This is the first year my 9 yr old daughter attended the YSC camp. One of our friends, an engineer, recommended our daughter attend the camp. My daughter participated in three weeks of full time classes. She loved every minute and most importantly was exposed to various genres of science ie physics, engineering, math, biology, etc. The teachers were able to inspire her and every day she explained in great detail the things she learned. One particular episode stands out; In her rocketry class there were 2 girls and 9 boys and they had a contest, boys against girls on whose rocket could fly the farthest. Each team had 4 attempts and my daughter's rocket won every time. She told me she felt the pressure as the other girls rocket didn't fly very far but she said "I can do this" and she did. Never in the 30 years of classes had a girls team won all four attempts! It taught her to not be afraid and to believe in oneself. As a professional in the science field, I am very pleased with the program, recommended it to several of my girl scout troop girls. We will participate in the program next year.
I first became associated with the Youth Science Center in the 1980s when I took my 3 young sons to see a glow-in-the dark presentation in Fullerton. They were wowed with the science event and we then found out about science classes being offered in Hacienda Heights. My sons were so excited about Rocks and Minerals, Human Body and Rocket classes that I started helping in classes. Before I could blink, I was teaching in the YSC week-long summer classes. For more than 35 years, I presented the StarLab Mobile Planetarium, taught classes in all the strands of science, coordinated MiniGrants for district teachers, and served on the YSC Board. Ron and Judy Chong and Diana Padilla have coordinated hundreds of fantastic field trips, classes and outreach events. It has been a stimulating association where teachers and children receive high quality support and education. I highly recommend the Youth Science Center for any awards or donations.
I've worked with this non-profit for many years in different capacities. For the last several years I've been one of the judges of STEM essays. Truly rewarding seeing the "fruits" of what is being taught in our schools and to the increased participation of girls in the contest. Alumni from the YSC program often return and give positive feedback on how YSC inspired them to enter their chosen STEM profession, where they have excelled. The speakers at the GALA are highly regarded and inspiring scientists in their fields. Their outreach program targets underserved schools, bringing STEM programs to where the students are in their home schools.
My kids took classes here every summer until they aged out, then they volunteered in the classroom. We love the hands-on learning environment and still offer to help the organization in any way we can.
It’s our first time to attend the summer camp here. Very good than we expected.
Kids can learn science in a happy way.
As a parent, and educator...I highly recommend this program. It’s highly engaging classes and excellent teachers set it apart from other summer programs. My boys have attended classes for the past 4 years and absolutely love it! Definitely a highlight of our summer!
My son was in the summer camp. He had great time there. We will send him for next summer for sure!!! Great experience.
We started taking the summer science program since my boys were in kinder. It's been 7 years, and my boys still love the different variety of classes every year.
They've taken classes such as art, rocket launch, chemistry, dinosaur, oceanography, dissection, volcano, snakes, rainforest, 3D printing, game design and much more.
One of their favorite classes is Minecraft class. I have never seen them so excited going to any class before.
My favorite part about sending my boys to YSC is when they share and explain what they've learned during classes. "Mom, do you know how to.... Do you know why......" They teach me something I've never heard and learned before. Very impressive!!!!
Besides summer camp program, YSC also comes to our school for after school program. My boys have been to some other science after school programs. The biggest difference between other science program and YSC is instead of getting some fancy treat/gadget/toy (to attract kids) every week, they bring home their hand crafted project.
Highly recommend to everyone for summer program and after school program.
This was the first time that my son and daughter attend the classes at the YSC. My kids loved the classes and the teachers were very informative. The great thing about YSC was that I got to help out in both of the classes. I highly recommend this summer program for a fun and educational program.
Heather Smith
YSC is an exceptional organization. I attended their annual dinner and heard inspiring stories of students who attended the summer programs and have gone on to MIT and other outstanding universities as a result of their exposure to science via YSC.
Very well organized summer camp, both my sons enjoyed all the classes and had a lot of fun, the teachers are very nice and professional, a lot of young volunteers provide help to the little kids. We have attended the summer camp in the past two years, definitely we come back next summer.
My son is very interested in engineering. He has been building Legos since he was 6 and has shelving full of lego city sets, many with the age requirement of 16 and above. He is 11 years old now and has always had a very inquisitive mind. He loves the show "how it is made" and enjoys the evolution of time, the past, present and future. He was the one who brought 3D printing to my attention and demonstrated an interest in this. This is when a teacher at his middle school recommended Youth Science Center. He was enrolled in the 3D printing class and thoroughly enjoyed it with a yearning to return next year. This was money and time well spent.
My son has attended Youth Science Center for a number of years and each year he looks forward to the wonderful education! Youth Science Center provides skills-based instruction that is innovative, fun, and edifying.
