School is out for the summer but learning doesn’t have to be put on hold. Through a partnership between the City of Monrovia and Oak Crest Institute of Science, teens in grades eight–10 have the opportunity to participate in the first-ever Junior Researcher Science Academy. Created as part of the City’s new focus on educational programming for youth and hosted by Oak Crest, this academy introduces participants to a variety of scientific fields through hands-on experiments with real research scientists. In this two-week academy, students will be exposed to biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science, participate in group activities, mind-stimulating challenges, and most important of all, fun.
Through the academy, students will get to visit a number of exciting places. At the Monrovia Fire Department’s Fire Station 102, students can participate in the Fire Fighter Challenge; learning about the fire science behind fighting fires and keeping the community safe. And, for those who are interested in entertainment, a tour of the newly renovated Studio Movie Grill will allow students to take a peek at how a movie theater operates, and then enjoy a movie with freshly-popped popcorn. Of course, a science program would be incomplete without taking a field trip to the California Science Center, where participants will get to explore fun exhibits, including the Endeavour and the King Tut exhibit. Other activities include a trip to Huntington Gardens, a hike in Monrovia Canyon Park, an introduction to 3D printing at the Monrovia Public Library, and much more.
There are two more sessions being offered this summer:
- Session 2: July 9 – July 20.
- Session 3: July 23 – August 3.
For those interested, sign up soon because each session is limited to just 12 participants. The cost to participate is $40 per session. However, please note that family and income-based discounts are available, and priority will be given to Monrovia families and first-time researchers. To register or if you have any questions, visit the Monrovia Community Center online at cityofmonrovia.org or call (626) 256-8246.
