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PAST PROGRAMS
Check out Homewood Science Center's gallery of Past Programs for Kids and see how children in the Chicago Southland area engage in STEAM learning with NGSS inspired activities. Some of our programs introduce children to STEAM career fields while other programs for kids offer a chance to explore, build, create, or imagine like an engineer.
$$ Game of Price $$
Saturday January 13th | 4pm-5:30 pm
Grades 6-8
Instructor: Professor Sara Gunderson
Professor Sara Gunderson, an economist at Valparaiso University presented a lively workshop exposing economic theory to junior high school students during Game of Price.
Why are baseball tickets so much cheaper than football tickets?
Why are people always complaining about the price of gasoline?
Will the soda tax actually decrease the amount of soda people drink?
Junior high students had an opportunity to explore and connect to economic theory. This interactive workshop introduced the economic way of thinking and showed how it applies to every decision. Participants applied the fundamentals of supply and demand while playing a game that showed them how markets operate and how prices are determined.
PUMP IT UP
The Science, Math and Physics of Fire Engineering
Date & Time: September 23, 2017 | 10am-2pm
Instructor: Homewood Fire Chief Robert Grabowski
Ages: 12-16 years old
-
Thinking about a career as a firefighter?
-
What decisions do firefighters make on the scene?
-
What's the science and math behind fighting fires?
Pump It Up shows you how firefighters go about fighting a fire. This is a combination class, featuring classroom activities and work outside with the fire truck. We will include problem solving, firefighter math calculations, and hands-on learning using the water pumping system and hoses of Homewood Fire Departments' fire engine!
Pump It Up is a great introduction to Fire Sciences.
A fun afternoon for teens to explore a career path with the Fire Department.
In Awe of Northern Lights
@Homewood Science Center
Saturday January 27th
6pm-8pm
Ages 18+
Yellowknife, NWT is one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights.
Astronomer Dr. José Francisco Salgado photographs the auroras, using his footage as a way to communicate science in engaging ways. He has created a stunning series called Science and Symphony.
Join us as Dr. Salgado explains the nature of the auroras and how he uses digital photography to capture their beauty and inspire audiences. He will share his still photography and real-time videos as well as his latest production, “ Wondrous Light”.
This event is brought to you by
Dr. José Francisco Salgado is an Emmy-nominated astronomer, experimental photographer, visual artist, and public speaker who creates multimedia works that communicate science in engaging ways. As the Executive Director and co-founder of
KV 265, a non-profit science and arts education organization, Dr. Salgado collaborates with orchestras, composers, and musicians to present films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about the Earth and the Universe.
Digital Fix://Green.Screen.Movie.Scene.
Thursdays 6pm-7:30pm
February 15 | 22
March 1
$75/student for 3 week series
NEW! Bring a Buddy $120/2 students
Instructor Mary Baker
Grades 6-8
It all starts with an idea! Students will collaborate to bring visual stories to life. Throughout the design phases of pre-production, production, and post-production, we’ll cover techniques to produce photo and video content using green screen technology. Invite your family to a VIP Premiere Party during our final class with a chance to debut your project in the Michael Wexler Theater.
Device Requirements
Students need to bring their own device, laptops are preferable. Homewood Science Center is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft. Students assume responsibility for their devices. If you do not have access to a laptop, please contact edobrez@homewoodsciencecenter.org.
Bring your own mobile device loaded with Minecraft pocket or PC version.
Meet other Minecraft players while collaborating to recreate a famous landmark.
Students should bring a peanut free snack with them to class.
Students need to bring their own laptop, iPad, or mobile device for this class. Homewood Science Center is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft. Students assume responsibility for their devices.
SPRING CLEANING
Wednesday May 2nd | 1pm-6pm
Help us spruce up for spring!
Join us for an afternoon of organizing, spray painting, light construction, and general prep to get our building in tip top shape for our busy PopUp SCIENCE season.
Bring your favorite tool if you want and we'll put you to work!
Sunday April 22nd | 4pm-6pm | FREE!
Join us for a free
EARTH DAY Movie Matinee!
No need to register, just show up!
Bring friends and family!
Vanishing of the Bees, narrated by Ellen Page, takes a piercing investigative look at the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee.
The film also highlights the positive changes that have resulted due to a tragic phenomenon known as “Colony Collapse Disorder.”
Providing viewers with tangible solutions they can apply to their everyday lives, Vanishing of the Bees unfolds as a dramatic tale of science and mystery, illuminating the greater meaning surrounding the relationship between humankind and Mother Earth. The bees have a message - but will we listen?
Sunday May 20th | 12pm-4pm
Flossmoor Service League House Walk
Homewood Science Center is proud to be a featured property for the 63rd Annual Flossmoor Service League House Walk.
Take a tour of Homewood Science Center and learn about how the Village of Homewood and the surrounding community worked together to transform a historical building in Homewood into a lively hub for STEAM learning in the South Suburbs.
Visit our Michael Wexler Theater, made possible by the friends and family of The Wexler Group, and check out the state-of-the-art system graciously provided by The Little Guys Home Technology. Thanks to Danyel Ilg, Freelance Interior Designer, the Michael Wexler Theater is an esthetically conducive space for STEAM exploration and an interior design dream come true!
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the modern workspace
that Del Mar Builders renovated as a gift.
Tickets must be purchased in advance for the House Walk!
Saturday May 26th | 10am-12pm | FREE!
Drop in and play chess! We have open chess hours, perfect for anyone who has an interest in the game! Bright Knights
Coach Cook will be on hand to give guidance so you can learn as you play. An outlet for families to learn and practice chess together, help your kids build self-esteem, recognize patterns, gain concentration, and sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills! No registration required, drop-in.
Family Chess
at Homewood Science Center
Yay! To celebrate the opening day of Village of Homewood's Farmers' Market, we are hosting "Botany and Bees," a mini PopUp SCIENCE from 10am-12pm in our garage. Take part in our community garden poster and explore the ins and outs of bumble bees with our hands-on activities.
No registration required, drop-in.
