COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ever wondered what goes into your favorite chocolate bar, why tree leaves change color in the fall, or what puts the "creepy" in creepy crawlers? Youth curious about the science behind the everyday have the opportunity to attend a new Ohio State University 4-H Youth Development program beginning in November.
"Science Saturdays" is a monthly program that connects third-to sixth-grade students with Ohio State University students, faculty and researchers for several hours of hands-on, interactive learning on a wide variety of topics, ranging from nature to food to animals to health.
"There are so many applications of science in our everyday lives that we don't even think about or that go unnoticed," said Sally McClaskey, a 4-H Youth Development program coordinator with Ohio State University Extension. "Science Saturdays is intended to expose youth to the science in the everyday in a fun, hands-on, experiential learning atmosphere."
Each Science Saturdays session runs from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and begins at the university's Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on Fred Taylor Drive. The cost for each session is $5 per child. Pre-registration is required and group size is limited.
The first Science Saturday program will be held on Nov. 20 with a session on trees called "Where am I? GPS Adventures." School of Environment and Natural Resources student Michael Pedley will lead youth on a tour of the Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens Arboretum North tree collection. There, students will learn how trees benefit the environment and participate in a treasure hunt using GPS technology.
The second Science Saturdays program, "The Science of Chocolate," will take place on Dec. 4 with Parker Food Science and Technology researcher Mary Kay Pohlschneider and a session on the science of chocolate. Youth will have the opportunity to see how chocolate is made and sample a few treats along the way.
For more information on Science Saturdays or to register contact Sally McClaskey at 614-247-8141 or e-mail mcclaskey.12@osu.edu, or log on to http://www.ohio4h.org/sciencesaturday/.