american chemical society

American Chemical Society

Growing Your

Local Section’s Outreach

to Area High Schools

May 22, 2013


What is the ACS High School ChemClub Program?

• ACS supports educators and students as they experience chemistry outside the classroom

• Founded Fall 2005 with 15 clubs – now 559 ChemClubs in 47 states, DC, Puerto Rico and abroad (Brazil, Canada, and Nigeria)


Where are ChemClubs?

American Chemical SocietyVisit http://www.acs.org/chemclub, then click “Directory” link at top.


ACS ChemClub Structure

• Free to teachers — ACS membership not required!

• Free resources and Club-sponsored events

• No requirements on how you run your club

• Advisory Board helps to guide ACS ChemClub staff

American Chemical Society 6

What do ChemClubs do?

ACS-sponsored events

Chemists Celebrate Earth Day (April 22)

National Chemistry Week (October 20–26)


Poll

During the last school year, my local section held an event for:

A. National Chemistry Week (NCW) only

B. Chemists Celebrate Earth Day (CCED) only

C. Both NCW and CCED

D. Neither NCW or CCED


What do ChemClubs do?

ACS ChemClub-sponsored events

ChemClub Community Activities Grant (Due: June 3)

ChemClub projects—Coins for Cleaner Water

ChemClub blog—http://acschemclubs.org

ChemClub contests—cookbook


ACS ChemClubProgram Resources

Examples of free resources for clubs:

• Framed charter certificate

• Quarterly resource packets

• Weekly e-mail update*

• Membership cards

• Student Certificates

• Pins or Iron-on decals for t-shirts

• Polo shirts for the advisor

• And much more . . .

* You’ll have a chance to sign up for the email update at the end of the presentation

ACS Local Sections

+ACS

ChemClubs


ACS ChemClub Program

Perfect Synergy!

Ami LeFevreNiles West High School

Skokie, IL

Establishing connections between ACS ChemClubs and ACS Local Sections, ACS Student Affiliate Chapters, and the

Community


Why ACS ChemClubs?

• Social component to chemistry

• Raises morale of chemistry students

• See the “faces” and “real people” behind chemistry

• Student driven and student centered

• Pathway to continued involvement with ACS, such as networking, Project SEED, US National Chemistry Olympiad

• Clubs of varying sizes and structures can have a significant impact on students

ACS ChemClubs is the only program of the Society that is accessible to all high school students regardless of curriculum or grade level.


Niles West ChemClub Meetings

• Monthly meetings - KOOL Aid experiment, ice cream making, tie dye, Club t-shirts

• Club Collaboration - Students communicate involvement in science programs beyond the classroom

– Medical explorers Northwestern Hospital

– NYLF National Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine

– American Cancer Society Research

– Argonne National Lab

– Project SEED

– USNCO (United States National Chemistry Olympiad)

– ACS Chicago Section Scholarship Exam

– University of Chicago Medical Camp

– Museum of Science & Industry Science Minors

– Volunteering at hospital


Niles West ChemClubEdison Elementary School Visit


Niles West Outreach Activities

• Niles West Health Fair

• Summer work–Sizzling Summer Science assistants for 3rd -6th grade students

• TAP (The Awareness Project) Program- created by students


GEMS Girls EmpoweringMath & Science

The Niles West Chemistry Club worked with 5th and 6th Grade Girls

• Sponsored by the National Girls Collaborative Project.

• ACS Policy PriorityEncourage the best and the brightest to pursue scientific careers, particularly more women, underrepresented minorities, and people with disabilities.


How can ACS local sections support ACS ChemClubs?

Involve high school teachers & students in activities that will enhance their appreciation for and cultivate interest in chemistry

• Invite ChemClub sponsors to a monthly local section meeting

• Send local section newsletters to the ChemClub sponsors

• Send information and invitations to the local section monthly meetings.



Promote awareness of and/or participation in ACS opportunities for high school teachers and their students

• Host ACS Chemistry Day at local universities or colleges

• Administer annual inter-chemistry club competitions (poster contest, haiku contest, crystal growing contest, etc.)

