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March 16, 2008

Middle school students can apply for summer program

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Young scientists will have an opportunity participate in a week of "doing science" as part of a new program offered this summer by the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. During "Oklahoma Science Adventure," 12 middle school students will spend a week doing real science with real scientists in the fields, forests, streams and quarries of Oklahoma.

Applications are being accepted now through April 28 for students completing sixth-, seventh- or eighth-grade this spring. Applications are available on the museum's Web site: www.snomnh.ou.edu/explorology. Students must submit the written application, parts of which are to be completed by a parent or guardian and a teacher. The program will take place Sunday through Saturday, July 6 through 12.

Students participating in "Oklahoma Science Adventure" will spend the week exploring a variety of "ologies" in Oklahoma forests, streams, ponds, fields and quarries with scientists from the museum. The week will culminate with an overnight stay at the museum where students will work in the museum research labs to further study the fossils and specimens that they encountered in the field.

The program encourages students to study science by giving them the chance to experience the world of working scientists first-hand. "We want students to ask questions about the natural world around them and the best way to do that is for them to immerse themselves in that world," said Wendy Gram, museum head of education. "Throughout the program, the students will document their experiences through written and digital journals, giving them an opportunity to use a variety of technologies as a tool to share their experiences and research projects."

"Oklahoma Science Adventure" is part of ExplorOlogy, a museum educational project funded by the Whitten-Newman Foundation of Edmond. In addition to the week-long field program, ExplorOlogy includes "Summer Explorers," a series of classes for children ages 4 to 14 (and some for families, as well) that run from June 4 through Aug. 2. These popular classes feature a variety of natural history topics, and all incorporate some hands-on outdoor experiences. A full listing of Summer Explorers programs is available online at www.snomnh.ou.edu/publicprograms.

Additional information about the Oklahoma Science Adventure, Summer Explorers classes, or other programs at the museum is available online at www.snomnh.ou.edu, or by calling the museum education department at 325-4712.

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