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This is our second year attending science camp during the summer. My two girls looove the hands-on classes. My 8 year old took all engineering classes and my five year old took a variety of K-1 classes that expanded her curiosity about the world around her. My five year old is still talking about Isaac Newton and gravity. They brought home bags of hands on experiments and science journals. Can't wait for next summer!
momga
The Youth Science Center is an amazing resource and program located in the San Gabriel Valley, specifically Hacienda Heights. My daughters have been attending YSC for five (5) years and they enjoy the courses and instructors. Participation in YSC each Summer has increased their confidence and love of STEM related subjects. My eldest daughter has taken the rocket course every Summer and it did not fit our schedule this year and she was disappointed until she discovered the 3D printing class. My younger daughter jumped on board and they both loved creating various 3D objects for themselves and others as gifts. In the past they have studied astronomy, chemistry, math, art, rockets, energy, crime scenes, and many other fun and fascinating subjects. I am deeply appreciative of YSC and the impact they have had on STEM learning and access for students throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
I have been teaching with the YSC for 10 years. It's a chance to teach students in a way that fuels their curiosity and creative problem solving skills. The organization has carved out a space for hi tech, hands-on, minds-on learning that is reminiscent of college and higher ed lab courses, yet is geared for K-8th grade students. Students surprise themselves with their own innovative thinking, make new friends with other divergent thinkers, and develop a deeper love of learning.
I have met so many wonderful students, parents, and teachers working with the YSC. So many faces light up with the learning that happens there. It is truly one of my favorite times of the year.
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This is an amazing program. I feel so lucky to have had the chance to work for the Youth Science Center. The administrative staff is so great to work with. Supportive, resourceful, flexible, and professional. It was great to be able to create and teach my own programs. Inspired me to become a better teacher in the classroom during the school year. Imagine what they could do with more money?
I have been teaching at YSC for about 20 years. I started after my oldest son was enrolled. All three of my children have attended YSC and loved all the classes they took. It inspired me to develop a class so I could teach there. My first class I taught for YSC was Crime Lab. I have been teaching it ever since. I am so fortunate to be able to teach science and facilitate learning. I develop my own courses which is so awesome and I love teaching because it is real teaching with a hands-on, minds-on approach to learning. Common Core is now here but YSC has been here for years and it is what Common Core is striving to reach. The Be a Science Olympian and Got Science are some classes that take all disciplines of science into the class and require kids to think and be critical thinkers. the ultimate goal in education- to deepen knowledge, inspire future Scientists and to support STEM (Science Tech Engineering and Math) YSC classes include all of these 4 as student learn and have fun while making critical thinking come alive. We are developing students' interests in future STEM fields.
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I am a teacher at YSC and my 3 children (all adults now) went through the YSC classes for many years. Staff cares about kids and adults. We do good things for kids. We get them to think and use their minds to think and react to experiences which will prepare them for their future as they enter middle school, high school, college and the workforce. Hands-on, minds-on is what YSC is all about. Not only do they do but they think why.
Conclusions are generated based on the hands-on they experience. In some cases, science notebooks are used for recording observations and data collected.
My kids have been coming to YSC for years, My son has been coming since kindergarten (now he is in 4th grade), and my daughter has been coming since first grade. She volunteers now as an 8th grader and takes the older kids classes. I would not consider our summer complete without YSC. It is a great environment for not just learning but FUN learning. I dream and wish that everyday classrooms at school could be like this but thank God for summers at YSC. I wish all parents knew about YSC. They have great teachers who love to teach and my kids have done everything from art, dissecting frogs, using 3-D printers, CSI techniques, to gooey slime, to learning about reptiles, building rockets, etc. They love YSC and love the teachers there. I love listening to their stories from YSC cause I love to watch their faces light up as they passionately talk about much they enjoy learning. As a parent, you can't ask for better than that. I would give them 10 stars if I could!
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I am so grateful for the Youth Science Center, without their dedication and hard work to provide classes that are not only educational but FUN! My kids have learned so much and they were bummed when the classes ended. My four year old, Sawyer, told me that lizards can grow back their tails and that cats eat them. I want my kids to learn and know things that I can't provide ( I don't know anything about rockets) my daughter, Saylor got so much out of her Rocketeer class. Every mom I know who have brought their children here have always walked away saying they love the Youth Science Center. If I was wealthy, I would be one of the biggest donors to YSC. Ron and Judy and all the volunteers and the teachers are so great!!! Again, I say, I am so thankful for them.
Every year I have enrolled my 2 children in different summer programs for enrichment. This year, a friend of ours recommended YSC and it was amazing! There are 3 sessions per day. Each session last only 1 week. The camp runs for 5 weeks, and parents are able to create their own schedule depending on interest and/or budget. We signed up our kids for 4 weeks for a full day of classes and they LOVED IT! After very session they could not wait to tell me what they did, what they learned and how cool it was.
At first, it was difficult to choose the classes to take because there is such a huge variety of classes. There are classes for all ages and interests. My 9 yr. old daughter loved all of her classes, but her favorite ones were her dissection class, robotics class and a class called "my body". My 8 yr. old son loved "the living ocean" , "motor mania " and his astronomy class. They learned so much in the 4 weeks and are super excited about science that I can't wait to sign them up again next year.
