My two home schooled daughters attended summer camp at Explora this summer and had a great experience. The classes were advertised as a hands on inquiry approach to learning that involves every student. They learned a lot,  practiced their social skills  while working in groups, and my 9 yr-old wrote a ton and was happy about it. (not always my experience at home !)


I noticed that Explora offered and ESI ( Explora Science Investigators) after school club on Mondays from 4- 5:30 which is a bad time for us. I asked the staff if they had considered teaching a class like this to home schoolers. They have  decided to give it a try with my help. Since it is too late for Explora to advertise in publications I am now the advertiser. My job is to get a group of home school children from 4th gr to 8 th grade who would like to come together to make a class for this semester.


What Explora will offer

ESI (Explora Science Investigators )    The price is $195 for members and $230 for non-members for 15 sessions. ( no chaperones required) 1.5 hr class

Each session of ESI:  Explora Science Investigators will feature hands-on exploration of interesting materials, student-designed questions and experiments, and plenty of inspirational discoveries.  Students will be able to participate in extended inquiry experiences and build new relationships with other science fans in this semester-long program.  Projects include:  designing a Rube Goldberg contraption, investigating springs, exploring siphon systems, building a safety harness for an egg, and more.

    Mondays 4:00 -5:30 ages 4th to 8th grade (for general public) -   runs August 22-December 12.  Register directly with the Explora Reservations Coordinator at 224-8341.

    Tuesdays 1:00 to 3:00 ages 4th to 8th grade (for homeschoolers and Family Schoolers) runs August 23 -December 13.- contact Kelli at 294-2869.

This Tuesday class would be great. The  minimum is only 10 to make the class. The maximum is 16 instead of 30 as in the Custom program.  We would not be required to have Chaperones. But .....I know this would be a stiff price, especially for those who take vacations in the fall and would not be able to attend every class.

so they offered to teach from their.....

Custom package  The price would be $75 per student for 15 sessions regardless of membership.  (1 chaperone required per 6 children- chaperone is free- ) There may, at times , be  a special materials fee. 1.5 hr class.

In their custom program they have over 100 classes that they offer to school groups for a fee. These are not the free classes that are offered to Explora members.  Some of the 100+ titles are as follows Plasma Scrutiny, Chemistry, Light and Photo, Forced into Action (physics), Ecology in the Forest, Elucidating Illuminations, What's an Ohm, Delve into Drafting, Polymers, Mysterious Mixtures, etc.... I told Explora that I would leave the themes/classes that they choose to teach, totally up to them. I know they will make great choices.

         Tuesdays 1:00 to 3:00 ages 4th to 8th grade (for homeschoolers and Family Schoolers)  runs August 23 -December 13. Contact Kelli at 294-2869.          

This class has a minimum of 16 to make  and a maximum of 30. If we have less than 16 students the price would go up accordingly.  10 children would cost  $112 and so on.

Day and Time  The class either homeschool ESI or the Custom program will be offered from Tuesday from 1:30 - 3:00.   Which class that will be offered will depend upon your responses.  I am guessing it will most likely be the Custom program.

Who to contact  If you are interested can you call Kelli McNaughton at 294-2869.  After we have a solid commitment I will then have you call to register and pay with Explora. . For the quickest response please call me.  If I am not available (we home school from 9- 11:30) leave a message of a good time to get a hold of you. I am an early riser. 6 am- (kids can't hear the phone) and early to bed 9 PM (mostly).

Hoping for a great home school year for you all,

Kelli Mcnaughton

294-2869

Notes  As stated earlier ..if we have less  than 16 students enrolled in the Custom program payment will be > $70. If some folks join late, Explora could always use the surplus funds towards materials when needed. I know that was a complicated statement  but I already know some of you were going to ask that complicated question.

Please don't ask to pay for specific months.  The fee is for the entire semester. If someone hears about the program after it has started and wants to sign- up, it will be up to Explora's discretion to prorate their fee.  

Explora Closed Sep 6-12 for maintenance week.