Newsletter 163 BIG Little Science Centre July 2010

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1 Newsletter 163 BIG Little Science Centre July 2010 ISSN BIG Science (Print) ISSN BIG Science (Online) Summer Junior Science Camp 2010 Number 1: Ethan, Kayla, Kiara and Tavish are ready to do the water balloon drop, one of the final events in the first of four weeklong science camps at the BIG Little Science Centre. Summer Senior Science Camp 2010 Number 1 is happening the week of July 19 to 23. More Photos on pages 3 to 9. Coming up in August: Junior Science Camp #2 (Ages 6 to 8) from August 9 to 13, and Senior Science Camp #2 (Ages 8 to 12) from August 16 to 20. Information gord@blscs.org Located in Bert Edwards Science and Technology School 711 Windsor Avenue, North Shore, Kamloops BC

2 2 This Newsletter is received by approximately 800 readers. Back issues of BIGScience can be viewed at This Newsletter is a publication of BIG Little Science Centre Society Box 882 Station Main Kamloops BC V2C 5M8 Location Bert Edwards Science and Technology School 711 Windsor Avenue, Kamloops, BC V2B 2B7 Executive Director Gord Stewart Phone (250) or (250) 554 BLSC gord@blscs.org Assistant Operator Susan Hammond Phone (250) or (250) 554 BLSC susan@blscs.org Website Newsletter Editor Dr. Gordon R. Gore #404F Overlander Drive Kamloops BC Canada V2B 0A5 Phone: (250) grgore@telus.net Approximately 70,000 visitors have enjoyed visits to the BIG Little Science Centre! The chart above shows the number of people who visited the BIG Little Science Centre (plus the number of people the science centre visited) from January 2010 to June On July 1, over 1700 people visited the BIG Little Science Centre booth at Riverside Park in Kamloops, on Canada Day. At the time of printing this newsletter, the grand total of visitors and visited since opening in February 2000 is over 70,000. They are back in production! Gordon Gore s textbooks for Physics 11 and Physics 12 (formerly called Physics One and Physics Two) are being published by Western Campus Resources in North Vancouver. The covers and the titles are the only things changed about these books. For information and pricing, contact: Western Campus Resources 485 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver, BC V7J 2L3 Phone: (604) Toll-free Phone: Fax: (604) Toll-Free Fax: info@westerncampus.ca

3 3 Action at Junior Science Camp #1 Blake Weston and Graham MacDonald demonstrate the Wimshurst generator Kaeden and Karter are buzzed by a helicopter Left: Gordon Gore and Michael have fun with the Van de Graaff generator (Tristan Giles Photo) Right: Trent Johnson maneuvers a radio-controlled helicopter Mark Betuzzi launches a rocket to Mars Adele Stapleton checks out a clock powered by a homemade battery

4 4 Radio-Controlled airplane buzzes the playground This is how the rocket worked. Kids explain to Susan Hammond. Preparing for the water balloon drop Susan Hammond tests gases for flammability

5 5 Keen spectators Ready to launch! Mentos and Diet Coke Thomas Giroday (Water Balloon Bomber) Parents and Kids watching the water balloon drop (Tristan Giles photo) Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who helped with the first science camps of the summer, including: Susan Hammond, Adele Stapleton, Eric Wiebe, Dave McKinnon, Ken Schroeder, Graham MacDonald, Thomas Giroday, Blake Weston, Tristan Giles and Gordon Gore. Special guests included Mark Betuzzi, Trent Johnson and Gerry Hartley, who brought with them helicopters, airplanes and a rocket, and Jaimi Garbutt (Environmental Educator with City of Kamloops).

6 6 Early Action at Senior Science Camp #1

7 7 Float-a-Boat Challenge. Which boat can hold the most washers without sinking? Ken Schroeder Photos Three of Ken Schroeder s grandkids attended camp Testing Soils for Slippage Earth science can be dirty work! T-shirt of the Day

8 8 Graham MacDonald issues down-to-earth instructions. Making Mud Pies? Susan Hammond has her group working with clay. Jaimi Garbutt Jaimi Garbutt, environmental educator with the City of Kamloops, demonstrates what happens to surface water in the city.

9 9 Donations Gratefully Accepted! Thank you! ASTTBC has donated $5,000 towards the continued operation of the BIG Little Science Centre and to assist with the expansion of the BIG Little Science Centre to OK Falls and Nanaimo. The funds will be used for invitational camps, equipment purchases and general BIG Little Science Centre operations. Kamloops Foundation The Kamloops Foundation with the Stollery Small Grants Fund has donated $2,000 towards Middle School day camps, Pro-D day Camps, and science camps in the Summer and Fall of The Pacific Salmon Foundation donated $400 towards the Pine Park Salmon Release days. Other recent donors include classes from: St. Ann s Academy Westmount Elementary School Maranatha Christian School (Williams Lake) Pacific Way Elementary School Diamond Vale Elementary School (Merritt) Thank You to BC Hydro Powersmart, to Kamloops Foundation and the Stollery Charitable Foundation for sponsoring summer camps. I had my ears lowered at the barbershop. Now I can t hear higher frequencies.

10 10 Summer Public Hours at the BIG Little Science Centre Located at Bert Edwards Science and Technology School 711 Windsor Avenue, Kamloops, BC Susan Hammond Assistant Operator BIG Little Science Centre < Come to the BIG Little Science Centre and explore the two hands-on rooms with over 130 exhibits and the amazing shows and activities (each about 30 minutes long). For children ages 3 to adult. It is a great place for seniors and grandchildren to have fun together. Memberships are available for those wishing to visit regularly. Summer 2010 Public Hours July 5 to August 28: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. Closed August 2 and Sundays Admission Adults: $5.00 Children 6 to 16: $2.00 Under 6: Free Family: $10.00 Annual Membership: $35.00 Each day at 1:30 pm, we will present an amazing science activity/show. Monday July 19 to Saturday July 24 at 1:30 pm each day: Mysteries of Flight Make a mini-helicopter and a futuristic paper airplane while investigating the basics of flight. Monday July 26 to Saturday July 31 at 1:30 pm each day: CSI Investigation - Case of the Dying Fish Using soil science, guests will determine the pollution culprit. Monday August 2 to Saturday August 7 at 1:30 pm each day: Rocketry 101: it's a Gas! Guests will use air pressure to propel different rockets high and far. Monday August 9 to Saturday August 14 at 1:30 pm each day: Rocketry 202: How Far Can You Go? Guests experiment with balloon-powered rockets they make themselves to go further and faster. Monday August 16 to Saturday August 21 at 1:30 pm each day: Don't Rock the Boat! The object is to build a simple boat that can hold a weight without capsizing or is it just to sink the boat? It all depends on the kids. Monday August 23 to Saturday August 28 at 1:30 pm each day: Anchors Away Guests build a balloon-powered boat and roam the high seas (of our kiddie pool). Do you wish to celebrate a birthday or another special event at the BIG Little Science Centre? Phone or Susan Hammond, Assistant Operator, BIG Little Science Centre < susan@blscs.org>