Mini PopUp SCIENCE
"Botany and Bees"
@Homewood Science Center's Garage
Mini
Homewood Farmers' Market
Every Saturday | May 26-October 13 | 8 AM - 1 PM
Every Wednesday | June 6-August 8 | 4 PM - 8 PM *No market on July 4*
Martin Avenue between Ridge Road and Chestnut Road
Saturday June 16th | 10am-12pm | FREE!
Family Chess at Homewood Science Center
Drop in and play chess! We have open chess hours, perfect for anyone who has an interest in the game!
Bright Knights Coach Cook will be on hand to give guidance so you can learn as you play. An outlet for families to learn and practice chess together, help your kids build self-esteem, recognize patterns, gain concentration, and sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills! No registration required, drop-in.
Wednesday June 20 | 6:30-8pm | FREE!
HF Women in Documentary Filmmaking
Featuring the cinematic achievements of Eliana D’Astici and Anne Colton on Wednesday June 20th at 6:30pm at
Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway. Get to know Eliana and Anne with Q & A following their films.
Learn how they developed a mentor/mentee relationship by connecting through
Homewood Science Center’s Girls STEAM Ahead.
A March through Generations
JordanVille
A short documentary produced by Eliana D’ Astici, March through Generations is about three generations of women traveling to Washington, D.C. for the Women’s March in 2017. Exploring generational perspectives on what the future has in store for women, March through Generations tells the unique story of an influential journey and a historical demonstration in women’s rights.
JordanVille , produced by John Mooy and Anne Colton,
is the story of Rich Jordan, one of Michigan's top high school basketball players in the 1960's. As one of the only Jewish students hailing from the tiny town of Fennville, and with his ability to dunk a basketball despite his 5'7" stature, Rich touched the lives of everyone he met. Fifty years after his final high school game, and with the original super 8 films depicting the games, Rich and his teammates tell his inspiring story in JordanVille.
Starting this summer, JordanVille will be available on PBS stations across the country. http://www.annecolton.com/Jordanville
July 11 & 25 | Experimac
Ever wonder what the inside of a computer looks like? Or how about a iPhone? Find out as our friends at Experimac demonstrate their skills letting you go hands-on with a tech take apart! Have an Apple device or computer that you need repaired? Bring it by and have the professionals at Experimac give you some advice!
Featured Makers
Wednesdays 6pm-8pm
Friday July 13 | 6am-10am | FREE!
LIVE STREAM VIEWING
Homewood Science Center is proud to host a live stream viewing of
WGN 9 Morning News Block Party in Village of Homewood!
Come out and enjoy all of the festivities of the WGN 9 Morning News Block Party in downtown Homewood and cool off in Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway! Watch WGN from 6am-10am live on our big screen in the Michael Wexler Theater! We'll see you on Friday July 13th from 6am-10am!
August 1, 8 & 15 | CodeCreate
Get your family together to make and discover with mastermind, Jeff Sweeton the founder of CodeCreate! Each week, Jeff will offer a different drop-in hands-on experience for families including Cardboard Switching, Puppet Making with LED, and Sun Prints and Video Production.
In addition to the making activities, we encourage your family to view the CodeCreate Collective exhibit "Currents, Fibers, and Forms".
Cardboard Switching- Inspired by The Imagination Foundation's Global
Cardboard Challenge you'll begin by brainstorming and building cardboard animals, objects or machines. Use aluminum foil and technology to bring your sculpture to life!
Puppet Making with L.E.D.s
Create and design a character using components of 3D design by layering 2D planes. Add lights or moving magnets to make an animatronic head. L.E.D.s are perfect for creating glowing features in characters that you can take home.
Sun Prints and Video Production
Traditional photography and filmmaking result directly from a chemical change based on light and we'll practice that with sun prints.
But, how does the location of the
camera change the product we see? Let's try some of the digital tricks to make a lot more!
Robotics Meet & Greets
Interested in robotics? Come and meet the HF Robotics Tech Ninja Team! You can talk with the teammates and learn all about their robots and what it takes to go head-to-head against other teams during robotics competitions!
FREE!
WEDNESDAYS
July 11 | August 8 & 22
4pm-8pm
SATURDAYS
August 11 & 18
10am-1pm
Extended Gallery Hours!
Donate if you can!
*children must be with an adult at all times
Wednesday August 29th
Wednesday September 5th
4pm-8pm
"Currents, Fibers, and Forms" is a CodeCreate Collective exhibit that partners making and technology. With the intention to bring together "art, science, and worlds," the exhibit consists of eight custom-designed cardboard engineered pieces including Blengin, a dragon paying homage to artist Henry Darger. Another piece, NeuroPentaptych alludes to the trauma of chronic illness. A video reel brings CodeCreate's design process to life. We hope you will be inspired to create your own masterpieces using common materials!
FREE
The Science, Math and Physics of Fire Engineering
Date & Time: September 8th, 2018 | 10am-2pm
Instructor: Homewood Fire Chief Robert Grabowski
Ages: 12-16 years old
Cost: FREE! Register between August 1st-September 1st
Pump It Up shows you how firefighters go about fighting a fire. This is a combination class, featuring classroom activities and work outside with the fire truck. We will include problem solving, firefighter math calculations, and hands-on learning using the water pumping system and hoses of Homewood Fire Departments' fire engine!
Pump It Up is a great introduction to Fire Sciences.
A fun afternoon for teens to explore a career path with the Fire Department.
Students must bring a sack lunch and water bottle.
-
Thinking about a career as a firefighter?
-
What decisions do firefighters make on the scene?
-
What's the science and math behind fighting fires?
Saturday September 15th | 10am-12pm
Drop-in and meet HF Robotics team members! They will be kicking off the robotics season with an open house on Saturday September 15th from 10am-12pm in their studio at Homewood Science Center. Come out to support the team and learn about the new challenge they will face in FIRST Tech Challenge robotics league.
