Furthermore, it was decided that Explorit should venture into middle schools with brand-new topics and a different format. Thus, the nanotechnology and robotics Middle School Science Series was born, with assistance from a generous grant from Best Buy.

In its current form, the middle school program runs for eight sessions, each lasting an hour and 45 minutes. The first four sessions focus on nanotechnology and the latter four involve robotics.

One of Explorit’s educators explains some challenges they encountered: “I think nano science is one of the hardest concepts to adapt for a younger audience (or, heck, even an adult one for that matter) for two main reasons:

“One, the field is still relatively young and hands-on activities can be scarce or difficult to create, and two, despite our focus on hands-on science, we are unable to touch or even see a single nano particle due to their extremely small size — there are 1 billion nanometers in a meter.

“Instead, the students must rely on the educator’s word that the nano world even exists. We use lots of models and metaphors to help students visualize what’s happening.”

Fortunately, a group known as the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (http://www.nisenet.org) exists for the express purpose of educating the public about nano science. To do this, they donate numerous activities to participating organizations, such as Explorit, and ask them to open their doors for occasional events known as “Nano Days.”

These activities, enhanced by Explorit’s creative educators, form the backbone of the nanotechnology lessons.

The robotics theme originated during the 2010 summer camps, which featured a day about robots. The day was a big hit thanks to a grant from Intel that allowed us to purchase many intriguing robotics items, such as three Lego Mindstorms Robotics kits, a robot T-Rex, insect bots and many others.

All of these things and more were combined, numerous heads were put together, and, voila, the middle school robotics program was off and running. (Batteries were included, for once.)

The students in the program have been enjoying it immensely. One student said enthusiastically, “I didn’t know that science could be this fun,” a sentiment echoed by others in the class.

The instructor currently involved in the program, Jennifer Glaser, a Sacramento math teacher, also was excited about the program, explaining, “I liked the hands-on experiments (as did the students), as well as the way the science was related to the age group.”

She continued, saying these programs are “a great way to create interest in science for students who would not otherwise have the opportunity.”

Explorit’s coming events:

* Summer Camp, June 13-Aug 19: Several spaces are still available in the preK-K and first-/second-grade sections of Explorit’s Summer Science Camp. To get information about openings, visit http://www.explorit.org/camp or call (530) 756-0191 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

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Explorit Science Center’s 3141 Fifth St. site is the location for field trips, programs for groups, Astronomy Club meetings and Summer Science Camp. It is also the hub for Explorit’s traveling programs that reach an 18-county region. The site is open to the public for special events and to groups by reservation. For more information, call (530) 756-0191 or visit http://www.explorit.org

According to most dictionaries, Africa does indeed have a strong claim on the word, but most also define a safari as being “a journey to observe and hunt for wild animals,” which are a large part of Explorit’s Nature Safari field trip.

Although the word “hunt,” which can have negative connotations, was used in the above definition, please be assured that when field trip visitors go “hunting,” they are not out to harm any animals.

The Nature Safari program is active every spring and fall, and the Mace Ranch Community Park plays a starring role in getting kids and parents alike excited about nature.

The safari begins at Explorit, 3141 Fifth St., with a brief overview of the “nature of nature,” followed by a guided trek around the park with many fun stops along the way, such as one of the oldest oak trees in Davis where, frequently, an active bee colony can be seen hidden high in the branches.

Another stop of note is the fenced-in conservation area originally created as a home for burrowing owls (now gone), but that is now a place to observe ground squirrels, jack rabbits, various birds, sheep and goats in the springtime, and native grasses and other local plants.

Next on the tour is the collecting area where children will open up the safari kits they have been patiently lugging around and use the wide array of tools within (like nets, shovels, containers, etc.) to look high and low for living and non-living parts of nature.

Finally, they will be able to share their finds with one another in the last section of the safari: the magnifying area.

When collecting, only minibeasts — like insects and arachnids — are picked up, to be released back into the wilds of the park after everyone takes a turn using magnifying containers to see their finds up close and sharing the excitement of what they found with their fellow safari-goers. The larger animals, of which there are many in the park, stay safely inside memories.

