ROCHESTER, NY, August 19, 2020 – The first day of school may look a little different for students this year, but the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) will be helping young learners have a smooth transition to a hybrid-schooling model through a brand-new educational program.
RMSC’s Curiosity Club will provide students with a safe, supportive, and structured environment where kids can attend their virtual school, complete their homework, learn, and play. Available for students in grades 1-8, Curiosity Club sessions will begin September 14 and run daily, Monday to Friday, through December 18, 2020.
With many schools moving to a hybrid-learning model and parents starting to return to their regular work schedules, the staff at the RMSC hope Curiosity Club will help local families adjust to their new normal. To assure this resource can help as many families as possible, there are a number of scholarship opportunities available.
“I’m thrilled that RMSC is able to take the resources that we have and match them to the needs of local families with this project,” said Hillary Olson, President & CEO of RMSC. “We have a fantastic education team who are excited to lead this new program, helping kids learn in their virtual school programs while their parents are at work and engaging them in the wonders of the museum. Our 2020 Summer Day program was successful, safe, and fun and I’m happy to bring that newfound expertise into this school year.”
The Museum is able to offer scholarships for this program which have been made possible by a generous gift from the Mittra Family Foundation, in honor of Bani Mittra.
Students enrolled in RMSC’s Curiosity Club will benefit from a mix of structured learning, homework help, hands-on STEAM activities, and exploration time in the Museum galleries, exhibits, and outdoor play areas. In a world of remote-learning, where socialization is dominated by virtual-interaction, children will also benefit from opportunities to interact with peers and make new friends.
Additionally, students enrolled in Curiosity Club will have access to:
- Wi-fi equipped, socially-distanced classrooms and quiet learning spaces to do virtual school work
- Experienced, nurturing RMSC Education staff to answer their questions and assist with assignments; the same staff members who run RMSC’s Curiosity Camps
- Exclusive access to unique RMSC experiences such as Live Science, Electricity Theater, and Planetarium shows
Due to a number of obstacles related to COVID-19, the RMSC staff predicts there will be a significant decrease in field trips to the Museum, Planetarium, and Nature Center in 2020-2021. Curiosity Club is one of many ways the staff are working to make exhibits and shows more accessible to students in lieu of regular field trips.
“Curiosity Club will not only provide a safe and supportive environment for remote learning, it will also give students access to the amazing variety of exhibits, collections, and resources we have at the RMSC,” said Allison Shultes, Education Director at RMSC. “This program will turn what is a uniquely challenging time for students and their families into an opportunity where curiosity is sparked, and students become explorers and problem solvers, continuing to build on the curriculum and critical thinking skills they learn at school.”
After a safe and healthy season of RMSC’s Summer Curiosity Camps, staff at the Museum will continue to implement the same health and safety protocols as the school year and Curiosity Club begin.
For more information about the RMSC Curiosity Club, go to RMSC.org/curiosityclub.