Wednesday September 19th | 6pm-8pm
FREE | No registration required
CASH BAR benefitting
Homewood Science Center
The beauty behind HF landscape and architecture design
For 42 years, Dave Ward has served as a Golf Course Superintendent, with the last 14 years at Coyote Run. With a BS in Agricultural Science, Dave has spent the past 20 years working with native plants to naturalize golf courses. Dave will share his expertise and encourage you to create your own ecosystem by planting native species in your home garden.
Brian Doerr is a certified arborist and instructor, serving on the Village of Homewood Public Works Department for 10 years. With certificate degrees in greenhouse, nursery, turf management, and landscape design, Brian plays an integral role in the landscape architecture and design throughout the Village of Homewood. Join us as Brian talks about Homewood’s landscape enhancements, flower program and silver maple decline and reforestation.
Thursday September 20th | 7pm
Homewood Science Center at Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve
1100 Ridge Road, Homewood, IL 60430
Our community partner, Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve invited us to their September General Meeting. Drop into Senior Lodge at 7pm to hear about how Homewood Science Center quickly turned into a regional hub for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). We will also share how Homewood Science Center and Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve work together in partnership. The September General Meeting is free to attend.
Please consider supporting this ecological gem in our community by becoming a member.
Wednesdays | 4pm-8pm
Drop-in and join us every Wednesday from 4-8pm at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway to create, connect, and explore as we open our STEAM Studio to families! No registration is necessary, we just ask that you arrive by 7:30pm so you have enough time to make something great!
In October, we will focus on DIY Costumes! Just in time for Halloween, we challenge you to make a costume, modify an old costume, or create some accessories to deck out your look! We will accept gently used costumes on Wednesdays from 4pm-8pm.
Please help stock the STEAM Studio!
Please consider donating Tools and Supplies to our makerspace, the STEAM Studio. If you have items on our list, please bring them on Wednesday evenings from 4pm-8pm and someone will be glad to take your donations!
Thursday October 11th | 6pm-8pm
FREE | No registration required
Sharks tend to be described as 'killers from the dawn of time' or 'one of nature's great success stories... barely changed since they first appeared'. Is either of these statements true, especially so for a group with as lousy a fossil record as sharks? Research collections consist mostly of trays and trays and yet more trays of fossil teeth and the occasional fin spine. Having a cartilaginous skeleton results in scant remains of fossil bodies, and those being flattened and distorted. For this reason, new methods of accessing data in challenging fossil material are proving to be especially significant. CT scans are literally transforming our view of early sharks, revealing new evidence of diversity and innovation. Early sharks include classic apex predators, but they also include some unexpectedly sophisticated forms that don't quite fit the clichéd 'underwater death machine' image (unless, of course, you're a Paleozoic shrimp).
Michael Coates, Ph.D.
Professor, University of Chicago
Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy
Chair, Committee on Evolutionary Biology
Research Associate (Geology), Field Museum of Natural History
Professor Coates is interested in vertebrate evolution, especially the origins of ray-finned fishes, the ancient relatives of the vast majority of fishes swimming the seas today. He studies the deep evolutionary origins of sharks, of which little is known. Professor Coates also works with molecular biologists to integrate molecular and fossil data, which yield different branching dates in the evolutionary tree of life, and with developmental biologists to understand how fossils inform questions about the evolution of organismal development.
Saturday October 13th | 11am-2pm
Homewood Science Center at Village of Homewood Fire Department Open House
17950 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430
Drop-in to the Homewood Fire Department Open House for a hot dog lunch with your favorite Homewood heroes! The firefighters will demonstrate a live burn and teach you all about fire safety. Stop by the Homewood Science Center table to learn about the inertia and force behind seat belt safety with our Eggcident Experiment!
SCIENCE MINORS CLUB | TUESDAYS
After-school Science Minors Clubs offer early, hands-on exposure to science through partnerships with a network of schools and community organizations.
TUESDAYS 5:00pm-6:30pm
@Homewood Science Center
October 23 | 30
November 6 | 13 | 20 | 27
December 4
Grades 2-5 (limit 20 students)
Instructors: Tracy Mis & Monique Lamb
Cost: $100*
*Class fee covers instructor costs. Science Minors Club's instructor training, curriculum and supplies are funded through the Museum of Science & Industry.
Energy: Unleash the Potential.
Club participants will investigate energy concepts and have hands-on explorations of energy transformations including mechanical, sound, chemical, electrical, and light energy.
Sunday November 4th | 4pm
FREE | No registration required
SHOP & PLAY
THURSDAY DEC. 6TH
4PM-7PM
FRIDAY DEC. 21ST
10AM-7PM
YOUR KIDS CAN ENJOY FREE PLAY TIME WITH IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND WHILE YOU SHOP IN OUR POPUP SCIENCE SHOP!
LIMIT 30 MINUTES OF PLAY PER CHILD.
December 7th | 5pm-9pm
PopUp SCIENCE Shop Hours: 10am-9pm
HOME ALONE Holiday Party
FREE! DROP-IN | ALL AGES
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Create festive memories with your family and friends during our Home Alone Holiday Party on
Friday December 7th during Homewood’s Holiday Lights Festival!
Drop-in for a free screening of
Home Alone at 5pm in our
sponsored by Village of Homewood.
We’ll have our doors open until 9pm and we invite you in to warm up, make holiday ornaments and candy trains in Santa’s Workshop, and browse our PopUp SCIENCE Shop!
December 13th | 6:30pm | FREE!
PopUp SCIENCE Shop Hours: 10am-8pm
Join us as National Geographic invites students, educators, and YOU to take part in a FREE screening of SCIENCE FAIR at Homewood Science Center,
18022 Dixie Highway on Thursday December 13th at 6:30pm.
This is an all ages event to celebrate learning, especially in the STEAM fields! No registration is required.
The film offers a front row seat to the victories, defeats, and motivations of an incredible group of young women and men who are on a path to change their lives, and the world, through science.
December 15th | 3pm-6pm
PopUp SCIENCE Shop Hours: 10am-6pm
SANTA at the SCIENCE CENTER
Christmas comes once a year and kids light up when Santa’s near! Bring your camera, wear your smiles, and join us for
a free indoor photo opportunity with jolly Old St. Nick when we welcome
Santa at the Science Center on Saturday December 15th from 3pm-6pm.
