Current Programs:  Public Programs      • Saturday Serious Fun      • Silly Science      • Planetarium Shows      • Science Camps      • Birthday Parties      • Sleep Overs      • Group Visits      • Outreach         • Starlab         • Custom Programs  School Programs      • Field Trips      • Wild on Science      • Homeschool      • Science Outreach	The Okanagan Science Centre regularly hosts an amazing variety of programs! Topics vary from Biology, Chemistry, Astronomy, Engineering, Robotics and many others! Our Pro-D Day, School Holiday, and Summer Camps are very popular. We also host Birthday Parties, School Field Trips, or any other type of special visit by request. Public Programs: Saturday Serious Fun Saturdays bring fun and adventure to the OSC! Saturdays at 1:00pm, we explore something different for the young and young at heart. Learn something new, create projects to take home, and experience science in a new and captivating way. For a schedule of upcoming Saturday Serious Fun programs, click here. Silly Science for Preschoolers The Silly Science preschooler program at the OSC will soon be back in action with more incredibly fun activities than ever before. Your preschooler will explore phenomena and materials that draw upon their natural curiosity, captivate, motivate, and prepare them for ideas important to later learning as well as having some "serious fun"! For children age 3-5 and their parent/caregiver. Winter Mysteries Planetarium Shows! Saturday, December 17th at 1:00pm Wednesday, December 14th, 21st and 28th at 3:30pm Join us for an exploration of the winter sky! The stars shine brightly on cold, crisp winter nights. Find out which stars, planets, and constellations you can see from your own back yard. The mysteries of the night sky are revealed in a planetarium show suitable for all ages. FREE for OSC members; regular admission for non-members. Sleepovers The best slumber party ever! In this special sleepover event we will take you on an experience that you and your group will never forget. Experience the marvel of a private planetarium show, perform fabulous science experiments, and visit our Exhibit Galleries after-hours! Click for a printable information flyer... Scotiabank Summer of Science Camps 2011 THANK YOU Scotiabankfor another amazing summer of science! THANK YOU Panago for the delicious pizza on Fridays! THANK YOU to our dedicated volunteers and guests who helped make the camps extra fun! Science in Society Speaker Series The Science in Society Speakers Series (SISSS) is a joint projects between Okanagan College and the Okanagan Science Centre. This speaker Series is driving by a volunteer committee that is passionate about bringing dynamic speakers on various scientific topics to the North Okanagan community. The first talks were presented in the Fall of 2007 and have continued for the past four academic years. More information, including upcoming speakers, can be found at the SISSS website. http://okanagansisss.wordpress.com/about Birthday Parties Birthday Parties at the OSC - an experience no one will forget! These fun, educational, and unique parties will keep all ages entertained and engaged. Take part in hands-on activities with an OSC educator and explore our science galleries with all your friends. Choose your birthday party theme... SPA SCIENCE! Chemistry for glamour girls! Everyone takes home their own hand-made lip gloss and bath bomb! ROLLER COASTER RIOT! Use your creativity and ingenuity to construct roller coasters for marbles. We sneak in the physics while everyone has fun! BIRTHDAY UNDER THE STARS! Join an OSC educator for a private tour of your birthday night sky in the planetarium. Explore the constellations, enjoy the folklore, and get answers to all your astronomy questions! OOEY GOOEY GOODNESS! A birthday party that will leave everyone and everything a mess! Explore the chemistry of mixing while experiencing the magic of interactive science! Your Birthday Party includes: A decorated party area with balloons. Two hours of non-stop fun: one hour of program delivery and another hour of exploration (parent supervised) in the Science Centre galleries! You are welcome to bring your own cake, beverages, and serving utensils. Adult supervision is required at all times. Birthday Parties are booked on Saturdays from 10-12 and 2:30-4:30, or weekday afternoons from 3-5. Parties can also be booked on school holidays in the absence of camps. Birthday Party rates: (as of February 1, 2011) $125 for members and $150 for non-members (for up to 15 children) + HST. A non-refundable $55 party fee is to be paid at the time of booking; payment of the balance is due on party day. An additional fee is applied for groups in excess of 15 guests (excluding adults). Up to 5 adults are permitted free of charge; additional adults are subject to regular admission ($7.00). Cancellations received 14 days or more prior to the birthday party date are refundable less the $55 party fee. There are no refunds for cancellations with less than 14 days notice. Bookings are limited and will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis. Call to reserve your birthday party today! Printable Birthday Party Info Poster... School Programs: The OSC has relevant, hands-on, curriculum-based programs for your class that will keep the kids learning and laughing. Click for details. STARLAB Outreach     The OSC’s STARLAB is a portable, inflatable planetarium dome that accommodates up to 30 students. The STARLAB creates a dark, cloudless sky right inside your school or festival centre – a realistic representation of the night sky on the date we visit. With programming that can include: the night sky, Greek constellations, First Nations folklore, deep space, plate tectonics, and more, the STARLAB is the perfect complement to your science curriculum. STARLAB presentations can range from an introduction to the wonder of the night sky for the less experienced astronomer, to an exploration of deep space for more experienced star-gazers. General STARLAB Information: The STARLAB planetarium holds a maximum of 30 people STARLAB requires an indoor space of 22' x 22’, an 11' ceiling, and access to electricity. Individual program length can range from 40 minutes to 1 hour. $175 per half day (2-3 shows) plus cost of transportation $350 per full day (4-5 shows) plus cost of transportation Intergenerational Landed Learning For the Spring of 2008, we worked with a group of Grade 4/5 students from St. James School, and nine volunteer “farm friends” in planning, planting, and caring for vegetables in the Xerindipity garden beside the OSC. The program continued with huge success in the Spring of 2009 with a new group of students and 11 ‘farm friends’ culminating in a delicious home-grown feast this fall. If you are interested in being a “farm friend” for the Spring of 2010 and being a part of this worthwhile project, please see our "supporting your centre" page for details. Wild on Science Through intellectually stimulating hands-on activities, children will be able to expand their curiosity while improving their questioning skills and knowledge regarding the world in which they live. Wild on Science! encourages critical thinking and creativity as a means for expanding educational experience and personal development. By participating in an enjoyable program focused on science and technology, children will build a strong foundation for the appreciation of science and may consider it as a possible career opportunity. Home Educators The Okanagan Science Centre is your family's best resource for Home Educator science education. We offer workshops, group field trips, and individual instruction. Fees vary by program. Please contact us for more information. Science Outreach Are you interested in bringing the Okanagan Science Centre to your school or organization? Most of OSC's interactive science programs can be delivered at a location convenient for you including our portable “Star Lab” planetarium. Festivals, schools, clubs, youth groups, and retreats can all benefit from science education and fun, even if you can’t make it to Vernon. Contact us for more information on programs and pricing.