It’s been a year since Exploration Place in Prince George partnered with the province’s flagship science centre to expand community science-based programming for kids in the North.
Science World in Vancouver has provided guides and studies for teachers and according to Exploration Place CEO Tracy Calogheros, the past 12 months have shown progress.
“We’ve worked together on a bunch of school programs that we’ve just rolled out through a new teacher’s guide here in the north, so we now have staff fully trained to deliver Science World school programming.”
Calogheros hopes to send staff down to the Lower Mainland in the next year to deliver theatrical demonstrations that represent the Northern region.
She adds she wants feedback from local teachers as that will be key in enhancing the program moving forward.
“We want to see how all of the teachers in the various new curriculums fit with the new school programs that we have rolled out and trained on. So we’ll do a little bit of quizzing with our teachers to find out what they like, what they’re missing, and what they’d like to see more of.”
While it’s been a terrific partnership, there have been some snags along the way.
In June, former Science World CEO Bryan Tisdoll stepped down, forcing Exploration to adjust programming plans and schedules.
Calogheros says the distance between Prince George and Vancouver is also a major factor.
“So when we’re trying to get people engaged with either programming on-site here at Exploration Place or we’re trying to get our staff off-site and out to other communities, it adds such a layer of expense and logistics.”
She says they’re also planning to conduct a science festival called ‘Innovation 150’ to celebrate science in Canada for the country’s 150th birthday.
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