We will come to you and set up 70+ hands-on activities. Students will be free to explore the activities. ACCHaoS staff will be there to facilitate and answer questions. Our exhibits include explorations in mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light, waves, sound, air pressure, fluid density, human perception.

We are an outreach program from Austin Community College. Our mission is to get young children excited about science, especially kids who might have less opportunity otherwise.

If you can provide lunch/dinner for our staff that's awesome. If you want to make a donation, that is also much appreciated.

• Structured sessions:

  This is the format for visits to a school during the school day on a Friday. Groups of up to 75 students (usually 3 classes) at a time visit the event. We give a short introduction, then students wander through exhibits as they wish. K-2 students do well with 30 minute sessions, and students in grades 3-5 do well with 30-45 minute sessions. We have a 5-10 minute break between groups to reset and tidy exhibits, and a break mid-day for our staff to have lunch.

• Drop-in:

  This is the format for evening science nights at schools, public library events, company family events, or larger events such as Girl Day or Earth Day. Students and their parents drop by and explore as they wish. Parents or responsible adults are expected to supervise the kids they bring. Usually we have the exhibits open for 2-3 hours, depending on the expected attendance. These events can be Thurs-Sun evening, or weekend afternoons.

• A primary contact person.

  About an hour before our first group of students, we need someone who will meet us at the front of the school, direct to us to where we'll set up, and make sure that everything is in order.

• One room with 20 large tables.

  Meaning 2 ft by 4 ft. If you don't have that many we'll make do, but it helps to let the exhibits breathe, and to have space for the kids to move freely.

• A couple of electrical outlets.

  We bring our own extension cords and power strips.

• An hour to set up.

  Please make sure the space is clear and that time slots for other events or programs in the space do not overlap with our setup time.

• A schedule for the day.

  (For structured sessions.) Plan for a maximum of 75 students in each group, 30-45 minute sessions, a 5-10 minute break between sessions, and a lunch break for us. Teachers attend and help supervise their classes.

• Parent volunteers are welcome!

  Sometimes a few of the older kids enjoy helping too.

• Lunch/dinner.

  If you can feed us, that would be awesome. At some schools, the PTA sponsors our lunch. We'll even eat in the cafeteria. We'll give you a head count a couple of days before the visit.

• 45 minutes to pack up.

  Please make sure time slots for other events or programs in the same space do not overlap with our pack up time.

• Keep food separate.

  (For drop-in format.) Because our exhibits are all hands-on, having food for the kids at your event can be a problem. If you're going to have food areas, please locate them away from our area. Also, please make sure to have some of your volunteers checking to make sure food is not carried into the exhibit area, and that students are washing their hands.

We have not started having in-person events again yet, and probably will not until Fall 2021 at the earliest. Please check back later in the year.