Causes: Education, Educational Services

Mission: The Catch the Science Bug Foundation’s mission is to inspire children, especially girls and minorities, to create a better world through science by enabling the self-revelation that through an understanding of science, they too could make valuable contributions to society whether in private or professional life.

Results: The PBS science series reaches 1.5 million households The website averages 100,000 visitors per monthChildren served by the traveling programs: 2,000 per year

Target demographics: Children in grades 1-4 through out the US via our website Children in grades 1-4 in the New England area via our PBS Rhode Island science series called Catch the Science Bug specially sensitive inspiring girls and minorities about science careersChildren in grades PreK-8 via the traveling science programs

Geographic areas served: National and New England Area

Programs: (1) PBS Science Series: Catch the Science Bug is a half-hour children's television series that targets children in grades 1-4, an underserved TV market. It is able to entertain and educate children of all socioeconomic backgrounds because it is presented free of charge through PBS RI (WSBE). It currently reaches 1.5 million households via broadcast on PBS RI and nine different cable providers. The programming can be seen in all of RI, and parts of CT, MA, and NH. Children and teachers at Norrback Elementary, Worcester, MA, review episodes upon completion. Results are favorably comparable to other national children’s science programs. We are happy to share evaluation reports with you upon request. (2) Interactive Website www. sciencebug. org: In 2006 a website was created to supplement the information learned our PBS television series funded by The Stoddard Charitable Trust. Since its revision this past summer, sponsored by the Best Buy Children's Foundation, the website is now taking-on a life of its own averaging 100,000 hits per month and receiving an American Library Association Great Website for Kids award and a Parents’ Choice Silver Award. This site provides a vast array of FREE science activities including interactive quizzes, downloadable investigations with data collection sheets, and science video clips. The site is geared towards children in grades 1-5.Educators can find materials to use with an entire class. Educators, parents and kids have sent us many complements about the site. New content will focus on drinking water and be added this fall. A science blog is also in the works. (3) In-person educational science programs: Catch the Science Bug Traveling Programs, has been teaching science programs to students in grades pre K-8 in New England for ten years. Twenty-four different science programs are offered on a variety of topics. In 2000, there were only 5 programs to start. Kim Bent personally teaches all of these programs. Programs use demonstrations, hands-on activities, group games, and media visuals to convey science concepts to children. See www. catchthesciencebug. com for more details. (4) Catch the Outdoor BugCatch the Outdoor Bug will teach groups of children (Pre K-8) one of three different environmental education programs on a forested parcel of land that also contains a wetland. Program titles are The Dynamic Forest, Why Wetlands are Wonderful, and Be a Forest Detective. All programs will be taught at different levels to accommodate the different age groups. This program would be located in Worcester, MA and serve the area’s schools, youth organizations, afterschool programs and the City of Worcester. Three of the goals are (1) to increase environmental science literacy, (3) raise environmental awareness and (3) conserve one acre of land in the city of Worcester, MA.