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Afterschool Cohort
Does your child love science? Are you looking for an after-school program that’s free of charge yet high in quality? Van Andel Institute for Education is now accepting applications for its Afterschool Cohorts, and is looking for creative and curious students who enjoy working with others. Through hands-on investigations in two categories—Biodiversity & Human Health or Human Innovation—students ask questions, investigate, and discover answers using scientific tools and resources. There is no cost for participation in this program. Tuition is fully underwritten by Van Andel Institute.
Applications are now open for:
- Fall 2020 (Virtual Delivery): Ecosystem Explorers and Energy Innovators
- Spring 2021: Species Explorers and Disaster Detectives!
Not your typical virtual lessons!
At this time, we are evaluating delivery format of all of our programs due to the impact of COVID-19. If we deliver a program virtually, rest assured, it’s not like other programs where kids just sit in front of a computer. We want science to be fun! Although we will connect with students via technology, the activities are sure to be hands-on and exciting.
Biodiversity &
Human Health
Grades 4 – 5 | Species Explorers |
Spring 2021 | Applications Now Open
Explore our living world through observations of the plants and animals. Learn to handle our resident animals and deepen your understanding of what all organisms need to survive through field studies at the local zoo and botanical garden. Discover how being different may provide a survival advantage. Design and build a habitat for a VAI animal.
Who: Students enrolled in 4th and 5th grades in Spring 2021
Where: Van Andel Institute for Education, 216 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Spring 2021
When: January 19 – April 29, 2021
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Applications must be received by Tuesday, January 6, 2021.
Apply for Spring 2021 Species Explorers.
Grades 5 – 6 | Ecosystem Explorers |
Fall 2020 (Virtual) | Applications Now Open
Do you know how ecosystems are important to our health? In this virtual after school cohort, students will have the opportunity to learn how ecosystems work and why they matter by designing their own investigations using animals and plants. Plus, they’ll get to build their own living ecosystem, and visit with local environmental experts to learn about problems facing our ecosystems…all from home!
Some of the guided activities:
- Build an ecosystem and learn how to make the organisms within it thrive.
- Design and build solutions to help prevent run-off from getting into our water.
- Learn about pollination and how it can affect our health.
- Discover how organisms adapt to different ecosystems to survive.
- Meet a scientist from the Van Andel Research Institute.
Who: Students enrolled in 5th and 6th grades in Fall 2020
Where: Virtual format
Fall 2020
When: September 9 – December 16, 2020
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Applications must be received by Wednesday, September 2, 2020.
Apply for Fall 2020 Ecosystem Explorers.
Grades 6 – 7 | Biomedical Explorers
Investigate the role model organisms play in helping us better understand human health. Discover the role DNA plays in inheritance, observe how organisms grow and develop, and study the environment’s impact on physiology. Visit a Van Andel Institute lab to learn about research from the experts. Conduct investigations to answer questions YOU want answered to learn how our health depends on genetic diversity. View Student Outcome Report
Who: Students enrolled in 6th and 7th grades in Spring 2020
Where: Van Andel Institute for Education, 216 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Fall 2021
When: September 8 – December 15, 2021
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Applications must be received by Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Human
Innovation
Grades 4 – 5 | Space Engineers
Blast off to worlds unknown as you explore space and the innovations that make space exploration possible. Discover challenges of human and robotic space exploration. Learn how robots are carried into space with rockets and how they land and move about on planetary bodies such as Mars. Design, build, and program LEGO® Mindstorm® robots to explore the surface and interior of space objects. View Student Outcome Report
Who: Students enrolled in 4th and 5th grades in Spring 2020
Where: Van Andel Institute for Education, 216 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Fall 2021
When: September 9 – December 16, 2021
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Applications must be received by Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Grades 5 – 6 | Disaster Detectives |
Spring 2021 | Applications Now Open
Explore natural disasters and predict where they may strike next. Understanding these forces can help us to prepare and respond. Conduct engineering and design challenges to limit the damage and ultimately help protect humans from the destructive forces of nature. When disasters do strike, design, build, and program LEGO® Mindstorm robots that will be able to move about disaster areas safely. View Student Outcome Report
Who: Students enrolled in 5th and 6th grades in Spring 2021
Where: Van Andel Institute for Education, 216 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Spring 2021
When: January 18 – April 28, 2021
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Applications must be received by Monday, January 4, 2021.
Apply for Spring 2021 Disaster Detectives.
Grades 6 – 7 | Energy Innovators |
Fall 2020 (Virtual) | Applications Now Open
Where would we be without energy? Students will Investigate energy and its many uses in our world through this virtual cohort experience as they learn about traditional energy sources and explore alternative energies that will help power the future. Throughout the semester, students will explore the environmental and economic costs and benefits of energy used to move vehicles, and design their own car!
Some of the guided activities:
- Design a car that operates on alternative energy
- Discover how much energy household items use
- Audit your home’s energy use and create a plan to save energy and money
- Design and test a Wind Turbine
- Design ways to harness the power of the sun’s energy
- Meet a scientist from Van Andel Institute
Who: Students enrolled in 6th and 7th grades in Fall 2020
Where: Virtual format
When: September 10 – December 17, 2020
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Applications must be received by Tuesday, September 3, 2020.
Apply for Fall 2020 Energy Innovators.