Sunday, Oct. 25, 1 to 5 p.m.
At the International Wildlife Museum
Have you ever watched a wizard turn your DNA into a necklace? Girl Scouts and other children will get to enjoy this and other weird and wonderful things at the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council’s annual “Camp Creepenstein,” Sunday, Oct. 25.
The afternoon program – a generous helping of science with a dash of Halloween – will be from 1 to 5 p.m. at the International Wildlife Museum, 4800 W. Gates Pass Road.
Camp Creepenstein is designed to be fun and educational for younger Girl Scouts, ages 5 to 10. Girl Scout leaders also hope the camp’s presenters – who include scientists from The University of Arizona – will inspire some of the girls toward further studies in science, technology and related fields.
“These girls may have a real aptitude for science but they don’t know it yet,” says Michelle Higgins, who has a background in physics and is science program coordinator for the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council.
“It’s hard to try something new if you’re not sure you’re going to be successful at it,” Higgins says. “We try to provide that safe place for the girls.”
Students and faculty with the UA chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma, a national, co-ed chemistry fraternity, will offer several science demonstrations at Camp Creepenstein this year.
“It’s highly important that we encourage our youth to become interested in science,” says Jared Boulds, a UA graduate student working on a doctoral degree in chemical education, and an Alpha Chi Sigma member. “If we can help influence girls to try something in science, that’s really huge. Then they’ll be more likely to go into medicine, veterinary medicine, and other scientific fields.”
The public is invited to Camp Creepenstein. Admission will be $8 for Scouts, with scholarships available; and $2.50 for children not in Girl Scouts. Adult admission is $5; or free if the adult is with the Girl Scouts.
