Getting Involved

At the Robert R. McCormick Boys and Girls Club, Northwestern volunteers lead or co-lead small groups of 2-4 middle school youth in weekly hands-on lab activities, encouraging scientific thinking, creativity, problem solving, and safety. Each volunteer also acts as a general mentor for their group. High energy and a passion for teaching science are the primary job requirements!

Each weekly Science Club meeting runs from 3:30-5:30 pm. The program follows the Northwestern academic quarter system, with each 8-10 week session designed around a particular scientific theme. For example, our winter 2009 theme was forensic science. We staged a backpack theft, leaving behind a host of evidence: a ransom note, fake blood, hair, and fingerprints. Over the 10-week session, the kids analyzed the evidence and identified a perpetrator. To cap off the session, the young crime scene investigators presented their data at a mock trial at Northwestern’s Parillo courtroom. In previous quarters, our session finale has featured a science fair for the entire Boys & Girls Club membership.

For Spring 2009, we are running two sessions of 20 youth each at the McCormick Club. One session meets on Mondays, the other on Thursdays. Our theme is a tour of the digestive tract.

There is also a Wednesday session at the Barreto Boys & Girls Club focused on chemistry.

If you are a Northwestern student, postdoc, or staff member excited about the prospect of inspiring the next generation of scientists, please contact program administrator Anna Shepherd.

For questions or more information, please contact program leaders Carolyn Jahn or Michael Kennedy.