SL_PROFILE_SCIENCE_EXPLORERS_0219_FINAL_Layout 1 2 / 14 / 19 2 : 31 PM Page 2 Are children between the ages of 4 and 11 experi - used to do that in Boy Scouts or in school , but Really Kids ’ Stuff — partners with local ence the wonders of science through afterschool now that’s not happening as much , ” she con - businesses to provide STEM ( science , tech - programs , summer camps , field trips , and tinues . “ These kids build the rockets all by nology , engineering , and math ) learning oppor - assemblies . themselves and then we launch them . They tunities to children who might not get a chance “ I realized I was a hands - on learner and go 75 miles per hour and 350 feet in the air . It’s to attend a Science Explorers afterschool science finally made sense to me ; that’s when really neat and then they get to take the rocket program or camp . it became a passion , ” Moorehead says . “ I home , and they can buy their own launch pad The S.P.A.R.K.S . Foundation has impacted and launch it again . ” many kids and is always looking for companies knew there must be that are willing to sponsor a program . Moore - other people like me ‘ Fresh and head credits her corporate sponsors for their outthere — I’m bright , Our motto is , Exciting ’ generosity , and she also praises her staff , which but sometimes I have Science Explorers ’ after - now includ problems concen - es her three children . ‘ If it’s not fun , school programs run trating or following “ My staff is amazing , ” she says . “ People we’re not doing it . ’ ” all year long . Each pro - directions . There are come to our company and they rarely leave . gram lasts five w a bunch of kids out eeks Everybody is here for the right reasons , and ? JENNIFER MOOREHEAD , in the world like that , and covers a unique they want to make a difference . I could never FOUNDER OF SCIENCE EXPLORERS but this program allows them to get elbow deep in science . “ In my opinion , ” she continues , “ some - times in education we try to make all children learn a certain way , but not all kids are designed that way . Some kids have to work ith it , see it and touch it , and then they w remember . ” Although Science Explorers is committed to teaching children important , lasting lessons , there are no tests and the name of the game is fun . To begin with , all students and teachers receive an amusing , clever nickname . or F example , Moorehead is known as “ Jupiter Jen . ” Some of her longtime staff members include “ Turbo Tracy , ” “ DNA Deb , ” and “ Jurassic Julie . ” Then there are the programs themselves , which include enjoyable activities such as launching a rocket , dissecting a shark or squid , building a robot , and making slime . “ Our motto is , ‘ If it’s not fun , we’re not topic , and students can sign up for one or do this all by myself ; every person has an several , depending on their preference . The important job to make sure the ki are ds programs started out at a andful of locations having fun . ” h but have since expanded to 300 schools in While Moorehead is excited for what Pennsylvania , New Jersey , Delaware , New the future will bring for Science Explorers , York , and Maryland . Those who do n hitting the 20 - year milestone has given her ot have a Science Explorers offered at their school are chance to reflect on how far it has come . encouraged to reach out to the organization “ It blows my mind , and I’m eternally about the potential for further expansion . grateful , ” she says . “ It’s the most reward - Weeklong summer camps — either half - ing job I could ever have imagined . We’ve day or full - day — are held at 100 sites in Penn - seen kids who have gone through our pro - sylvania , New Jersey , and Delaware , including gram go on to pursue the sciences or doing it , ’ ” Moorehead says . “ We offer fun activ - elemen y schools , colleges , libraries , and become doctors . Through the S.P.A.R.K.S . tar ities yet they’re very academic . The kids also departments of parks and recreation . Several Foundation , we’ve seen schools improve take home their projects so they can show locations , such as Germantown Friends School their test scores for science by 40 percent . their parents and share it with their families , and Vall It’s just amazing the and that reinforces the concept even more . ” ey Forge Military Academy , also have difference th Many of Science Explorers ’ programs are the option of before and after care . is pro - ? popular with kids of all ages , but two in “ We have tons of repeat visitors , ” Moore - gram makes . ” particular do an especially good job of piquing head says . “ Not only o we see the same kids , d D their interest : Slime Time and Rocket Camp . but we also rotate the topics to keep everything “ Slime Time is an introduction to the world fresh and exciting . ” of polymer chemistry in It’s important to Moorehead to bring which we make hands - n learning to underserved com - o different slime creations , and it has been off SCIENCE munities as well , which is why she started the charts , ” Moorehead says . “ We have waiting EXPLORERS a nonprofit in honor of her late husband , e’re lists upon waiting lists and w running ( 610 ) 816 - 5047 who was known as “ Sparky . ” The S.P.A.R.K.S . double classes , so it’s pretty exciting . Foundation — which stands for Science Projects “ Rocket Camp is also great because children ScienceExplorers.com SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 2019 | 41