The Children’s School of Science encourages and develops in children a love and appreciation of science. Inquiry, direct observation, and understanding of nature guide our instructional philosophy. Frequent field trips and hands-on classroom study give students the opportunity to explore nature, become adept at observation, and discover the rules that govern natural processes. The world-famous scientific community of Woods Hole offers additional opportunities to learn about research in different fields. The unusual complexity of the waters, geology and biology of the greater Falmouth area provides a uniquely well suited “live” learning environment.

The atmosphere of the school is informal, but serious. Direct observation of nature, a philosophy stated by the 19th century zoologist Louis Agassiz in his familiar motto, “Study nature, not books,” is as much in evidence today as it was when Frances C. Lillie (the founding president) and Dr. Lillian V. Morgan (the founding chairperson of the Science Committee) assembled a teaching staff for the Summer School Club. Teachers, then as now, are chosen for their scientific competence and teaching skills, and they are free to organize the details of the courses according to their particular skills and the interests of the students. As a result, the instruction is on a higher level than is usually possible for children of these ages.

The school’s curriculum includes some courses that remain continually popular, such as Seashore Life, Nature Photography, Entomology, and Marine Biology. From year to year, other courses are offered which take advantage of the special qualifications of the teachers, such as Oceanography, Biological Illustration, Embryology, Herpetology, Botany, and Marine Electronics, to mention only a few.

In general, the subjects of study arise from material collected on field trips to the varied habitats in the Woods Hole area. There are short, often daily, walking trips near the school, and one class period a week is usually devoted to a driving field trip. On returning from a field trip, students may set up, stock, and maintain aquaria and terraria with their collections. Films are developed in photography classes, and detailed observations of favorite invertebrates may be committed to paper.

Teachers are freed of many administrative details and can devote themselves to teaching. With few exceptions, there are no pre-requisites for any courses, nor are there any exams, homework, or credits. Children come to the school because they want to learn. The combination of these advantages provides teachers with opportunities to develop topics beyond the scope generally found in traditional classrooms. Teachers can avoid teaching that which the children find elsewhere, and they can concentrate on showing students how to explore and appreciate the special Cape Cod environment.

The school looks for teaching applicants with the highest academic qualifications. A Bachelor of Science or Arts in a scientific specialty is normally required. However, the school will consider applicants with alternative qualifications. Among the benefits accruing to teachers from a summer spent in Woods Hole is the proximity of the scientific community. Teachers are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity – to attend evening lectures and to meet with scientists working at the various scientific institutions located in Woods Hole. Synergies developed through these interactions contribute to the quality of the courses that are taught.

The dates for 2011 are as follows:

The Children’s School of Science, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, depends upon the generosity of donors and innumerable volunteers. Although operating expenses are offset by tuition, the school’s budget is contingent upon contributions to the school’s annual Sustaining Fund. We gratefully acknowledge the beneficence of all our supporters.

In particular, we wish to recognize the following foundations for their support of the Children’s School of Science:

• The Clowes Fund
• The Esther Simon Charitable Trust
• The Bristol Meyers Squibb Matching Gifts Program
• The Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
• The Marine Biological Laboratory
• NOAA National Marines Fishery Service
• The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
• The Nehemias Gorin Foundation
• The Woods Hole Public Library
• The Woods Hole Historical Museum

Help ensure the future of Science School
Donate to our annual Sustaining Fund with a tax-deductible gift in the form of cash, securities, or real property. Your generosity will be acknowledged at the following levels:

• Friend: up to $100
• Sponsor: up to $500
• Patron: up to $1500
• Benefactor: from $1501 to $4999
• Sustainer: $5000 or more

Support a Team CSS runner in the Falmouth Road Race by making a gift in person at the front desk of Science School, or online at  www.firstgiving.com under the Children’s School of Science page. Already running? Join our fundraising team on  www.firstgiving.com.

Plan a gift by providing for the Children’s School of Science in your will. Planned giving allows you to guarantee invaluable experiences to generations of children while simultaneously providing you with tax benefits.

Gifts of any amount are always welcome and appreciated, and are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Show your commitment to experiential summer science education for children at any time by sending a check to Children’s School of Science, P.O. Box 522, Woods Hole, MA 02543, Attn: Treasurer.