Our sensory-friendly holiday scene sets the perfect backdrop for a quiet visit with the big guy himself!
In addition, we invite you to make something magical in Santa’s Workshop and browse our PopUp SCIENCE Shop!
THURSDAY 10AM-7PM
FRIDAY 10AM-7PM
SATURDAY 10AM-3PM
Looking for STEAM inspired toys that your kids will love this holiday?
Introducing PopUp SCIENCE Shop, open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays now until December 27th!
Find fun and stimulating STEAM toys and gifts right here in Homewood’s vibrant retail scene! Support your child’s interest in STEAM by shopping at the PopUp SCIENCE Shop!
Purchases benefit Homewood Science Center.
CodeCreate
Combo Course!
@Homewood Science Center
Cardboard Switching &
Model Hardware
Race Car Rally
Fridays March 2 | 9 | 16
6pm-8:30pm
Ages 9-12
$120/child
NEW! Bring a Buddy $200/2 children
Instructor: Jeff Sweeton
During this CodeCreate Combo Course, youth will work on two take-home projects that are based in making and technology!
Cardboard Switching: Cardboard lions roar and cardboard lamps light! Inspired by The
Imagination Foundation's Global Cardboard Challenge, you can brainstorm and build a cardboard camera, lamp, animal, or other object and bring it to life with some engineering components! All it takes is creativity, aluminum foil, a Makey Makey Board, and Scratch, an
MIT Media Lab application.
Model Hardware Race Car Rally: Construct a simple car using everyday materials! Using items like corner protectors, battery holders, aluminum, and magnets, you can make a car to race in our rally! After the first race, modify your car to make it better, faster, or brighter!
Jeff Sweeton, founder and facilitator of CodeCreate, has been producing video and electronic sculptures for about twenty years. He’s partnered with top notch institutions including Art Institute of Chicago and Google, and currently teaches electronics and engineering courses at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. You can write him at jeff@codecreate.us
Device Requirements
Students need to bring their own device, laptops are preferable. Homewood Science Center is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft. Students assume responsibility for their devices. If you do not have access to a laptop, please contact edobrez@homewoodsciencecenter.org.
Winter Chess Club
Saturdays January 6th- March 10th
Time: 10am-11am
Grades: K-5
Rate: $130
Program Director: Cook Williams
Contact phone number: (708) 792-3252
Bright Knights of Homewood
Homewood Science Center welcomes Bright Knights Program Director Cook Williams to offer chess classes for kids K-5th grade. Bright Knights Chess Club offers an outlet for kids to learn chess, build self-esteem, recognize patterns, gain concentration, and sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Register today at http://www.brightknightschess.com/homewood
With the support of Museum of Science and Industry, Homewood Science Center is excited to offer Science Minors Club!
Students can engage in fun, hands-on science activities that build curiosity and encourage teamwork. Topics range across all aspects of science and engineering and support learning that happens during the school day.- MSI
After-school Science Minors Clubs offer early, hands-on exposure to science through partnerships with a network of schools and community organizations.
STAY TUNED for information on our
Science Minors Summer Camp!
Grades 2-5 (limit 20 students)
Instructors: Tracy Mis & Monique Lamb
Mayor’s Arctic Dip
Saturday January 12
1pm-3pm
@Homewood Science Center
18022 Dixie Hwy | Homewood
Proceeds benefit
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld invites you to join him and take an"arctic dip"in a swimming pool outside of Homewood Science Center as a fundraiser for South Suburban Humane Society!
Come to Homewood Science Center dressed in your best animal themed costume for a pre-dip costume contest! Be sure to bring a robe, towels, and change of clothing to warm-up post-dip! Whether you are daring enough to take the dip or not, everyone can enjoy the after-party with a slice of Aurelio's Pizza, courtesy of Bill Sandrick of Sandrick Law Firm. Sip on a hot chocolate or Tito's Handmade Vodka cocktail shaken by LaVoute Bistro and Bar.
$25 Arctic Dip Ticket
$15 Party Only Ticket
To participate, you must be 48 inches tall at the time of the dip and participants under the age of 18 will require a guardian's signature on the waiver as well as be accompanied by the guardian at the time of the dip.
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SPOTLIGHT ON...
VETS & PETS
JANUARY 17
6PM-8PM
ALL AGES!
FREE!
Pet Care Tips from the Experts
Hear from the veterinarian team from Flossmoor Animal Hospital on the care your cats, dogs, and other common household pets need to thrive! Get your questions answered and learn more about vaccinations and symptoms of common diseases.
Debunking Pet Food
Pet owners are always searching for top quality products to feed their pets. But with an abundance of shelves of pet food in the store, how do you go about selecting a product? Join us for a discussion of pet food myths, how to interpret labels, and what the deal with grain-free is anyway.
Special Announcement from South Suburban Humane Society!
Hear the latest news from our friends at SSHS and learn how you can help!
SCIENCE OF MUSIC
Friday January 18th
6pm-7:30pm
FREE! Register Online! Grades 5-8
Offered in partnership with
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
and Trinity Christian College
@Homewood Science Center
18022 Dixie Hwy | Homewood
Explore the multitude of ways science and music interact, connect and build upon one another. This free and interactive workshop is designed especially for students in 5th-8th grades who are interested in instruments, music, and more!
On hand will be Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's trombonist Andy Rozsa who completed a PhD exploring the metallurgical and design properties of trombones.
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MOVIE NIGHT
FREE! All ages! Open to the public!
Wednesday February 6th at 6pm
Join us as we celebrate our community of volunteers with a free movie screening of
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
Fred Rogers has inspired generations of children, just as our volunteers work to do here at Homewood Science Center!
Whether you are part of our volunteer community, or just want to say thanks to those who are, come out and enjoy the story of Fred Rogers on Wednesday February 6th at 6pm.
This is a free event, all ages are welcome, with the understanding that the film is rated PG-13.
