Smithtown Campers Are Mad for Science

Forget the sunscreen and bug spray and instead slap on some goggles and gloves for a kids camp that will them peering into test tubes and giving their best hypothesis.

The camp is called Mad Science, an interactive educational camp offered in several locations on Long Island that has found a summer home in the lower level classrooms of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Smithtown.

Chemistry is the subject of choice for kids this week, starting with some lessons on liquids, gases, solids and a little fun with dry ice.

Donning heavy-duty gloves, teacher Samantha Grauna explained the properties of the smoky solid as her campers marveled at the mysterious block in her hands. Grauna chipped a piece of the ice off, placed it in a test tube and added water.

Lots of “wow, so cool” type statements were made, but Gruana didn’t let them get off that easy.

“Will hot water produce more smoke than cold? Why?”

Hands raised, the kids were eager to answer.

“I think this is a great camp for kids,” said Gruana. “There are so many different topics to choose from.”

Courses range from robotics to forensics and half or full-day for kids from pre-school age through the sixth grade. The most popular classes right now are the ones on robotics, which range from junior to advanced.

"I like the kids' reaction to learning," said Gruana. "They want to find out what made something bubble. In school, sometimes science is downplayed. This makes it fun, it is so hands on."

Classes run in the Smithtown location through the end of August.