Three Minutes at Headwaters Science Center

If you have never visited  Headwaters Science Center, but often wondered what goes on in there - this video is for you.

Please help us continue to serve the kids and adults of Northern Minnesota with a generous donation to our cause on Give to the Max Day on November 14, 2013. It can be done online at our secure web site with GiveMn.org - and it's tax deductible! Learn more here. 

A Message from the HSC Staff

The staff at HSC says, "Please participate in Give to the Max Day on November 14th to help make HSC even better and more exciting for the kids (and adults) of northern Minnesota."

The theme for HSC is all about water: "Drop-by-Drop You Can Make a Difference." Create the vernal pool, make the river flow, fill the lake and make the ocean roar.

Please come visit us soon.

Last year, more than 53,000 individual donors logged on to GiveMN.org and gave more than $16.3 million to nearly 4,400 Minnesota nonprofits and schools in 24 hours during Give to the Max Day. Nov. 14 is the fifth annual Give to the Max Day.

This is the third year that HSC has participated. It's always a fun and exciting day!

PRIZES                      PRIZES                   PRIZES

You can amplify your giving in a number of ways during Give to the Max day:

Offer a match 

Organizations or individuals that offer a donation match will be highlighted so donors will have the opportunity to double their donation – a double drop.
If you would like to offer a match, please email the amount and time period and we will set it up.

Win a golden ticket 

A nonprofit will be randomly chosen every hour to have $1,000 added to their donation. Additionally, two $10,000 Super-sized Golden Tickets will be randomly drawn at the end of the event.  You can split your donation up into many separate donations and enter an amount (min $10) any hour to increase your chances for winning a prize.

Power hours 

Nonprofits that raise the most money during each of five power hours will win a $1,000 prize grant. The organization from each category (all nonprofits and schools, medium nonprofits, small nonprofits, and Greater Minnesota) that raise the most from 2:00-2:59 a.m., 5:00-5:59 a.m., 5:00-5:59 p.m., 6:00-6:59 p.m., and 11:00-11:59 p.m. will each win a $1,000 prize grant, for a total of $5,000 in prize grants each power hour!

You can join the “Great Minnesota Give Together” on November 14 by clicking on the “Donate Here” button!  It's safe and tax deductible.

(Donations by check or cash are always welcome anytime)

Boofest - October 31st

 Halloween is coming and here at Headwaters Science Center that means Boofest, our activity-based, family-oriented Halloween party. Upstairs we set up carnival games and downstairs the exhibit floor is open free of charge during Boofest hours.

Try the pumpkin ring toss, make some slime, bob for donuts, or win a treat on the witches walk.
If you are not interested in coming to play please consider volunteering your time to help with this community Halloween party. We love having older kids help run the carnival games and welcome parents to assist with the younger volunteers.


Boofest will be Thursday, October 31 from 4 -7. Come join us for a fun time and don’t forget your costume!          

Susan Joy Reports

Live Streaming . . . 

Projects finished

Projects to plan.

                                                      Current Happenings by Susan Joy

 Did you notice something different on your last visit to HSC? Was it our STEAM exhibit featuring 2,000 KEVA planks? What about the fresh coat of paint on our ceiling and walls? Or could it be the time you tested your knowledge of aquatic invasive species using our AIS exhibit? We’ve been working hard at HSC to bring new experiences and a fresh look to you, our members and supporters. We are committed to providing engaging science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) experiences to Bemidji and Northwest Minnesota.

The STE(A)M exhibit (slipping A for Art/ Architecture/Design/Creativity into STEM) is 

in progress and will feature three stations for you to create, design, and build your own structures and objects. KEVA Planks, K’NEX, and Lego blocks will all provide opportunities to design and create. Challenge yourself to build a KEVA tower to the ceiling––ladders available upon request! 