Since the kids were going to be taking classes all day, I decided to volunteer some of my time to help in a classroom. It was a truly rewarding experience. I got to participate and see first hand how knowledgeable the instructors were and how each student produces, experiences, investigates and re-creates the lesson at hand. This is NOT a "fill out this handout" experience. I can attest to the fact that during my time there, I never saw any student staring off into space or bored. All children were engaged and participating.
YSC promotes creativity, innovation, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of concepts because students "experience" science. Be prepared when you pick up you student at the end of their day for them to be full of paint and glue, hands full with everything they made that day and bubbling over with wonderful stories of how their day went. We will be definitely be back next year!
I had the good fortune to enroll my children (summer of 2014) for the first time with the Youth Science Center program. My children enjoyed the program and learned while having fun! I am looking forward to enrolling my children in this program again next year. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this amazing program.
This is my 30th year teaching at the Youth Science Center in Hacienda Heights. I have to tell you that it is the most exciting and uplifting career enhancing organization I've ever been involved with. As an elementary school educator, you rarely get a chance to teach outside the core standards set by a district, so teaching for YSC releases creativity and deeper interest in many fields of science. I have been able to develop and teach classes that appeal to children- such as inventions, rocks and gems, tidepool animals, human body, toys in space, magnets, circus acrobatics, astronomy, weather instruments, and glow in the dark phenomena. Stimulating a child's curiosity is such a rewarding "AHA!" feeling. The support given to me by the administering staff is phenomenal!
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The Youth Science Center in the San Gabriel Valley has fantastic scientifically literate enthusiasts on its board and in the community. My involvement was first as a mother of 3 boys 25 years ago - looking for a place to interest my sons in a science field. Through YSC classes, workshops, guest speakers and field trips, my sons went to college to learn more about a particular science field. The hands-on classes were so interesting that I soon became a active volunteer and then an elementary school science coordinator. I gained an appreciation of tidepool animals (pretty much outside our back door) and geology (rocks and minerals) and it influenced my personal teaching skills. All students attending classes learn what that particular scientist does in the real world so that they can pursue their passion as they grow.
My 9 year participated for the 2nd year in a row and she loves all the classes that involve science. What was more surprising is that my 5 year loved all the classes he was involved. My kids were the first to wake up early in the morning to get ready to attend the science camp as opposed to trying to get them ready for the day. The learning is unique and inspiring and I will continue to let my kids participate this great program.
My 7 yr old daughter attended the YSC summer Science camp last year and she likes it so much that she requested to go back this year. We did 2 classes this summer again and she brought home fantastic work and she enjoyed the camp a lot. We will continue to support YSC!
Our family has been with ysc since 2007. My son was completely inspired by the teachers and the materials they teach there. Within a week, he learns more Science in one single class than he Would in a whole school year with the public school. After seven years later, ysc continues to offer new classes for him to take.
We are lifetime members of YSC and love this organization! Our kids have enjoyed taking interesting classes these past 8 years and looks forward to it every summer. Classes such as 3D modeling, rocketry, digital photography and environmental Can It were all highlights for valuable hands-on learning.
The awesome staff are the most dedicated, caring and supportive team and spend countless areas preparing the classrooms, courses and working with the volunteers and teachers. It is also a great opportunities for older youths to volunteer and help lead the younger children and provide helpful support to the teacher. The teachers are also top notch with a real desire to watch and help children experience interactively. What I appreciate is how they value the importance of all areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) in making learning fun and relevant to the young minds of our future generation!!
This is our 4th year attending YSC. My two boys love this place. YSC offered so many different variety of classes. My kids learned basic knowledges from their own school, but going to YSC let them discovered and learned even further of what they have been taught.
i am looking to partner with a non profit organization
and start a new fm radio station in buffalo new york
I have only great things to say about the Youth Science Center. I am currently a student studying electrical engineering and business at the University of Pennsylvania, but my ties with the YSC go back to 3rd grade, when I was first enrolled in summer classes there. I was exposed to novel scientific concepts and hands-on activities that, truth be told, far exceeded the kinds of activities that I saw at school I attended. I later served the YSC as a volunteer and network administrator, and from that standpoint the experiences I had working for and with them were incredibly valuable. It is my sincere conviction that my experiences with the YSC positively influenced me in my younger years, and I can directly credit the YSC for inspiring me to pursue a career in engineering and design.
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Having been associated with the Youth Science Center for over 8 years (first as a student, then as a volunteer), I think I can honestly say that what they do can really inspire and help children who, otherwise, would have limited exposure to the world of science and technology. The knowledge I gained from learning there and later volunteering there have proved invaluable.
The YSC is a remarkable place for extracurricular learning. The instructors are devoted, caring, and genuinely interested in advancing the sciences to K-7 students. Each year, they offer more and more courses, which is great and their summer school easily fills the void of those long, boring summers.
