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This summer has been a whirlwind of writing, networking, researching and thinking up The Next Big Idea. Adding to the chaos, The Husband and I have also been neck deep in potty training and the terrible twos.
Needing a respite and Serenity Now, we've been lucky enough to stumble on the University of Waterloo's Engineering Science Quest Camp. ESQ is a not-for-profit summer program that "operates with operates with the goal of exposing children in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and beyond, to the worlds of Engineers, Science and Technology through a variety of fun engaging hands on activities."
Back in the spring, faculty members at the university were asked to volunteer with the camp. Having attended a similar camp in high school, I jumped at the opportunity (with The Husband happily on board). I vividly remembered making Vic's Vaporub in the pharmacy lab of the University of Alberta. While I'm not certain the experience pushed me into pharmacy, it certainly helped. To this day, that tiny little tub of Vic's sits in my parent's bathroom, complete with a hand-typed label from the early 90s.
The kids that we've been working with are in grades 1 and 2. Once a week we visit their summer camp and make hand cream, a simple project that could also be done at home with kids of almost all ages. Here's how you do it:
Making hand cream with kiddos
You'll need:
1 ointment jar or pill vial (ask your local pharmacist)
1 stir stick (popsicle sticks work well)
1 bottle of your favourite essential oil (e.g., lavender, orange, eucalyptus, peppermint)
1 jar of a basic unscented, hypoallergenic cream (e.g., Glaxal Base, Eucerin cream)
Food colouring
Directions: Spoon cream into the jar until it is half full. Add 2-5 drops of your favourite essential oil. Add 1-2 drops of food colouring for a light tint. Stir. Label. Done!
In our experience, the kiddos LOVE, LOVE, LOVE orange and peppermint. Each week, when they sniff the bottle of essential oil, it's guaranteed that a few will close their eyes and 'mmmmm' with delight. Lavender and eucalyptus have a stronger scent, making them a harder sell, but some kids love the novelty of the different scents. All in all, this project has been a fantastic experience, one we're sure to repeat next year.
Enjoy.
Needing a respite and Serenity Now, we've been lucky enough to stumble on the University of Waterloo's Engineering Science Quest Camp. ESQ is a not-for-profit summer program that "operates with operates with the goal of exposing children in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and beyond, to the worlds of Engineers, Science and Technology through a variety of fun engaging hands on activities."
Back in the spring, faculty members at the university were asked to volunteer with the camp. Having attended a similar camp in high school, I jumped at the opportunity (with The Husband happily on board). I vividly remembered making Vic's Vaporub in the pharmacy lab of the University of Alberta. While I'm not certain the experience pushed me into pharmacy, it certainly helped. To this day, that tiny little tub of Vic's sits in my parent's bathroom, complete with a hand-typed label from the early 90s.
The kids that we've been working with are in grades 1 and 2. Once a week we visit their summer camp and make hand cream, a simple project that could also be done at home with kids of almost all ages. Here's how you do it:
Making hand cream with kiddos
You'll need:
1 ointment jar or pill vial (ask your local pharmacist)
1 stir stick (popsicle sticks work well)
1 bottle of your favourite essential oil (e.g., lavender, orange, eucalyptus, peppermint)
1 jar of a basic unscented, hypoallergenic cream (e.g., Glaxal Base, Eucerin cream)
Food colouring
Directions: Spoon cream into the jar until it is half full. Add 2-5 drops of your favourite essential oil. Add 1-2 drops of food colouring for a light tint. Stir. Label. Done!
In our experience, the kiddos LOVE, LOVE, LOVE orange and peppermint. Each week, when they sniff the bottle of essential oil, it's guaranteed that a few will close their eyes and 'mmmmm' with delight. Lavender and eucalyptus have a stronger scent, making them a harder sell, but some kids love the novelty of the different scents. All in all, this project has been a fantastic experience, one we're sure to repeat next year.
Enjoy.
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