The painting project was completed during the first week in September thanks to the Minnesota Beautiful Grant and Valspar Corporation. Through the grant, Valspar donated 75 gallons of ceiling and wall paint. In four days, with help from HSC Board members, Friends of HSC, two Sentence to Service crews, BSU student volunteers, community members, and HSC staff, we were able to paint 13,650 square feet, otherwise known as our ceiling and three interior walls! Come in and see our new look. 

Installed in June, the Aquatic Invasive Species exhibit challenges visitors to correctly identify native and invasive aquatic species. Do you think you know your plants, animals, and invertebrates? 

Come down and test your knowledge! 

Fall months are a time at HSC where we work hard to develop new ideas and plan for implementation. Many of the new exhibits that you can experience on our exhibit floor now were developed in the fall months. And we’re cooking up even more new stuff for you to enjoy in 2014. Do you have an idea for an exhibit that would add a new perspective to the exhibit floor or a hot topic that you want to discuss at Science After Dark? Let us know; we love feedback from our members and visitors. Find us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, e-mail, or call. Heck, you can even stop by and ask to speak to me! See you at HSC building a KEVA tower to the ceiling. 

Susan
Executive Director 

Fall Programs Announced at Headwaters Science Center

Headwaters Science Center offers programs for children ages 3-6 on Wednesdays, beginning September 25, 2013. Bring your child to these programs for stories, hands on activities, and games to help children learn about things going on in their environment. Come and touch the science!

Tots-N-Science Begins September 25

Adults must accompany children.

 Pre-register by the day before the program. Call (218) 444-4472.

Program times: 10:00-11:00 AM each Wednesday.

The cost is only $4 per child (exhibit floor not included). Adults are free and must accompany children. Pre-registration by the day before is recommended, or a program could be cancelled for lack of tots.

More information

After School Science Club Begins September 23

Session 1 of After School Science Club will consist of 12 sessions, beginning September 23, 2013 and ending December 16, 2013 For boys and girls ages 7-13. The group will meet each Monday from 3:30-5:00 on school days.

We utilize Center tools and equipment such as motors, microscopes, liquid nitrogen and quality science kits for engaging science activities. We stress problem solving and logical thinking, not memorization.

Call Headwaters Science Center at (218) 444-4472 to register.

More information

Help us Win $3000

Minnesota Energy Resources has provided an opportunity for HSC to win a grant of $3000 with their nonprofit program called,  "It's Worth the Energy". 

Using a Facebook app participants vote for their favorite of three nonprofits. Whoever gets the most votes via Facebook from September 2 through October 1 will receive the $3000; each person can vote once each day.

 It's easy to participate, just go to this page and vote for Headwaters Science Center. Please vote every day and ask your friends to do so with a share.

Idea: put a shortcut to the site on your desktop and make it a daily habit to vote every day until October 1.

Headwaters Science Center Volunteer Opportunity

Please join Headwaters Science Center, 413 Beltrami Avenue NW, Bemidji, Tuesday, September 3^rd through Friday September 6^th to paint the interior of the science center.  Valspar Paint donated 75 gallons of paint to HSC through the Minnesota Beautiful Grant program administered by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

To accomplish the task of painting the interior of our building, HSC will be closed to the public starting on September 3 and will re-open for regular hours on September 7^th at 9:30 am.  Volunteers are needed to help HSC staff and board members paint the interior of the science center.  No experience required and a minimum time commitment of two hours is requested. Interested volunteers can sign up for a time slot by calling 444-4472 or emailing director@hscbemidji.org.  

Painting will occur between 8 am and 6 pm starting September 3rd and ending September 6th.  Volunteers should wear painting appropriate clothing and bring brushes and rollers if they have them.  Paint and some supplies will be provided by HSC.

The Headwaters Science Center (HSC) was founded in 1994 to provide hands-on science and technology exploration in northern Minnesota.  HSC is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission "to provide intellectual stimulation and enjoyment for children, adults, and educational organizations in northern Minnesota using hands-on science and technology exhibits and programs.”    NEW: Seasonal Hours: September 7 through March 17: Closed Tuesday.  Open Monday, Wednesday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

Thank you for supporting HSC!