I wholeheartedly recommend the YSC to anyone in eastern Los Angeles County.
It is so rewarding to know that my volunteering is helping YSC so that it can provide instruction in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education, aka "science literacy", that not only leads to careers in the STEM areas, but also prepares students to become productive citizens and analytical thinkers. YSC's track record speaks for itself and their program prepares youth for careers that will make our country become even more competitive. It is gratifying to know that YSC's program, with its hands-on focus, is already aligned with the new "Next Generation Science Standards."
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How rewarding an experience it is to be able to write grants for the Youth Science Center. What I like most is grants that target Title I schools with our Outreach program so that these students can access the same high quality STEM education programs at their home schools that more affluent students in other areas receive.
The The youth Science Center is a wonderful place for children to learn about their surroundings. The teachers are caring and informative about not only their classes but about fieldtrips and other topics their peers may be teaching. It is a place where it is fun to volunteer because you learn something too.
The Youth Science Center, a non-profit science facility for elementary children, has been operational for over 20 years. It is a learning magnet to children and their parents who want to expand young peoples creativity, talent and potential in the scientific arts, for beyond what regular teaching facility's are able to do in this evolving area.
Children are exposed to physics, botany, biology, space science in creative, exciting, safe and wondrous ways by a capable staff of science loving teachers and administrators. YSC provides multi-tasking opportunities for hands on experiences from robotics to rocketry, plants to animals, computers to chemistry-No wonder children keep coming back year after year.
As an elementary science teacher for over twenty years, I know first-hand the positive impact YSC makes on children at all levels, The programs offered provide enriching opportunity for students to develop a real love for exploration and discovery ... exactly what science is! Applying hands-on processes, fostering inquiry, and gaining an understanding of the world around them beyond the everyday classroom...that is the Hacienda Youth Science Center experience!
I love working for the Youth Science Center. It is so awesome to see little children experience science by doing their projects. It is great to see the children grow and change over the years as they come back year after year for more classes and sometimes when they are too old to take classes they come back to volunteer for us.
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The Youth Science Center gives children an opportunity to learn about science while having fun. Hands-on activities allow children to explore scientific principles at a level and pace that is meaningful for them. I have seen children who are reluctant to come to our classes at the beginning of the summer because they have had difficulties at their regular school. Sometimes these children find that they love science and their attitude about learning in general is transformed. Many of our students and student volunteers go on to major in the sciences in college. They tell us that their interest in science began with the Youth Science Center. One of my own sons is a PHd candidate in bio-physics.
Youth Science Center strives for excellence at all levels. They want students to explore science concepts by doing, not just listening. Each hands-on experience moves a child closer to true, discovery learning. Awesome job, YSC!
Jes and Ches Mom,
YSC is a magical place, it is the place to be for all ages because there are so many exciting programmes such as the tour to 3D printing, Museum in a college, RoseBowl, Flying, tour to a pharmaceutical company, visit to model airplace manufacturer.......I believe most of you do not know what I am talking because all these trips are so exclusive and specially arranged by the dedicated volunteers.
We bought a very special chemist from Japan to one of the trip to the La Puente Waste Management Plant and he was impressed. Though Japan has the very advanced wastage management system and they also organised trips for the school students for visit but the scope is very limited. Visitors are only allowed to sit in the meeting area and listen to some talk and see the models. As for our trip, we were allowed to get out to the waste pool and guided through the whole sterilization process by an engineer from the plant. At the end,m the kids were guided to see the pure and clean water going back to the creek!
A very success alumni from YSC also claimed that YSC is the best programme for him when he was young and he will send his son to this programme in the future as well!!
I am a retired teacher from the Youth Science Center. I am getting very excited as my grandchildren are getting older and I can take them to classes at YSC. I have been telling them about the many wonderful experiences such as snakes, spiders, planting and stars. They are getting as excited as I am to finally be old enough to participate. Thank you YSC!
My brother and I are from Wedgeworth Elementary and we are members of the Youth Science Center. It is really fun and we always go to the store and checkout the cool exotic rocks and animals. They have snakes, crickets, bugs, cockroaches, and even the rare Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. My brother Chester had recently won the STEM Essay Contest held by the Youth Science Center and we had a very nice dinner while listening to famous people give speeches. At the end, even Chester got to give a speech!
Without the Youth Science Center, I would not have been able to have that much interest in science and I would not have met so many famous people.
I am 10 and my brother is 9. Youth Science Center is definitely the best place to learn science.
Every summer my sons attend the Youth Science because they look forward in building things. They are the ones who remind me not to forget to register them in these classes. They classes are not only educational and life changing, they are fun and exciting! We love the Youth Science Center!
Taking classes at Youth Science Center is something both my children look forward to every summer. They offer classes on such a wide range of scientific topics, that there is always something to appeal to my children's' interests. The instructors are very knowledgeable in their fields, and work very well with the children. It's great for my kids to be able to learn and have fun at the same time!