Spotlight On...Architecture of Scenic Design
Featuring the work of Russ Hoganson from The Drama Group
FREE! All ages! No registration required
Wednesday February 20th, 2019
6pm-8pm
Theatrical scenic design brings the story and stage to life! Join us on Wednesday February 20th from 6pm-8pm at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway, as Russ Hoganson, scenic designer for The Drama Group, shares details about the architecture and engineering design process it takes to create such stunning sets! In a step-by-step discussion, you'll learn how scenic design starts with the script, how collaboration with the director is key to creating a scenic concept, and how historical research plays into the design. Discover the intricacies of drafting a set design, view the blueprints and smaller scaled models Russ creates before set construction begins, and hear his insight as he shares stories from his 47 years designing sets!
Meet Russ Hoganson
For 47 years, Russ Hoganson has been bringing stage productions to life with his scenic designs. Russ discovered the technical side of theater at University of Iowa Theater Department until his plans were interrupted by the Viet Nam draft. After the war, Russ started working with The Drama Group in 1972 when he auditioned for a role in "Showboat." Since then, Russ has served as a two term President, Scenic Designer, Technical Director, Actor, Director, and a member of The Drama Group's Board of Directors. Russ has designed sets with cars, trucks, revolving floors, and bridges. He has used lifts, counterweight systems, a flying apparatus, and projections on stage.
For its 88th Season in 2019, The Drama Group is producing six studio productions (Musicals, Comedies, Dramas), a spring show for young audiences, a kids’ Camp during the summer and multiple informal play readings. While providing quality theatre at affordable prices, we are a community of volunteers always welcoming people to join us (onstage or off). Formed in 1931, The Drama Group remains in Chicago Heights, proud of its heritage and is committed to a bright creative future in the southwest suburbs.
More information is available at www.dramagroup.org
Minecraft Meet-Ups
Tuesday February 19 | 26
March 5
5:30pm-7:30pm
Ages 8-12
Meet other Minecraft players while collaborating to recreate a famous landmark!
Please bring your own mobile device loaded with Minecraft pocket or PC version.
Students need to bring their own laptop, iPad, or mobile device for this class. Homewood Science Center is not responsible for loss, damage, or theft. Students assume responsibility for their devices. Students may bring a peanut free snack and a refillable water bottle with them to class.
Homewood Business Association
Potluck Social & Networking Event @ Homewood Science Center
Thursday March 7th from 7pm-8:30pm
FREE! Bring a dish to share!
Join local businesses for a fun and casual networking event! If you are thinking about joining the HBA, come out and meet HBA members. HBA businesses will debut their new promotional videos in Homewood Science Center's Michael Wexler Theater.
We invite regional educators, business leaders, researchers, parents, and community STEAM stakeholders to join us for the South Suburban STEAM Network Summit held at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway in Homewood, IL 60430.
OPEN CALL FOR IGNITE TALKS
Ignite talks are a quick and energetic way to spread excitement about your program during our STEAM Network Summits! We challenge our presenters to get their point across with 10 slides, 20 seconds a slide. Slides will be set to auto-advance!
Deadline to apply: March 1st
Notification: March 4th
If your ignite talk is selected, you will need to get your 10 slides to Holly Kelsven hkelsven@homewoodsciencecenter.org no later than Wednesday March 8th.
Homewood Science Center is sponsoring a conservation ecology based internship for junior high school students. This internship will complement the classroom science content on ecosystems reflected in the Next Generation Science Standards for middle school.
Led by Patricia Messersmith, Senior Education Museum of Science and Industry and Nicole Fuller, Chicago Public School Science Educator, 6th-8th grade interns will meet at Homewood Science Center and learn from experts as well as build a native demonstration garden. The internship will conclude at Homewood Science Center's Pop-Up Science Event “Go Green!” (June 22nd 9:00 am-2:00 pm) where the students will share their volunteer conservation ecology projects with the community.
Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors is designed to foster 3rd-5th grade girls’ interest in STEAM. Led by Girls STEAM Ahead alumni Victoria D’Astici and hosted by female high school students, Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors welcomes 3rd-5th grade girls for an afternoon of hands-on activities celebrating science, technology, engineering, art, and math—followed by a pizza party!
Register for Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors between March 11th- March 29th
To learn more about sponsoring
Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors, email hkelsven@homewoodsciencecenter.org
Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors
For girls in 3rd-5th grades
Saturday April 13th from 11am-2pm
SPACE DAY
Wednesday April 10th, 2019
Starting at 6pm at Homewood Science Center
Join us at Homewood Science Center on Wednesday April 10th at 6pm as we shine a Spotlight On...SPACE DAY!
Learn about NASA endeavors such as returning to the moon and a manned mission to Mars from NASA Aerospace Engineer, Jeffrey M. Woytach.
Prairie State College will be on hand to assist you with telescope viewing! Through the telescope, you may see actual moon rocks and other celestial wonders!
Register in advance or at the door!
Spotlight On...Homewood's Green Jewel
An interactive talk presented by Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve and Thorn Creek Audubon Society
Join us Thursday May 9th from 6pm-8pm at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway, as we shine a Spotlight On... Homewood's Green Jewel. Learn the history behind our local ecological beauty, Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve (HIWP), and find out why it is referred to as Homewood's Green Jewel! The Preserve's Board President John Brinkmann will share stories and images of HIWP and Thorn Creek Audubon Society's Judy Johnson will educate our audience on the birding you can enjoy within Homewood's Green Jewel!
NATIVE PLANT SALE
MAY 18 9AM-1PM @HOMEWOOD IZAAK WALTON PRESERVE
Turn your garden into a supportive ecosystem this spring with native plants! Purchase your native plants in support of Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve and the Thorn Creek Audubon Society. For more information, visit www.thorncreekaudubonsociety.org/
FLOSSMOOR SERVICE LEAGUE'S
COLLEGE KEGGER FUNDRAISER
@HOMEWOOD SCIENCE CENTER
SATURDAY MAY 18
7:30PM-10:30PM
Come relive your youth at Flossmoor Service League's College Kegger!
