school year
2024/25 SCHEDULE
The Science Station offers four sessions of lab-based STEM classes for elementary (3-5th) and middle school (6-8th) students on Wednesdays during the school year. These hands-on two hour classes meet once a week for six weeks. Class size is capped at 14 students.
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IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
We use a registration system called CAMPBRAIN which allows you to pay by MasterCard or VISA. If you are new to the system, we recommend PRE-REGISTERING by establishing a CampBrain account and completing ALL the required online forms before registration opens. For detailed pre-registration instructions click here.
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Setup your account and pre-register here:
Elementary Classes (3rd-5th grade)
Session 3: Pirate Science $340
Explore the life of a Hollywood pirate through science! Investigate the real story of eyepatches, gold coins, black powder and spyglasses. Use geocaching to find hidden treasure and learn how to navigate with the stars while applying the principles of buoyancy to keep your boat afloat!
MORNING OPTION: Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm (2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12)
AFTERNOON OPTION: Wednesdays 2 pm – 4 pm (2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12)
Session 4: Animal Kingdom $375
Embark on a hands-on exploration of the animal kingdom, starting with microscopic life in Bend’s local waters and moving to amazing ocean creatures like sponges, sea anemones, and jellyfish. Handle annelids like earthworms and leeches, and echinoderms like sea urchins and brittle stars. You’ll even dissect a sea star arm to learn about its fascinating structure. Discover the fascinating world of birds by investigating an owl pellet to reveal what these nocturnal predators eat. Finally, meet exotic reptiles like alligators and boa constrictors during an unforgettable presentation from the Oregon Reptile Views. You’ll complete the class with a whole new appreciation for the animal world and its incredible diversity!
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MORNING OPTION: Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm (4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4)
AFTERNOON OPTION: Wednesdays 2 pm – 4 pm (4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4)
Middle School Classes (6th-8th grade)
Session 3: Human Anatomy + Physiology $325
Learn about the human organ systems by conducting a fetal pig dissection.* Students also discover what it takes for animals to regulate their body temperature and conduct pulmonary physiology experiments on their classmates. *alternative to live dissection available
MORNING OPTION: Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm (2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12)
AFTERNOON OPTION: Wednesdays 2:45 pm – 4:45 pm (2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12)
Session 4: Light + Sight $325
Dive into the science of sight and discover the fascinating ways light interacts with everything around us. See how light bends and bounces through lenses and mirrors – focusing, diffusing, and influencing how we perceive images. Send lasers through Jell-O and experience refraction firsthand by harpooning grapes. Dissect a cow eye to learn how our human eyes work to interpret the world around us. Then see how they can be tricked by mind-bending optical illusions. Finally, unleash your creativity by taking and developing your own photos with pinhole cameras, combining your scientific knowledge with artistic expression. It’s a creative, illuminating journey through the science of sight!
MORNING OPTION: Wednesdays 10 am – 12 pm (4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4)
AFTERNOON OPTION: Wednesdays 2:45 pm – 4:45 pm (4/30, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4)
Independent Research (application only)
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The Independent Research program is a guided scientific research course where high school students design and conduct their own experiments. To complete a project, participants in this program need to be self-motivated and willing to work both in and out of class. The course culminates with presentations at the Northwest Science EXPO. Students typically work in the labs sometime between 2:30 and 5:30 pm on Mondays or Thursdays from September through April. We ask that students commit to at least one and a half hours of lab time each week. As students get closer to presenting their research at the science fair, time commitments may increase. The first meeting for Independent Research students will be Monday, September 23 from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm.
To schedule an interview or learn more please contact us at bss@bendsciencestation.org or 541-330-0433.
The Stewart C. Malone Scholarship Fund
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Scholarship opportunities further our values of inclusion and create greater access to STEM learning opportunities for the youth of Central Oregon. We want to make sure that every student has access to our programming, regardless of finances. Our scholarship fund is named for Stewart C. Malone, in recognition of his dedication to Guardian Ad Litem, advocating for the rights of abused and neglected youth, and his long-time support of the Science Station. We’ve tried to make the application process as easy as possible. Please call or email for specifics!
Payment + Cancellation Terms
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If paying by credit card, full payment will be charged at the time of registration.
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If paying by check or cash, payment must be received by BSS within 5 days of registration or your student’s spot may be forfeited.
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In the event that you need to cancel a registration, 50% of the cost is refundable (or available for credit) if BSS is notified at least 7 days prior to the start date of the class. The remaining class balance (less $25 cancelation fee) will be refunded if we can fill your student’s space.
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Unfortunately, we cannot refund your payment or credit your account if we are notified of a cancellation less than 7 days before the start of a class.
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There will be no partial refunds for missed days. A prorated credit will be considered if an enrolled student is unable to complete a class due to serious illness or injury.
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ALL CANCELLATIONS WILL INCUR A $25 CANCELLATION FEE.