Both my daughters ages 6 and 7 attended a session this summer at the Youth Science Center, to say the least, they loved it. Not only was it educational, but the instructors make it fun. With so many cuts in education, we are fortunate to of found this program that provides hands-on science learning. We look forward to taking more of their classes this coming summer.
The Youth Science Center offers a wide variety of science related classes, activities, etc. for grade school kids. Having participated in the summer classes, I can honestly say that the Youth Science Center provides quality education at a reasonable price.
I joined the board of this organization 3 years ago because of its reputation of providing top quality STEM education programs to the youth of the San Gabriel Valley. I have seen with my own eyes that the reputation is accurate. It was founded in 1962 and in the ensuing 50 years has developed an outstanding staff of quality instructors with a passion for science education. The current YSC board has developed a strategic plan to grow the organization so as to increase the availability of a quality science education throughout the valley, especially in the lower income areas.
The Youth Science Center is an outstanding organization. I majored in Biology in College and I am very impressed with the quality and depth of instruction. The teachers who are involved with the summer courses are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about science and their enthusiasm is contagious. My son started taking classes when he was in kindergarten, and we have been invloved with the center for 7 years. I personally volunteered in the classes that my son participated in over the years and I was directly involved with the hands on activities that are made avaialble to students. The courses and activities available to students allow them to scientifically think and expand their creativity in exloration and discovery. I have referred may families to this organization and I fully commend YSC for their excellence in education!
Last summer was the first time I got involved with the Youth Science Center. I was a volunteer and I enjoyed it! The teachers and staff were friendly and provided every chance for the children to learn and encouraged volunteers to see what fields in science they could get into. The Youth Science Center offered various field trips–from aviation to prosthetics! They also offered raffles and contests for students and parents. I am grateful for being given the opportunity to join the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Essay Contest and extremely happy that my essay was the winning entry for the high school division! We should have more organizations like YSC to promote education and form leaders in the science field. Thank you, YSC!
The Youth Science Center helps instill the passion for learning and promotes logic and reason in application to everyday life as well as some of the more unique circumstances they may encounter. From helping children with geology to woodworks to electronics classes, they offer a variety of different courses that are fun yet educational. I volunteered at the woodworks class and they stressed safety above all else; while the teachers are pretty lenient, they still mantain a picture perfect model of a classroom. While students try to expand their creative horizons by constucting works of art, they use their problem solving in order to overcome obstacles or using their skills in core subjects such as math to calculate how large an object will be, or how much wood to cut off to make an item. The only critism I can give is that the classes were a bit short, but that was probably due to the fact that I volunteered during the summer time, when most families go vacationing.
My two boys, 9 and 10, have been attending Youth Science Center classes for the past several summers. It's one of their favorite summer activities. The fact that they look forward and enjoy an academic based summer activity thrills me. Youth Science Center classes are not only fun but the kids learn so much and open their minds to the world of science. The instructors are skillful and exciting. The volunteers are friendly and inviting. We love Youth Science Center!
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I have worked at Youth Science Center for a few years now and can honestly say that YSC exemplifies teaching at its best! Its not your read from the textbox style, its loaded with discovery and a passion for the subjects at hand. The children come away with not only a greater understanding of the concepts, but a thurst to learn more! (And they leave with the tools and skills to do so.) I am literally honored to be able to teach there!
I am awed at how tirelessly the YSC works to not only teach students about science but how they impart a true excitement of learning. I have had the pleasure of watching my own children benefit from the program as well as the opprotunity to work with and for such an amazing establishment.
The Youth Science Center is an excellent resource for students and parents. The center itself is located at my kids' school, Wedgeworth Elementary, and they visit it all the time. But even better, the YSC provides summer school classes, which my kids attend every year.
My kids have attended the summer sessions for 3 years and even though it's 20 miles away from our home it is well worth the drive! I can't say enough good things about the program they offer for the kids from over 60 different classes, to the well-trained teachers and staff! It's was a pleasure to go there. Every summer I tell my friends about their program. One year I even brought my Cub Scout Den after school to check out their hands on museum. I just wish they had a YSC closer to us or even in every School District!
I have been teaching for the YSC for 6 years. I have enjoyed each experience. I especially appreciate the leadership of Mr. Ron and Judy Chong. They are well organized and provide all the support a teacher needs to succeed. I can tell they enjoy the children and the staff under them. They also look to the future and want to provide the most up-to-date curriculum and resources necessary to capture a student's attention.
The Youth Science Center (YSC) offers an engaging, standards-based curriculum to our students in teh Mountain View School District. For the past five years, YSC has expanded the minds of our students by providing them with hands-on experiences in astronomy, robotics, and life science. Students benefit from these high interest activities with deeper knowledge of the sciences and its relationship to everyday life. This opportunity is invaluable to our students. The program is well-designed. The YSC staff help to ensure that the program runs smoothly and effectively.
