Good chemistry: Camp offers chemical concoction of curiosity for kids - Action News
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PEI

Good chemistry: Camp offers chemical concoction of curiosity for kids

Some kids in Charlottetown are being encouraged to get their hands dirty, or sticky, at a science camp. The campers are learning about chemistry and having a lot of fun doing it.

Campers experiment with household items and learn about science

Lucas Fan holds up homemade slime he made at at chemistry camp being held in Charlottetown this week. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

Some kids in Charlottetown are being encouraged to get their hands dirty,or sticky, at a science camp.

The campers at the March Break Creative Chemistry Camp hosted by STEAM PEI and Bricks 4 Kidsare learning about chemistry and having a lot of fun doing it.

Lauryn Hughes stretches her slime during the March Break Creative Chemistry Camp hosted by STEAM PEI and Bricks 4 Kids. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

Theyoung scientists are learning about physical and chemical reactions through hands-on experiments, such as bycombining glue, food colouring, laundry detergent and glitter, and seeing what happens.

"I like to learn how to make stuff like slime and a lot of other stuff and playing with it is really fun cause you can do a lot with slime,"LaidenGossonsaid.

The camp shows kids that chemistry is a lot of fun. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

As part of the day-long camp, the little chemists experiment with different materials to create chemical reactions. Along the way, they actually get to do science, they don't just watch it happen.

"We do talk about a little bit about molecules and we do talk a little bit about the different things that can happen when you mix liquids and solids and different chemicals, but the main thing they're learning is that there's always something fun to learn," said instructorNellieKeating.

Neallie Keating of STEAMP PEI and Bricks 4 Kids says there are things kids would never think are science. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

The idea behind the camp is to get kids excited about science.

"I like how it's all messy,"GeorgieWotherspoonsaid."If you learn, then you can do new things and if you have fun then you can teach everybody and your parents about it."

Keating saidone of the things that makes campers so interested in science is that there's an endless curiosity, and always more questions to ask.

Sometimes homemade slime can get away from students, all part of the learning. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

"Science opens the doors for asking questions all the time everyday about everything, and everything that happens in our world can be brought back to science,"Keatingsaid.

"Not only do we want them to learn about chemistry when they're here in the chemistry class, but also about how fun it is to work together and to ask questions and even that sometimes they have questions that the grownups don't understand either and we can learn together."

During the class, kids get hands-on experience and see science projects come to life. (Tom Steepe/CBC)

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