering grades two through five, will: delve into the mysteries of forensic science; discover different methods of secret writing and breaking coded messages in a quest for treasure; explore the world of optics and make their own camera obscura and kaleidoscope; and use chemistry to identify mysterious substances, and mix their own chemical reactions. During the last two days of camp, they will team up with fellow campers to investigate a real crime scene. All their observation skills will be needed as they collect and record the evidence necessary to solve the crime. In Warwick, sessions will be held at Sanfordville Elementary School from 9 a.m. to noon, with Secret Agent Lab from July 17 to 21, and Robotics from July 31 to Aug. 4. In Goshen, sessions will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Goshen, mornings and afternoons respectively, with Robotics and Rockets & Aerodynamics from July 31 to Aug. 4, Nature and Secret Agent Lab from August 7 to 11; and Secret Agent Lab and Robotics from Aug. 14 to 18. In Florida, sessions will be held at Sports, Fitness, and Fun from 1 to 4 p.m., with Robotics from June 26 to 30; Nature from July 5 to 7 (3 day week); Rockets & Aerodynamics from July 17 to 21; and Secret Agent Lab from July 24 to 28. For registration information, visit www.MadScienceMidHudson.com, or call 294-5434.