Flandrau like a 'candy store' for children

Charles C. Labenz Arizona Daily Wildcat Christy Clow, events coordinator at the Flandrau Science Center at the University of Arizona, sits on one of the center's newest exhibits, the Designosaurous. The Designosaurous is a large stuffed dinosaur body with interchangeable body parts for children to have fun with while learning.

Children from age eight to 15 can experiment with astronomy, Earth science and aerospace, then spread out sleeping bags and spend the night at the planetarium, said Christy Clow, events coordinator at Flandrau.

"It's like the kids got locked in a candy store overnight," said Judy Bisignano, Flandrau's director of development. "It's a wonderful way for kids to learn science."

Although the exhibits give children hands-on experience, the University of Arizona student staff makes their Flandrau experience more memorable, Bisignano said.

"The key ingredient is the student staff," she said. "The constant energy the staff has makes the experience an informal, exciting one."

During the overnight program, about four or five staff members run exhibits for the children.

"I think the cool thing is that girls can see women in leadership positions," said Kristen Kassapis, nursing junior and Flandrau third-year staff member.

Clow, overnighter coordinator, graduated from the UA last December with a graphic art degree. She started working with Flandrau's overnight activities in 1995.

"Being a non-science major, I have fun being a role model to the kids," Clow said. "That's been the driving force for me. The kids are thrilled with the program."

Clow is known to Flandrau overnighters as Professor Flandrau, Bisignano said.

"She does whimsical things to mesmerize the kids," Bisignano said.

Children can view the universe through Flandrau's 16-inch diameter telescope, learn to recognize constellations and simulate voyages to Pluto and the moon through an astronomy demonstration, Clow said.

In the aerospace program, children learn aeronautics principles by making paper planes and launching rockets, she said. They can find ancient fossils and build an erupting volcano in the Earth science program, Clow said.

In 1995 when the overnight program began, only Girl Scout troops participated, Bisignano said. Elementary school classes are now taking advantage of the overnight opportunities.

The next overnight program will take place Feb. 19.