Enjoy food, beer, wine, music, and games. Don't forget to dress in support of your favorite college!
Tickets are $60 each. Proceeds benefit Flossmoor Service League, a local organization that gives grants to charities in the south suburbs of Chicago. A portion of the proceeds also benefit the Homewood Science Center.
Spotlight On...Carbon Pricing 101
There’s growing support for carbon pricing as a necessary step to address climate change. It’s supported by 88 countries and a broad array of public interest groups yet most Americans know very little about carbon pricing.
Come to learn:
• Why pricing is an effective policy for climate action
• How pricing will speed a transition to renewable energy
• Many co-benefits including employment and jobs
• The broad, diverse groups that support pricing
• How you can support a carbon pricing policy
FREE FILM SCREENING
PARIS TO PITTSBURGH
MONDAY JUNE 17 @ 7PM
Join us for a FREE screening of
Paris to Pittsburgh, a new film from
National Geographic, produced by RadicalMedia in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies -- narrated by Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning actress and activist Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”).
From coastal cities to America’s heartland, Americans are demanding and developing real solutions in the face of climate change. And as the weather grows more deadly and destructive, they aren’t waiting on Washington to act. Learn about their incredible stories in Paris to Pittsburgh, and be inspired to create change in your own community!
Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing at this free family celebration! Tumble through our astronaut training obstacle course and watch video footage on the first moon landing.
Make your own solar constellation sewing cards, lunar landing module, or lunar landing rover in our STEAM Studio, and take a close up look of the sky with a solar telescope or high powered binoculars with the help of Prairie State College professors.
Win a prize by participating in our Outer Space Costume Contest. Be sure to snap a photo at our moon landing mural!
This is a free event. Please register now or at the door!
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14TH / 6:00PM-8:30PM
BACK-TO-SCHOOL CONFIDENCE BUILDING BASH
WITH LEGO EDUCATION
@Homewood Science Center / 18022 Dixie Highway
FREE / Families with Pre-K through 5th grade students
FAMILIES
"Students and parents should have a positive experience and learn about engineering, technology, design, science, and math. They should walk away thinking of themselves as being an engineer, a coder, a designer, a scientist, a mathematician, but most importantly a learner."
- LEGO Education
Join us for a Back-to-School Bash with LEGO Education! Connect with your family and create a positive message going into the new school year with the help of LEGO Education & school teachers from School Districts 153, 161, 140, 145, 170, & 163!
LEGO Back-to-School Bash includes:
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STEAM Park: Functional Elements
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Early Simple Machines: Spinning Top
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Simple Machines: Merry-go-Round
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Preschool Maker Lesson: Animal Shelter
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AND MORE! Visit all stations to complete your visit!
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FALSE FACES: MASKS, MOTION & LIGHTS
Friday Sept 6, 13, & 20
6:30pm-8pm
Grades 5-8 / Fee: $90 / Register online
Join Jeff Sweeton from CodeCreate and Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development to build a mask out of recycled materials, bring it to life with electric circuitry, and share it in our fashion show!
Growing Sustainable Communities Together: Realizing the Economic Impact
Thursday August 29th, 2019 / 10:30am-1:30pm
@Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway
Join Prairie State Regional Sustainability Network for the third event of
Growing Sustainable Communities Together.
Learn the economic benefits of sustainable communities from local experts.
Enjoy a networking lunch and stay for an optional tour of Homewood Science Center, beginning at 1 PM.
AGENDA
10:30 Welcome and Introductions Allessandra Kummelehne & Jacquelin Knox
10:45 Homewood Science Center Edie Dobrez, Executive Director, Homewood Science Center
11:00 Speaker Panel
Complete Streets Leslie Phemister, Transportation Planner, SSMMA
Cultural Vibrancy Valerie Nicholson, Treasurer, SAMBA
Green Real Estate Valerie Kearns, Realtor, Baird & Warner
12:30 Lunch
12:50 Wrap Up and Tour Announcement
1:00 Optional Tour
ADULTS
Tuesday September 17, 2019 / 8am-10am Homewood Science Center / 18022 Dixie Highway FREE / Register by Sept 13
Network, celebrate, and strengthen STEM initiatives and workforce development for students in the culturally and economically diverse region of Chicago’s Southland. Bringing together partners from across industry and education sectors, Chicago Southland STEM Network is recognized in the global network of STEM Learning Ecosystems.
ADULTS
FEATURED FILM:
NO SMALL MATTER
Wednesday Sept 25 / Doors 6:30 / Screening 7pm
OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON OUR YOUNGEST CITIZENS. ON HOW MANY WORDS THEY HEAR IN THEIR FIRST MONTHS OF LIFE. ON HOW OFTEN THEY ARE HELD. ON THE KINDS OF EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE.
No Small Matter is a feature-length documentary film and national engagement campaign that brings public attention to this vital question by sharing powerful stories and stunning truths about the human capacity for early intelligence and the potential for quality early care and education to benefit America’s social and economic future. This multifaceted project reveals how our country is raising its youngest citizens, why making the most of this time in their lives is so crucial, and most importantly, what we can do to change the perception of when learning begins. The first major theatrical documentary to tackle this topic, No Small Matter is designed to kick-start the public conversation about early care and education. The ultimate goal: to produce an entertaining, accessible, and inspiring film that redefines the audience’s understanding of the issue and helps drive it to the top of the political agenda. Or, as one advocate put it, “not just to make a documentary about early childhood education, but to make the documentary about early childhood education.”
Spotlight On...Science of Healing
Thursday October 10th / 6:00pm-8:00pm
FREE / All ages
Join us for an interactive talk. South Suburban Family Shelter will share information on what constitutes trauma and how experiencing trauma can impact your brain as well as how engaging in certain activities can heal your brain, thus helping you to thrive after trauma. Cancer Support Center will help us explore how the brain transforms as you use mindfulness and art therapy to heal from physical and emotional trauma.
This event includes a FREE Meditation Workshop by Serendipity Yoga!