The Youth Science Center provides Science Education to youth in the San Gabriel Valley. Everyone who has been involved in this program has been touched by the dedication and expertise of the staff and administrators. The Youth Science Center is a Jewel in Hacienda Heights!
My students love coming to the YSC. I enjoy having them learn and explore. We enjoy the computers and crafts, too. It is always a pleasure going to the YSC for field trips with my classes. I have taken second grades, first grades, and kindergarten classes. It is such a pleasure working with Ron and Judy Chong and their staff. Lorene Shannon Wing Lane Elementary
A great place to take children to experience many things. I will be taking my grand daughters as soon as I can.
Whenever the planetary dome comes to our school, my students get very excited. It provides my students with an experience they would never get otherwise. After the presentation, they truly have a better understanding of the the solar system and all of its parts. The planetary dome is a great way to get the students involved. The Youth Science Center presenter is always highly knowledgeable and the kids really like her. They provide my students with an outstanding educational experience, and ask for nothing in return. I am truly grateful to YSC for all they do.
I was a teacher for the Youth Science Camp for 2010 for two weeks. I taught fossils one week and the other matter. It was such a great experience for the kids because they got to included in hands on experiments! Even better, the camp was free which helped alot of the kids families since they come from low socio-economic communities. I will definately want to participate in it again!
This program is amazing! It brings the planetarium to the school. Our student love participating in a high tech program. The educators are phenomenal and very well informed. They are able to answer any question that comes at them. They are knowledgeable about our state standards and relate their program to meet our standards. From the minute the students enter the dome they are taken into the solar system. They have the experience of seeing our universe up close and personal. Our classroom lessons become alive which makes this well worth every minute. Thanks Youth Center for providing such a professional program that relates directly to our state standards.
The Youth Science Center is located within the California Community College (Mt. San Antonio College) for which I serve as President of the Board of Trustees. I have been on this Board for 15 years. Given the importance of the Youth Science Center in fostering student interest in scientific and technical careers that I consider to be crucial to our State's economic success, I have worked to increase the cooperation between our community college and the Youth Science Center. Many Youth Science Center students eventually enroll at our community college, which is the largest single-campus community college (60,000 students annually) in the State of California.
My three children have been attending YSC for 5 years and look forward to it every summer! The staff is great and the variety of classes offered is wonderful.
As a principal of 16 years in the area serviced by the Youth Science Center I experienced the impact the center had on the children of the community. The summer program offered exciting learning opportunities in a wide range of areas. The cost of the program was reasonable and scholarships were offered to families with financial need. The Science Center also brought free programs to the schools on topics such as "Water". My own two children attended the summer program for many years. I can honestly say it was a life changing experience for both my son and daughter. The caring staff make it a fun place to learn.
Caring and friendly YSC staff as well as excellent teachers motivating children on science and arts. This is our second year and very impressed with this fine program.
I worked with Youth Science Center for a total of 13 years so far. It has been the best experience ever for a me as a teacher and a parent. I love teaching science and math classes with hands on experiences like building solar ovens, etc. My son also loved the classes he enrolled in when he was younger, he is now 19 years old and in college.
This is a terrific organization, founded 25 years ago. We heard about it this spring from someone at my son's boy scout troop, and we are glad we did. In the course of the three classes he took, he built a catapult and trebuchet (learning physics along the way); built and programmed robots (Lego Mindstorms); and studied science and the "Great Minds" that pioneered it. Also, the YSC sponsors field trips to places like Northrop, The Paige Museum at La Brea Tar Pits and the Raymond Alf Museum. We have not been disappointed and look forward to enrolling next year. Oh, and staff and volunteers are all very friendly, and the classes are affordable, as it is a non profit organization.
The Youth Science Center's summer classes were always highlay anticipated by my four children every year. They usually attended a class every week of the summer sessions. One child in particular loved science and ended up with a career in the medical field; he is now a pediatrician. The YSC classes nurtured his early interest in anything connected with life sciences. Of course his favorite classes were those connected with dissecting!
I first got involved with the YSC in the late 1980's when my 7-year-old daughter took a class on electricity. I was amazed when she brought home a working flashlight she had made out of a battery, wires, a toilet paper tube, and a switch. It was one of many take-home projects she made that week, including a magnetic toy and a battery. She was able to explain how and why they worked, and she had FUN! I started working for the YSC, and over the years she took as many classes as possible until she grew too old for the program. Students learn so much in such a short time at the YSC. But its greatest achievement has to be the pure joy of discovery, the actual excitement in learning that it inspires, and that is so evident in the faces of these students. One mother - whose son evidently had somewhat ambivalent feelings about going to "school" during his summer vacation - told us that after the first day of class he came home in smiles. He told her, "I thought we'd be sitting in rows!" It wasn't the arrangement of chairs that made him eager to return the next day, but his teacher's use of the fun, hands-on approach that is the root of all YSC classes. The success of the Youth Science Center as it has flourished over 48 years can be attributed to the tireless work of its volunteers, the dedication and passion of its leaders, (most of whom are volunteers themselves), and its skilled and energized teaching staff. The operating word is passion: You get the feeling that they all really care about what they do. And it shows. Oh, and do I think the YSC had any influence on my daughter's life? I think so. She has been pursuing studies in particle physics and is scheduled to receive her doctorate next year. Yes, I think so.