A big thank you goes to Yocha Dehe Commmunity Fund for providing much-needed support for these wonderful nature-based education programs!

You are all invited to visit Mace Ranch Park whenever you like, so you can embark upon your own safari. While visiting, come by Explorit’s building at the park’s entrance off Fifth Street check what we have to offer in the way of programs.

Explorit will offer summer camps starting June 13, and there are still spaces available, but time is running out, so sign up today.

Coming events:

* Summer Camp, June 13-Aug. 19: More information about themes and registration can be found at http://www.explorit.org/camp.

• Today through May 20: Those interested in volunteering as a science teaching assistant during summer camp may contact Explorit’s volunteer coordinator at kristin@explorit.org. Applicants must be at least 12 years old before June 13. Volunteer orientations and trainings will take place this month and next for accepted applicants.

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Explorit Science Center, 3141 Fifth St., is the location for field trips, programs for groups and Astronomy Club meetings. The center also is the hub for Explorit’s traveling programs that reach an 18-county region. The center is open to the public for special events and to groups by reservation; call (530) 756-0191 or visit http://www.explorit.org

Earlier this year, the Metzger family in Sacramento donated two adult bearded dragons, named Spike and Isa, to Explorit Science Center. The family, who are frequent visitors to Explorit, saw how well the other animals are cared for and decided to ask us if we would be willing to adopt their dragons.

As it happened, Explorit received a generous grant in 2009 from the Glide Foundation. The grant was definitely put to good use as its main purpose was for upgrading the enclosures that house the assortment of animals that live at both Explorit locations.

Between the two sites, Explorit cares for three species of cockroaches (Madagascar hissing cockroaches, giant cave roaches and orange spotted roaches), black widow spiders, darkling beetles, a ball python named Connie, a blue tongue skink named Blizzard, Vietnamese walking sticks, a variety of freshwater snails, and two species of fish: giant danios and African cichlids.

A majority of these animals have lived at Explorit for many years and improvements to their enclosures were needed just as similar modifications are always being made to human habitats.

The purpose of the T.S. and K.D. Glide Foundation, named after its benefactors, Thornton S. Glide Jr. and Katrina D. Glide, ranchers who died in 1995, Òis to provide benefits for qualified organizations committed to animal protection organizations, other land and wildlife conservancy groups, agricultural purposes, preservation of land in its natural state, and opera, symphony and other similar civic organizations.Ó

In addition to giving grants to qualifying organizations, the foundation is highly involved in animal rescue work, taking in abused or neglected animals, which are well cared for and live out the remainder of their lives on one of two ranches operated by the foundation.

Saturday is the long-awaited debut of Spike and Isa at the ExploritÕs 2801 Second St. site. In addition, it is also the debut of the redesigned ÒAnimal AlcoveÓ Ñ a place where many of ExploritÕs arthropods also live and where visitors can see and interact with an assortment of animal artifacts, like taxidermied creatures and bones.

Be sure to stop in on Saturday to say ÒhiÓ to ExploritÕs newest resident reptiles and you might even get to see one or both of them eat some tasty insect treats, always a crowd favorite.

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ExploritÕs coming events:

* Saturday, Oct. 30: Representatives from the Woodland and Vacaville offices of the American Automobile Association will present activities about traffic, automobile and pedestrian safety on ExploritÕs Grand Plaza Patio from 1 to 4 p.m. There will hands-on activities, prize drawings and giveaways.

* Saturday, Oct. 30: Explorit will bring Òspooky scienceÓ activities to the Davis Farmers Market Fall Festival, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Central Park, Fourth and C streets. Other festivities include live music, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch and the Avenue of Scarecrows. For more information, visit http://www.davisfarmersmarket.org/calendar.

* Thursday and Friday, Nov. 11-12: Both floors of the museum will be open for the Veterans Day Holiday. Come try out activities from ExploritÕs current exhibitions from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Explorit Science Center, at 2801 Second St., has two exhibitions on display: ÒMove It! Science in ActionÓ and ÒWheels to Wings.Ó Admission is $4 general and free for teachers and children ages 3 and under. The museum is open to school groups by reservation and to the general public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call (530) 756-0191 or visit http://www.explorit.org