Extension Courses
Extension Classes are mini-courses designed to appeal to a variety of students, including both adults and children. Many are taught by current, or former, CSS teachers and provide an opportunity to sample the full three-week courses offered in CSS’s summer sessions designed for children ages 7 to 16. Others are unique and reflect current, topical subjects. Like the course featuring edible wild plants found around Woods Hole, these classes draw upon the natural environment while enlisting the school’s professional resources. Comprised of either single sessions, or multiple day classes, they feature informative lectures, walking tours, boat trips, workshops, and book talks by celebrated authors. Usually held in the late afternoon after regular school hours have concluded, some classes are free; others require a nominal fee between $5.00 and $20.00. Depending on the curriculum, occasionally special courses will require an additional fee for materials. For further information on enrollment, availability, or course fees, contact Heather McReynolds, CSS’s Extension Classes Chair.
Bike Maintenance and Repair
led by Josh Olin, the bike guy
Wednesday, July 27, 3:30 PM Schoolyard
Biking to CSS is one of the best ways to get here, reducing congestion and helping the environment. To make biking fun and safe your bike needs to be well maintained and in good repair. Josh will lead participants through the following tasks: Sizing; flat repair; brake adjustments; gear adjustments; wheel truing; repacking bearings. In the schoolyard. $10/ person and $20/family. Limit 12 participants. Bring a bike. All other materials provided. Feel free to bring your own tools if you have them.
Woods Hole Boat Trip
led by Nautical Science teacher Steve Junker
Wednesday July 27, 3:30-5:00
Explore the waters of Woods Hole on a late-afternoon cruise through the Woods Hole Passage and around some of the Elizabeth Islands, from the vantage point of navigation and history. This is a terrific introduction to our unique marine setting. $20/ person. Limited to 20 people.
CSS Book Club
Kraken: The Curious, Exciting and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid
Wednesday, July 27, 4 PM On the Porch of the Historic School House
Readers are invited to participate in this year’s CSS Book Club. Our selection this year is by Mashpee based author Wendy Williams. The book examines both the science and the mythology of cephalopods with references to members of the Woods Hole community who have made great strides in medicine and neurology by studying these amazing animals.
Copies are available at the Woods Hole Library and Eight Cousins bookstore. FREE!
Meet the Author led by Wendy Williams
Thursday, July 28, at 7:30 PM
Woods Hole Public Library
In addition, Wendy Williams, the author of our selection will be in Woods Hole for a book talk at an event co-sponsored with the library. FREE!
Seaweed Mounts and Watercolors
led by Marine Biology teacher Ellie Armstrong and Heather McReynolds
Two-session class meets Wednesday July 27 and Friday July 29, 3:30-5:00 PM
Make beautiful seaweed mounts on paper while learning about marine botany with Ellie Armstrong. Use the seaweed as a subject for watercolor paintings, focusing on composition and techniques with artist Heather McReynolds. Ages 12+ $10/ person. Limit 10 participants.
Biological Illustration led by Julia Child
Three-session class meets August 2,3,4 3:30-5:00 PM School House Classroom
Here again, a perennial favorite CSS Extension class. Students will draw from nature, using material collected locally (mostly). Ages 14+ $30/ person +$5 material fee. Limit 14 participants. All materials provided.
Edible Wild Plants Walk
led by CSS teacher Jenny Junker
Wednesday, August 3 5:00 PM
Meet at school and walk and taste your way through WHOI Woods in search of edible and medicinal plants. For ages 5+ $5/ person $10/family.
Studying Squid Embryos at the MBL: Molecular Links to the Molluscan Heritage Within Cephalopods
led by Karen Crawford, Ph.D., St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the MBL
Wednesday August 3 7:00 PM School House Classroom
Squid embryos are exquisite and lovely to study. Through images, movies and discussion we will examine early embryogenesis in squid and discuss how recent discoveries in some evolutionarily distant molluscan cousins have suggested clues to deciphering cephalopod development. In this talk you will learn about fertilization, cleavage (cell division) and early embryogenesis, along with some important molecular signaling pathways that direct development. So that we remember to follow Louis Agassiz’ direction to “Study Nature, Not Books”, we will examine different stages of live squid embryos through the microscope and discuss how they are similar to and different from their molluscan relatives. This presentation and lab experience is meant for a general audience – kids welcome! FREE!
Eggsploitation led by Nelose Wills, from OurBodies Ourselves.org
Thursday August 4 3:30-5:00 School House Classroom
Join us for an informative session on bioethics. This includes a screening of the documentary Eggsploitation, followed by a discussion of the increasing market for young women’s eggs, and the complications for women undergoing multiple egg extraction techniques. 14+ FREE!
Fish Printing led by Alan Steinbach
August 8 3:30 PM Schoolyard
Join us for this fun, family event. Participants need to bring a t-shirt–paint and fish supplied. Pre-registration required. $5.00 per person.
