Adventure In Science

What is Adventure in Science?

Adventure in Science (AIS) is a hands-on science education activity for children ages 8-15 running on Saturday mornings from late October to March.

Dr. Ralph R. Nash began the program in his basement in Gaithersburg, Maryland in the early 1970's to provide science adventures for his daughter, and over the years AIS has introduced the fun of science to hundreds of children.

AIS now meets at five sites in Montgomery County, Maryland and additional programs have been initiated at several other sites around the country based on the same philosophy and a similar format.

Since the early 1990's the Montgomery County 4-H Program has provided an administrative framework for AIS, using 4-H MCE volunteers as site managers.

Our goal is to present science as an exciting activity and a way of thinking about the world, rather than as a compendium of facts. The topics we present reflect the interests of the children and of our volunteers, rather than any prescribed curriculum. Examples have included:

Dissection of squids and frogs
Examination of pond life under a microscope
Genes and DNA
Sound and hearing
Vitamin C
Chemistry of gases
Atoms and radioactivity
Internal combustion engines (taking apart a lawn mower)
Jet propulsion (assembly of model rockets and launching them)
Crystal radios
Polarized light; vision and the eye
Immune wars; breathing and the lung
Counting infinities
Slime and other polymers
The fourth dimension.
Any person who is a currently appointed Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE) 4-H volunteer providing a service to or on behalf of MCE, engaged in 4-H AIS activities which fall within the categories of actions in the Maryland Tort Claims Act would be covered under the state liability insurance.

For more information, contact Alga Piechocinski

Last updated: 06/9/2009