San Diego—This holiday season the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center offers options to help parents keep their kids active and learning during the winter school break.

The Fleet's full-day Winter Science Camps begin on Monday, December 21, and are available every weekday through Thursday, December 31, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The camps take place at the Science Center and feature fun, educational, hands-on activities.

Two different science camps will run concurrently. The Fleet's Winter Science Camps are for grades 1-3 and the Winter Minecraft Computer Programming Camp is for grades 4-6.

The curriculum for the science camps for grades 1-3 is inspired by the Fleet's current traveling exhibition, Imaginate, which is all about the science behind innovation. Camp attendees will learn about flight as they create different airplane designs to see which get the best results. They will also explore chain reactions, optics and filming techniques and making mechanical toys, all couched in learning the ideas and techniques that lead to innovation.

For grades 4-6, the Fleet will partner with ThoughtSTEM to host the Winter Minecraft Computer Programming Camp. Each day, future programmers learn how to create custom blocks or items, creatures, schematics and even an entire Minecraft mini-game.

Winter Science Camps extend the Fleet's mission of bringing science education to students of all ages in ways that are fun, engaging and accessible. Through participating in winter camps, students' minds stay active and they learn during the holiday season in a way that is enlightening and enjoyable.

Camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday from Monday, December 21, through Thursday, December 31, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Attendees can sign up for a single day or enroll for multiple days of fun! For the Fleet Winter Camps, Grades 1-3, prices are $50 per day for members, $55 per day for nonmembers. For the Winter Minecraft Computer Programming Camp, Grades 4-6, prices are $60 per day for members, $55 per day for nonmembers.

A full list of Winter Science Camp activities is included below. More information can also be found on the Fleet website here:

http://www.rhfleet.org/events/winter-camps

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The Fleet is available to showcase demonstrations of Winter Science Camp activities for media previews either here at the Fleet or in your studio. Fleet educators and demonstrators can be available to relate the science ideas behind each demonstration, and we can even bring the kids.

To schedule a media preview of Fleet Winter Science Camps, please contact Reuben H. Fleet Science Center Public Relations Manager Nathan Young at 619-685-5743 or nyoung@rhfleet.org.

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Full Camp Descriptions:

Fleet Winter Science Camps, Grades 1-3

Prices: $50 per day for members, $55 per day for nonmembers.

December 21: Expect the Unexpected—All science is methodical and predictable, right? Not in this program! Be wowed by science phenomena and how easily your senses can be tricked. December 22: So You Think You Can Fly—The ingenuity of flight is remarkable. Join us as we learn the basics of flight and look to nature and other inspiration to pioneer your own flying devices. December 23: Try, Try, Try Again—Learn what it takes to be a scientist by testing, tweaking and retesting. Complete a variety of experiments, like a viscosity investigation and a shiny penny challenge to see if you have what it takes! December 28: Chain Reaction—Use natural forces and your own imagination to make a marble roller coaster, KEVA blocks contraption and a fun Rube Goldberg device! December 29: Lights, Camera, Action!—Learn about optics and filming techniques. Create a mini-video and a stop-motion video with friends. December 30: Toys in Motion—Open-ended challenges encourage curious minds! Make mechanical toys, like automata, and learn basic programming skills to make a Pico Cricket robot. December 31: Collaborate or Compete—Use teamwork to complete blind builds and collaborate with your group to develop a helmet crash test.

Winter Minecraft Computer Programming Camp, Grades 4-6

Prices: $60 per day for members, $55 per day for nonmembers.

December 21: Blocks—Create Custom Blocks that have supernatural properties and new textures. December 22: Items—Build Minecraft Items that have magical properties and new textures. December 23: Wands—Create a Custom Minecraft Wand that will help yield magical powers! December 28: Creatures—What creatures might you find in an enchanted forest? Learn how to create these creatures using Custom Minecraft. December 29: Sidekick—Develop your own Minecraft Sidekick that will help you defend against magical enemies. December 30: Schematic—Create a Custom Minecraft Schematic that you can load into your world as your own wizard tower or dwelling! December 31: Mini-Game—Have you ever created a Minecraft Mini-Game that requires you to be a magician to play? We'll teach you how!