Space Venture camps cleared for lift-off

Science Venture, the University of Victoria’s non-profit science outreach program that has run science, technology, engineering and math camps and workshops for more than 20 years, is launching a new summer satellite camp location and new programs—at the Centre of the Universe on Observatory Hill in Saanich.

Space Venture is an eight-week pilot project featuring space-themed programming for children and youth in Grades 3-8. Week-long camps will be held in the interpretive centre adjacent to the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, featuring the historic 1.8 metre Plaskett Telescope. Registration opens April 22, starting at 9 a.m.

The two themes being offered at this satellite location between July 7 and Aug. 28 are:
SpaceTECH, where campers will learn how technology is making it possible to live and work in space and AstroLAB, where the focus is on stars, planets, galaxies, planetarium shows and hands-on building projects. Schedule: http://www.scienceventure.ca/spaceschedule/

Says Science Venture’s director, Melisa Yestrau: "We’re excited to deliver summer camp programs at the Centre of the Universe as there’s a huge interest from the community for high-quality science and astronomy learning experiences for youth.”

Space Venture will temporarily take the place of the National Research Council’s (NRC) summer programming at the Centre of the Universe. NRC funding for the Centre ended in August 2013. Science Venture proposed the summer camps as a pilot project and was given an eight-week lease by the NRC to run programming out of the centre on a cost-recovery basis.

“Once these programs have wrapped up, we’ll evaluate the pilot program and explore possibilities for future programming,” says Yestrau.
UVic students deliver UVic’s Science Venture programs year-round from the Faculties of Science, Engineering, and Education.
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