• Promote the Chemistry Olympiad, Project SEED, ChemMatters, National Chemistry Week, Chemists Celebrate Earth Day, and the Journal of Chemical Education classroom activities

• Help cultivate a more positive attitude toward chemistry and chemical enterprise.



Provide mentoring program for students interested in pursuing research or careers in STEM.

•Invite ChemClubs to learn about chemistry careers

•Field trips to facilities along with science career speakers

•College preparatory & research information sessions

•Promote ACS national meetings & high school days

•Organize events between high school ChemClubs and local university Student Affiliates


Growing the Local Section’s

Outreach to the Area

ChemClubs

Carmen Valdez Gauthier

Councilor, Florida Local Section


Examples of outreachto area ChemClubs

• Organize events for high school teachers at local section meetings

• Foster collaborations between local colleges and ChemClubs

• Involve ChemClubs in NCW and CCED events

Self-nominate for a ChemLuminary award sponsored by CCA for the Best HS ChemClub NCW

• Apply for an Innovative Project Grant

• Reach out to members in industry


Organize events for high school teachers at local section meetings

• Teachers need to know what ACS has to offer


High School Teacher Programs

Sy m posiu m f o r H igh School Ch em ist r y Teach er s

Sat u r day , J an uar y 1 4 , 2 0 0 6

Flo r ida Sou th er n Co l l ege, Lak elan d , FL

9:00-9:30 Registration

9:30-10:30 ACS Programs

10:30-11:30 Share-A-Thon

11:30-12:15 Lunch

12:15-2:00 Dead Chemist’s Society

2:00-3:00 I nquiry-Based Labs

3:00-4:00 Keynote address

Program K eyn ote ad dr ess b y 19 96 Nob el

Lau r eate Sir H ar old K r oto

Dead Ch em ist s Societ y P r o f essor W i l l i am C. Deese Lou isian a Tech Un iv er si t y

Registration Dateline: J anuary 5, 2006 -http:/ / membership.acs.org/ F/ Florida/ index.html Share-A-Thon information: cheryl.pierce@polk-fl .net


Foster collaborations between local colleges and ChemClubs


Benefits of the Program

• For the college students:– Improve and refine written and oral

communication skills.– Use concepts learned in foundation chemistry

courses in adapting laboratory experiences for high school students.

– Serve as mentors to high school students.• For the high school students:

– Use instrumentation not available in a traditional high school lab.

– Explore career opportunities in the sciences.– Improve writing skills.– Evaluate information.


Involve ChemClubs in NCW and CCED Events


ChemLuminary Award

• Recognizes a local section for a unique NCW event in which ChemClubs play a major role.

Florida Section nomination:

– Chemistry at the mall event hosted by a Student Affiliates Chapter and two high school ChemClubs

– Student Affiliates hosted hands-on activities at the Explorations V Children’s Museum.

– Florida Southern College hosted a career day, sponsored by the high school ChemClubs, SA-ACS chapter, local industries, and the generous support of the Local Section through an Innovative Activity Grant.


Apply for anInnovative Project Grant

• Host a career day• Organize a high school program at a regional

meeting for professional development• Partnerships:

– Division – Local Sections– Industries

• Support NCW and CCED


Reach out to members in industry and research institutes

• Florida Phosphate Institute

• Local Industries– Mosaic– CF Industries– Arr-Maz Industries


Thank you for joining us!


Thank you to today’s presenters:

Erica K. JacobsenACS consultant, The Dalles, OR

Ami LeFevreNiles West High School, Skokie, IL

Carmen V. GauthierFlorida Southern College, Lakeland, FL

Marta GmurczykACS Office of High School Chemistry, Manager

Karen M. KaleuatiACS Education, ChemClub Program Administrator

Contact Information

www.acs.org/chemclub

www.facebook.com/acschemclubs

http://acschemclubs.org

www.twitter.com/acschemclubs

[email protected]


Q & A

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ccedamerican chemical

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