The enthusiasm with which the organization presents science to young minds is catching. It is no wonder that those who are fortunate enough to be a part of the Youth Science Center's program go on to remarkable careers. It was very satisfying to see the wonder and the joy in the faces of the kids in a shopping mall as they interacted with the inventions and creatures that the YSC brings.
The Youth Science Center is a superb organization with quality programs that proves science can be fun for youngsters. I hope the YSC is able to form new partnerships in the future with surrounding school districts to help fill in the gaps that were left when our leaders in Sacramento gutted education funding.
A place of wonder, discovery, imagination, learning, and fun! Enthusiasm for learning and teaching is revitalized everyday by all. If science takes us into tomorrow, the Youth Science Center will be responsible for many great things.
YSC is such a wonderful place. I have taught there for about 20 years. I was also a parent of 3 children who attended classes there from the time they were 5 until they were in 6th grade. I will first speak to the parent role. My children all had such wonderful experiences here at YSC, learning very young about the world through science. They had many friends who attended and it was a place where parents met after dropping off their children and chatted in the walkways about the experiences here. They learned that science was fun because of all the hands-on experiences. It was a safe and risk-free environment to learn in. As for my teaching there, I always tell people "this is what teaching is all about. " Facilitating learning and the love for science to help children become problem solvers and critical thinkers is what YSC is all about. I teach the older students, 4th-8th grade and they are so enthusiastic to come to YSC. I have been given the opportunity to teach many different classes of these years. Some more successful than other. The successful classes are taught for multiple years. Children smile coming in the gate and smile going out the gate with the knowledge and experiences they gained at YSC. At the end of a week long double length class I taught this summer, I had overheard a student speaking to a fellow classmate stating "I wish this class went another week." That is quite a testimony from a middle schooler. Kids, Parents and teachers all are treated with respect from the summer director and board of directors. I love teaching at YSC.
I have been teaching at YSC for more than 20 years now, and I can say that my experiences at YSC have been the most enjoyable of my 33 years as a science educator. YSC is very selective in its teachers and encourages its teachers to be creative and work "outside the box". They have been open to any of my ideas for my classes, have provided whatever I needed to make it happen, and supported me with whatever was needed in order to help me excel in my desire to provide students with top notch, fun, exciting science educational experiences. I have taught classes on kites, aerodynamics and airplane flight, photography, ocean currents, astronomy and model rocketry. Students in Model Rocketry classes build rocket kits and fly them at the end with solid rocket fuel engines. Parents and children come to the launch and their excited screams resonate in the neighborhood. Students made kites from scratch and flew them outside. They flew their flying objects in the airplane classes, and delighted in the "Starlab" portable planetarium show as part of the astronomy class. They learned the constellations and how to read star maps and did projects that updated them on current NASA missions.. Never have I taught anywhere else where I was appreciated and treated as the professional I am. Imagine, the principal herself drops by daily to ask if there is anything I need! This summer, I was physically challenged by illness, and the principal rounded up a group of volunteers to help me move my materials in and out of the classroom as well as aiding me in the classroom. At YSC, I experience all the joy and enthusiasm a teacher SHOULD have when doing their favorite thing: teaching!
The Youth Science Center gives scholarships. One of my fifth grade Special Education students, who was intensely interested in astronomy, received a scholarship to attend, I think it was two, classes on astronomy. This was so wonderful for him because his single mother wasn't able to further this interest by taking him to observatories or museums. He contacted me and told me how the classes taught him specific things that enlarged his learning about space.
The Youth Science Center has been a large part of my childhood, both as a student and as a volunteer. Becoming a volunteer for the Youth Science Center for numerous years was a rewarding experience. It was amazing to see how dedicated the staff is to their work- something that, as a student, you take for granted.
My first experience with Youth Science Center was when I was a child. My mother introduced me to Mr. and Mrs. Chong, and I was fascinated by all of the really "cool" science contraptions and displays in the Center. I was 8, that made a huge impression on my future career endeavors as a Science Teacher. I honestly believe that the experiences you have as a child help play a role in who you will become in the future. Being exposed to such fascinating treasures truthfully made a difference. I have had the pleasure to teach at the Youth Science Center for the past three years, and have LOVED every moment. I have had the opportunity to teach high interest, hands on, standards based, but FUN science! I have seen children be inspired and be creative through the use of technology, through building and creating. I cannot praise the Youth Science Center enough for inspiring and encouraging young minds. Kudos!