Saturday October 12, 2019 | 11am-2pm
Homewood Science Center at Village of Homewood Fire Department Open House
17950 Dixie Hwy, Homewood, IL 60430
Drop-in to the Homewood Fire Department Open House for a hot dog lunch with your favorite Homewood heroes! The firefighters will demonstrate a live burn and teach you all about fire safety. Stop by the Homewood Science Center table to learn about the inertia and force behind seat belt safety with our Eggcident Experiment!
Bookies New & Used Books and Homewood Science Center proudly present
AUTHORS & ACTIVITIES
FREE Family Events held at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway
"Baby Loves..." Science Series by Ruth Spiro
Saturday November 9 / 10am-12pm
Babies, Toddlers, & Pre-K
Meet & greet with the author, book sales & signings, kid-friendly refreshments, and Imagination Playground!
Readings at 10:30am & 11:30am
November 20th, 2019
PUMP IT UP
The Science, Math and Physics of Fire Engineering
Date & Time: September 14, 2019 | 10am-2pm
Instructor: Homewood Fire Chief Robert Grabowski
Ages: 12-16 years old
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Thinking about a career as a firefighter?
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What decisions do firefighters make on the scene?
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What's the science and math behind fighting fires?
Pump It Up shows you how firefighters go about fighting a fire. This is a combination class, featuring classroom activities and work outside with the fire truck. We will include problem solving, firefighter math calculations, and hands-on learning using the water pumping system and hoses of Homewood Fire Departments' fire engine!
Pump It Up is a great introduction to Fire Sciences.
A fun afternoon for teens to explore a career path with the Fire Department.
Students will need to bring a sack lunch, towel, change of clothes (they might get wet!) and wear closed-toe shoes to Pump It Up.
Holiday Lights Making & Movie Party
Friday Dec 6 / 5pm-9pm at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway
FREE Screening of Elf / 5pm & 7:30pm Melody Mart’s Uka Ladies / 7:30pm
Celebrate the holidays with us! For $5, make a candy train or marshmallow snowman in Santa’s Workshop. Support our Kids’ Committee bake sale and pick out fun gifts at our PopUp SCIENCE Shop!
MLK Day of Service
Monday January 20, 2020 | 1pm-3pm
@Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway
Brownie Troop 65149 out of Western Avenue Elementary will sponsor a Crayon & Marker Recycling Project as part of Flossmoor's MLK Day of Service. Donations of old crayons & markers (any brand) can be dropped off during the event at Homewood Science Center or in the lobby of Western Avenue Elementary. Volunteers on the day of will help sort the donations and peel crayons, open to anyone ages 4 and above. Markers will be recycled through Crayola's ColorCycle Program. Crayons will be recycled through SCARCE's Tools for Schools and Super Crayons project.
If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up with Karen Cheung at russellke@gmail.com.
“Roller Coasters: An Inventor’s Journey”
A 90 minute exploration for Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts
Sunday January 12, 2020 | 1pm-2:30pm
$13 per Girl Scout (price includes badge)
Adult chaperones are free!
Registration closes on January 10
Invent a Roller Coaster!
Girls have amazing ideas and they will have an opportunity to become a modern day roller coaster inventor! Our afternoon will start with a look at Homewood's history in roller coaster inventions and the girls will go on an interactive 3D roller coaster ride.
Next, Girl Scouts will observe roller coasters, brainstorm ideas for their roller coaster, and then build out their own model roller coaster from recycled materials! Badges will be given at the end of the class!
Girls must come with a chaperone. This is NOT a drop off event.
Daisy Scouts
Roller Coaster Badge
Brownies
Inventors
Badge
Spotlight On...Darwin Day
Studying evolution with fossils
with Prairie State College Professors Lee Anne Burrough
and Angela Hung
Thursday February 13 / 6pm-8pm
Think you are an evolution expert? Join us on Thursday February 13 from 6-8pm as we shine a Spotlight On...Darwin Day: Studying evolution with fossils featuring Lee Anne Burrough and Angela Hung from Prairie State College. Explore common evolutionary misconceptions and let the history of life on earth unfold in your hands with an interactive look at fossils dating back to the beginning of time. Register online or at the door. All ages.
Random Acts of Kindness Family Fun Hour
Friday Feb 21 / 4pm-5pm
with South Suburban Family Shelter
All Ages / FREE / Donations accepted
Join Homewood Science Center and South Suburban Family Shelter for Random Acts of Kindness Family Fun!
Learn the science behind kindness and practice Kindness, Love and Respect. Hands-on activities include High Five for Kindness, Peace Ornaments and Kindness Posters.
Bring an unopened box, peanut free, after school snacks or drinks to donate to SSFS and stay and play for FREE in the STEAM Studio and Imagination Playground.
Bookies New & Used Books and Homewood Science Center proudly present
AUTHORS & ACTIVITIES
Held at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway
100 First Words for Little CEOs by Cheryl Sturm
Saturday March 14, 2020 / 10am-12pm
Babies, Toddlers, & Pre-K
$5 per person (ages 1-99)
Meet the author, book sales & signings, and Imagination Playground!
Readings at 10:30am & 11:30am
100 First Words for Little CEOs
Introducing 100 First Words for Little CEOs, a dashingly sharp primer for kids learning their first words! Forget apple and dog. Little CEOs are ready for revenue, philanthropy, and innovation. With terms from every aspect of business, these little CEOs will be ready to manage their own company, even at the age of 2. (Or maybe just their families). Packed with fun illustrations and 100 words every boss baby should know, 100 First Words for Little CEOs is the perfect board book for executive families everywhere.
Sorry, but our Family Rate and Punch Cards are not valid for special events.
Starting with a storytime at 2pm in partnership with Bookies New and Used Books, and continuing with open play, you can build gross motor skills and bond with your babies during this special time dedicated to our littlest explorers.
Middle School Conservation Ecology Internship / Grades 6-8
High School LEADERS / Grades 9-12
Service Dates May 9 - June 27
See applications for more details
Homewood Science Center is sponsoring a conservation ecology internship for middle school school students.
