A Collective, Student-driven Initiative

ScienceDays consists of numerous chapters across the nation, led by one of two directors and advised by a faculty sponsor in the school.  The directors then recruit mentors and contact local elementary schools, after-school programs, libraries, and other venues for delivering science lessons. The participating mentors will plan lessons, obtain necessary supplies, and teach the lessons to kids.  The directors also carry the responsibility of ensure positive group dynamics as well as maintaining contact with the national chapter about the progress and needs of the chapter.

By targeting elementary school students, ScienceDays gives young students the chance to engage in science beyond the standard classroom experience. ScienceDays aims to foster inspirational relationships between mentors and young scientists of the future.  While lesson plans comply with National Science Education standards, the delivery of lessons by high school or college mentors serves allows elementary school students to relate to the mentors more personally.  As ScienceDays mentors delivered lessons as guest-speakers as part of the “Science Week” of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro County Schools Summer Camp program, the camp administrators reported, “By having students as teachers -- the children were able to relate to the experiments."

The national chapter accepts online applications from students who are interested in becoming directors at the high school or college.  All qualified applicants are interviewed.  Directing a chapter is challenging yet greatly rewarding experience that will require dedication, leadership, a strong vision, and enthusiasm.  We seek directors with passion and high aptitude in science and with past volunteering experience, preferably in the area of working with children.  Directors and mentors benefit greatly from the collaborative atmosphere of the chapter, as well as the invaluable teaching experience.s

The primary activities of the individual chapters are preparing and teaching lessons to local elementary education programs.  The role of the national chapter is to oversee the activities of individual chapters as well as to provide needed guidance and resources, such as budget to help offset the costs of lesson supplies.  The national chapter also creates a communicative and collaborative network among all chapters: lesson plans as well as mentoring strategies are shared across chapters; plans for a leadership summit is also underway as a opportunity for directors and mentors to meet, network, and share experiences.

Handbook for Founders (.pdf) Please consult the handbook to find out more about the responsibilites and perks of being a ScienceDays chapter director!  To apply, click here.