Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Solid Waste Authority, SPARKS Foundation fund free science, nature programs
Science is all about making a hypothesis, engaging in an experiment and then coming to a conclusion based on the experiment’s results. This is exactly what The S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation did as it began a partnership with Chester County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA) several years ago. The science education non-profit organization hypothesized that, with funding from CCSWA, it could bring its award-winning hands-on science programs (implemented by Science Explorers) to young children in the area.
The experiment began with a few Saturday morning programs that quickly filled up with titles like “Welcome Wonders,” “Seed Sleuths,” and “Pond Populations.”
With additional funding this ‘experiment’ progressed to a Saturday morning program each month plus three half-day, one-week summer camps for children. The grounds and facility of CCSWA are perfect stages for scientific discovery, with a garden, animals, wooded areas, etc. Parents are thrilled with the program and all spaces fill up quickly.
One parent commented, “My son did two of the summer camps and he loved them both! The curriculum was very good and detailed. The kids got a lot of hands-on experience, whether dissecting a shark (“Take a Dive” camp) or building and launching a rocket (“Space Camp”). They were so motivated and enthusiastic!”
The S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation accepts tax-deductible contributions from businesses and individuals to help reach more young students each year. The S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation is at 110 W. Wyomissing Ave., Mohnton, PA 19540. It is a 501©3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.sparksfoundation.org.