This internship will complement the classroom science content on ecosystems reflected in the Next Generation Science Standards for middle school. Led by Patricia Messersmith, Senior Education Museum of Science and Industry and Nicole Fuller, Chicago Public School Science Educator, 6th-8th grade interns will meet at Homewood Science Center and learn from experts as well as build a native demonstration garden. High school LEADERS will assist with the program. The internship will conclude at Homewood Science Center's Pop-Up Science Event “Go Green!” (June 27, 2020 9:00 am-2:00 pm) where the students will share their volunteer conservation ecology projects with the community.
Eligibility
This internship is open to 6th-8th grade students interested in conservation and ecology.
Students in 9th-12th grade may apply to become a High School LEADER.
The time commitment for the internship is approximately 16 hours.
Internship benefits
Participation will provide participating students with hands-on learning experience in project development, project management, and public presentation. They will also have the opportunity to meet and learn from leading experts in conservation and ecology.
Application requirements
Student must complete this brief online application by April 30.
Applicants will be notified on May 4, if they will be accepted to the program.
Chess & STEAM at Homewood Science Center
Dates & Times: TBD
1st - 4th grade
Drop-in for $5 per person
Includes Chess + other STEAM activities
Learn to play chess! We're going to have chess lessons during our open hours, perfect for anyone who has an interest in the game!
Bright Knights Coach Cook will be on hand to give guidance so you can learn as you play. An outlet for kids to learn and practice chess together. Chess can help your kids build self-esteem, recognize patterns, gain concentration, and sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills!
Drop-in for $5.
COMING SOON...
Join us as we shine a Spotlight On...STEAM initiatives and experts from the south suburbs and beyond!
Save the date for our upcoming events!
Spotlight On…
Forensic Science with Homewood-Flossmoor High School teacher Steve Banasiak
Event Postponed- Date TBD
Think you have what it takes to solve a crime scene? Join us as we shine a Spotlight On...Forensic Science with Homewood-Flossmoor High School teacher, Steve Banasiak on Thursday March 19 from 6-8pm at Homewood Science Center. Starting with an interactive lecture and ending with plenty of time to explore hands-on stations, you’ll make and examine your own fingerprints, study skulls for a look into forensic anthropology, and learn how to detect, collect, and examine evidence under a microscope.
Spotlight On…Feel Free in the Forest Preserves of Cook County!
featuring Kevin Kuhn from the Forest Preserve Volunteer Resource Center
Thursday April 9 / 6 - 8pm
The Forest Preserves of Cook County, with nearly 70,000 acres, is the largest forest preserve district in the United States. It receives an estimated 62 million visits each year, providing an escape into a world teeming with wildlife and rich with outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities. Within its boundaries are rare habitats that offer plant and animal diversity on par with the rainforests of the world. This natural heritage offers something for everyone.
Who we are! Fun events! Volunteer opportunities! Conservation efforts!
Spotlight On…
Create a Sustainable Home Garden: Ecofriendly, Low Maintenance, and Beautiful
featuring Sue McCarthy, MS Environmental Management and Sustainability
Thursday, May 14 / 6 - 8pm
Learn how to use sustainable gardening practices in your garden. Gardening sustainably just makes sense in this fragile world of climate change and environmental damage. Switching over to sustainable gardening practices goes a long way to building a garden that you and your family can enjoy, all while reducing your environmental footprint, by increasing carbon storage, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to plant and animal biodiversity.
ENVIRONMENTAL: Biodiversity, Chemical-free, Less water, etc.
FINANCIAL: Less fertilizers, less water, less annual costs
SOCIAL: Enhance your neighborhood's aesthetic, create a gathering place
Frame by Frame Film Festival Screening & Awards
https://framebyframefilmfest.com
April 18, 2020 / 7pm
Tune in for a live casting of the Frame by Frame Film Festival and Awards on April 18 at 7pm by visiting the festival's website, www.framebyframefilmfest.com. Frame by Frame is a high school film festival focusing on the use of digital software and editing to enhance the stories being told in film.
For more information or to submit a student film, please visit the festival website.
Questions? Email framebyframefilmfest@gmail.com
Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors
Kit Pick-Up Sat. May 2 / 10am-11am
Hands-On "Hangout" Sat. May 8 / 10am-11am
LEADERS: 9th-12th grades
LEARNERS: 3rd-6th grades
FREE!
Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors is designed to foster 3rd-6th grade girls’ interest in STEAM. Led by female high school students, Girls STEAM Ahead Juniors welcomes 3rd-6th grade girls for a morning of hands-on activities celebrating science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
THE STORY OF PLASTIC
Free Virtual Screening and Film Discussion
At-Home Screening Link available starting June 4
Online Film Discussion June 8 @6pm
Homewood Science Center is celebrating World Ocean Day by hosting a free virtual screening and discussion of THE STORY OF PLASTIC. This virtual screening is open to the first 25 households to complete our online registration.
We will email you a screening link to THE STORY OF PLASTIC the morning of Thursday June 4th to watch at your leisure prior to our film discussion on World Ocean Day, Monday June 8th at 6pm. You will also receive a link to our Virtual Film Discussion happening Monday June 8th at 6pm.
For more information, please email hkelsven@homewoodsciencecenter.org
THE STORY OF PLASTIC takes a sweeping look at the man-made crisis of plastic pollution and the worldwide effect it has on the health of our planet and the people who inhabit it. Spanning three continents, the film illustrates the ongoing catastrophe: fields full of garbage, veritable mountains of trash, rivers and seas clogged with waste, and skies choked with the poisonous emissions from plastic production and processing. With engaging original animation, archival industry footage beginning in the 1930s, and first-person accounts of the unfolding emergency, the film distills a complex problem that is increasingly affecting the planet’s and its residents’ well-being.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School Science Department Chair and Microbiology teacher Kim Smith will lead a discussion on understanding the science of viruses. Smith was awarded a Science Ambassador Fellowship from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control this year, as part of a program the CDC offers to bring public health sciences into middle- and high-school classrooms.
Register below for this virtual event that will be held September 10, 2020 at 7pm.