Northern Essex Moves STEM Kids College to Windham

Quarrybrook Outdoor Learning Center, Windham, N.H.

Designing an outdoor adventure game, making raisins dance, creating a secret garden stepping stone and building a tree house model are what students will be doing this summer at Northern Essex Community College’s STEM College for Kids program, which has moved to NECC’s new affiliate location, Quarrybrook Outdoor Learning Center, Windham, N.H. The new locale allows for new course offerings like Healthy Hiking, Nature Drawing, Environmental Testing and Spa Science.

As WHAV reported last July, Quarrybrook, located on 245 acres of natural space, including hiking trails, vernal pools, and historical artifacts, is being managed by Northern Essex.

STEM College for kids focuses on science, technology, engineering and math while also offering the arts. This year’s courses include Adventure Games which will take students outdoors where they will play games, explore what makes games both fun and playable, and design their own adventure games; Crazy Chemistry allowing students to explore the principles of chemistry as they blow up a balloon and make raisins dance and create environmentally friendly cleaners and bath salts; and Healthy Hiking where students learn about calorie burning and proper nutrition while honing basic safety skills while hiking the trails of Quarrybrook.

Other courses include Map Making in the World, Natural Skin Care for Kids, Singers and Songwriters, T-Shirt Design, and Woodland Creatures: Models & Masks. For a complete course list visit the STEM College for Kid’s course website.

STEM College for Kids will run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. offering both a junior (ages 9 to 11) and senior (ages 12 to 14) division. There are four, one-week programs consisting of three sessions (morning, midday, and afternoon) each day beginning July 11. Each weeklong session is $75, or $225 for a full week of three, daily sessions. There is a $40 registration fee, which will be waived if registration and payment is received by Friday, April 1. Students select one of two courses for each session according to their age group. Choices are honored on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transportation to and from Quarrybrook will be available from NECC’s Riverwalk location at 365 Merrimack St., Lawrence, for full-time students at a cost of $25 per week.

To ask questions, contact [email protected] or call (978) 556-3326.