Our family has been involved with YSC since my son was in kindergaten. I can not say enough good things about the program. The teachers that YSC selects, all have a passion for science and their love for science is evident in the classroom. I have always volunteered throughout the entire class time in my childs classes so I have the first hand privilege of observation. There are so many different areas of science that YSC exposes children to, and the teachers stretch the minds and imaginations of these children. This program is by far the best that we have been involved with. The individualized attention of the teachers is amazing. Over the years, my son has developed special relationships with the teachers, and I know the concepts taught at YSC have influenced his life long learning.
YSC is a 5+ Star organization that gives the best technology and science education in our community and more! It serves almost 1,000 or more students annually with the finest workshops, computer lab sessions, student leadership training, Astronomy Day, Science/Technology Day, technology services to the schools/community, and much more! The staff is extremely dedicated and gives the services that inspire and change or confirm our children's future goals. Everyone who receive any services from the YSC are excited with their programs and want more of them each year. Students and families cherish the experiences and come back to volunteer at the site. We are very grateful to the YSC, its staff and the services they provide to our youth! I give two thumbs up!
Youth Science Center is a non-profit organization helping children to feel the joy of science while expanding their intellectual capacity to participate in the scientific enterprise. The staff are caring administrators and the teachers are educators with expertise in fun and rigor. The students come ready to learn each day and the result is a truly wonderful environment to learn about science. Tell your story here and help others understand this charity
25 years ago, some friends and I started an offshoot to YSC Fullerton. As a Science teacher and friend, I hope I have contributed as much as the YSC has helped me grow.
The YSC is a magical place for children of all ages. If you spend a few hours observing classes you will find quality teachers who love their work, eager students who are being turned on to the world of science, and a small dedicated staff of professionals who keep the program running. I was so impressed by what I recently saw that I eagerly accepted an invitation to join the YSC board and become a part of this fine educational effort. I wish such an opportunity existed when I was growing up.
This is a great organization that is impacting our youth to become excited about science and technology. There is great support in getting the equipment needed in a timely manner and full license is given to be as creative as you want. The end result is much better learning for the kids.
My children began taking classes at the Youth Science Center in Hacienda Heights 14 years ago. They always loved the creative and inspiring teachers and classes. They are now too old to take the classes themselves, so they volunteer to work in the classroom as assistants. We still join in on some of their fun and educational field trips. We all still love the Youth Science Center.
Completely satisfied with programs offered, teachers are just knowledgeable & awesome! Administrators could not be kinder & more helpful! :)
I have been extremely impressed by the quality of the youth experience at YSC. My company has donated $10K to them for the last 2 years, and we expect to continue with our support.
The Youth Science Center has always been a place of inspiration for myself and many other students. I went to the Youth Science Center every year starting from first grade all the way through eighth grade, and continued to volunteer all the way through my college years. Each teacher presents science material in a unique and very interesting way. Many of the lessons are taught through a hands on project that each student creates, such as a model rocket to learn about Newton's laws of motion, or making circuit boards to understand how electric circuits work. The projects are not only fun to do, but allow students of all ages to grasp the concepts involved in the project much faster than if they were simply taught by a lecture in a classroom. The entire organization is run by very kind and caring people who teach there because they absolutely love their role in inspiring young students to one day become our future engineers and leaders in the field of science.
I was first introduced to the Youth Science Program by some moms whom I had met through a Mommy and Me class. It was a godsend to find a fun and educational place to send my childen to during the summer. It's way too easy to let them sit in front of the computer not doing anything. The Youth Science Center allowed my children to be exposed to science in a fun and educational way. They were able to do things that they weren't able to do in class due to the large class sizes and lack of public school funding. Where else can a child learn to build and launch a rocket or have a hands on lesson on gemology? Eating your way through a math lesson is way more fun than staring at a bunch of numbers. How many children get to learn about the space program and have instructors who are actually knowledgeable about it? These are just a few of the things that the Youth Science Center can offer. The biggest problem like most non profits is the lack of money. Student enrollment is down as the economy struggles. If you raise fees, then it hurts the very children the program is designed to help. My wish is that they are able to get funding and support. As we all know, children are the gateway to our future. If we invest in them now, the rewards will be plentiful in the future.
The Youth Science Center provides learning opportunities for children that inspries them to learn about our world through science. Our country faces a crisis with a lack of students taking on Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) realted course work. This is due in part because we are not providing relevance or stimulas to children in the K-8 grades, so they are not prepared later on. The Youth Science Center provides outstanding, creative programs that fill that gap by a staff of most passionate people.
YSC is a leader in the San Gabriel Valley in providing youth, especially inter-city children with the tools and opportunities to advance their knowledge of Science.
ThThis was the third year I have worked as a teacher offering my space science classes called "I Need My Space." I have taught elementary school for 35 years and know when a program works. This one gets an A+! The support I received during the preparation and set up for my class was excellent. The facility was very comfortable and I had all the tech and supplies I needed to do my job. As I taught, I was always asked if there is anything I needed and there was plenty of volunteer staff to help. I was highly respected for what I had to offer and felt very appreciated! Best of all, the children had a wonderful time and enjoyed learning through hands on activities. I give this program my highest rating!