Looking for some new ideas? Member and CGCC Curiosity Hacked chapter co-leader, Elaine Luther, shared some of her favorite STEM resources.

What to listen to and watch -

SciGirls on PBS and online

Dragonfly TV (old show)

Tumble podcast (listen with your kids in the car.)

Nova

YouTube Channels:

In a Nutshell

SciShow

SciShow Kids

Crash Courses with John and Hank Green*  

Veritasium

* Be aware of the Anatomy course!  Some parents may or may not be ready for some of this content.

Activities and classes:

First Lego League

First Robotics

Science Olympiad

Edgewater Workshop

The Laboratory

Kids Science Labs

This time of year is so stressful, as kids get adjusted to a new school situation and parents figure out what is expected of them by their children's teachers.  What is the one thing that causes you the most stress this time of year?  Contribute to our forum on stress!  Find the forum on the resources page of our website.  

Click here for complete details.

For eleven days in October, the city’s top museums are joining together to celebrate Museum Week. Take advantage of discounted admissions, special exhibits, giveaways and more at each of the participating museums. Illinois residents will receive up to 25% off admissions at all museums. From culture to constellations, art to animals, this is your chance to experience Chicago’s most beloved institutions in a whole new way!

Click here for complete details.

Registration is open for STEM Saturdays at Northern Illinois University. STEM Saturday classes help students explore interesting topics through hands-on activities and exciting demonstrations. Parents are encouraged to attend students' classes and get in on the fun. This season's offerings include methods of flight, chemistry investigations, computer programming and STEM activities for young divas.

Age dependent on class. Most classes for ages 7 and up. Complete information can be found on STEM outreach web site.

The Midwest Torrance Center for Creativity based out of Northern Illinois University's Center for Gifted has just published their inaugural issue of the Torrance Journal for Applied Creativity. It is free and available online for anyone who is interested:http://www.centerforgifted.org/TorranceJournal_V1.pdf. You also can request a paper version to be mailed to you for $20.   

They are also sponsoring creativity awards for students in creative writing, musical composition, visual arts, and invention for which the deadline is August 20. See here for more details:http://www.centerforgifted.org/torrance.html

From the Lake County Discovery Museum eNewsletter:

FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION ALL MONTH LONG

On September 1, the Museum will close its doors at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda, pack up its vast collections and start the move to its new location in Libertyville. A grand opening is anticipated for late 2017. As our thank you for 40 great years at Lakewood, we are offering FREE admission during the month of August.

Don't miss your chance to visit the Museum and view our current exhibitions before the end of the month. We will also be offering 70 percent off at the Museum gift store, and free giveaways all month long.

To learn more about the move, or for progress updates, check LCFPD.org/museum. Follow us on Facebook for reveals of never-before-displayed collection items coming out of storage in preparation for the move.

From the Shedd Aquarium web site:

Dive in with Shedd Aquarium and other Chicago-area 6th- through 12th-grade students to explore local ecosystems while earning service-learning hours! Spend a day outdoors monitoring, maintaining and improving habitats so you, your community and our native animals all have green spaces to enjoy. Past Shedd Stewards events have included removing invasive plant species, followed by canoeing in the Skokie Lagoons.

Each Shedd Stewards event functions as a unique program, and within each program we incorporate different activities, focused on both stewardship and recreation. Specific program details will be sent to registered participants closer to each date.

From the Shedd Aquarium web site:

Do you have what it takes to be in the club? We invite you to be a member! Club Shedd is a semester long program for passionate and driven teens with an interest in science and aquarium careers. Each semester, teens work together alongside Shedd professionals, behind the scenes, in Shedd's Teen Learning Lab, and with amazing resources to develop solutions for real aquarium challenges. Club Shedd provides you with skill-building opportunities and workshops to tackle the challenges presented by Shedd partners. In the past year, teens have inspired and developed solutions that have impacted the aquarium in these projects:

• Enriching animal habitats through sculpting and molding/casting
• Modernizing gallery exhibits utilizing digital software and 3D modeling
• Designing ways to engage Shedd guests with our surrounding gardens, local plant species, and even Shedd's bees!

From the Northwestern web site:

The Friday night observation tours at the Dearborn Observatory are open to the public, and there are two hours open for visiting:

Spring/Summer Hours:

• 9:00 - 10:00 pm: Reservation hour only.
  Your group will have a tour of the Observatory, and be able to look through the telescope.

• 10:00 - 11:00 pm: Walk-ins welcome.
  We try to allow everyone at least one opportunity to look through the telescope, but space is limited and there is no guarantee that everyone will be able to look through the telescope if we are very crowded.

There is no fee for the Friday night observation hour, however if you make a reservation for a group of 10 or more we require a refundable deposit which will be returned to you on the night of your visit. If you would like to make a reservation or need information about viewing, please call Gretchen Burnett at 847-467-3798.

Please be advised that the dome does not have heat or air conditioning so please dress appropriately. Friday night tours are held "rain or shine," although of course cloud cover affects viewing. Tours are hosted by Ph.D. students and/or undergraduate students majoring in Physics & Astronomy. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions.

Unfortunately, the Dearborn Observatory is NOT ADA-accessible. Several staircases must be climbed in order to reach the telescope.