A new collaboration helps kids get a hand on science.

Kids can learn in almost any environment, but teaching scientific topics in a fun atmosphere is often a challenge to adults. Fortunately, the realm of recreational science -- playground physics, nature trails, community gardening, bird watching, and many other activities -- can help teach children basic scientific principles outside of school and laboratories. Kids involved in the Hands On Science (HOS) program offered through Montgomery County (MD) Department of Recreation are beginning the lifelong habit of learning about, appreciating and enjoying our relationship with our environment through voluntary observation, data collection and thoughtful problem solving.

Science Day Comes to Summer Camp

Last summer, the Montgomery County Department of Recreation (MCDR) worked with the HOS program to offer children in the upper-elementary grades a science day-camp experience. The recreation department advertised and registered the children and provided a director and counselors; the HOS program provided a science specialist, the science content component for mornings, training for all the science camp staff, all the science materials and ongoing support. After lunch, the children participated in sports, crafts and swimming activities that varied by day.

"County parents were interested in a summer science program through the recreation department, because it combined learning fun within a camp atmosphere that also offered swimming and other physical activity, as well as crafts and games," says Ted Wroth, a 24-year veteran of MCDR. "Recreation department programs also offer the convenience of bus transportation for those parents who are not able to drive their children to summer activities.

"The Hands On Science programs had a reputation for quality science experiences, and the match seemed like a good one," he continued. Registration exceeded original predictions, and more sections had to be added to those already planned.

What do children do in a typical HOS program? In the summer programs "Up, Up and Away" and "The Green Scene," children observe flight in local birds and in creations they build themselves. They even get to flap around themselves to feel wind resistance. In "Energy" and the "The Good Earth," children focus on their local ecosystems and recycling. They do experiments in heat, light, motion, and personal movement.

How Recreation and Science Came Together

The Hands On Science program was first developed in a "community-use" school as a recreation option for children in Montgomery County. The program concept is to train non-scientists to work with small groups of age/grade-grouped children on a regular basis around interesting themes. To keep program quality consistently high, clear activity guides, boxes of all necessary supplies and a strong support system were put in place. As demand grew, the county PTA's nonprofit educational arm (MCCPTA-EPI) took on the administration and distribution of the program to a broad audience. The program spread rapidly as an after-school offering in both public and private schools.

In 1984, Hands On Science Outreach, Inc. (HOSO) was formed to handle programming outside Montgrams take place in parks, churches, bookstores, libraries, and other public places, as well as schools. With the publication of national guidelines for school science education, professional classroom educators and curriculum developers have invited the participation of the entire community, recognizing that children need the encouragement and support of more than their teachers.

Lifelong Learning 

HOSO programs include training. During the school year, there are training modules before each fall, winter and spring session. The summer programs are longer and have more flexible possibilities -- training before the entire summer or each set of materials -- depending on the needs of a given agency or organization. Teen assistants participate in the training, whether they are working during the school year or the summer. Many adults, whether they have taught professionally or not, comment on the value of learning new things in training along with the children in their groups.

In addition to the basic educational component, experience has shown that some other interesting things happen in a program of this nature. Children will notice appearances or events that have long become "background noise" to busy adults.

Teens will express a career interest in teaching or group work that had not been part of their previous vision for themselves. While this can happen in any focused program, HOS/ HOSO's many years of experience have produced a mechanism that addresses the needs of many providers since the activity guides, training and materials are combined in one program.

This summer, the camp has added an additional location convenient to the northern residents of this 500-square mile county. The 1997 director, Billie Wilson, has worked 17 years for the MCDR; she spent 14 years in Therapeutic Recreation and is now heading up the summer-camp team. She says of the HOS program, "I think it adds an educational component, in a fun way, to a camp program and expands the ability to address needs and interests of a broad section of kids."

For further information call Barbara Griner at HOSO, [phone]; Fax: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]; Website: www.radix.net/~hoso.