Media Release from the Grand Marais Public Library - June 3, 2019

TOUCH, SEE, WRITE, DRAW:

Lake Superior Science Story Scouts meet for the first time this summer on the Grand Marais Library Lawn. We are a free, drop-in, pop-up science, writing and illustration lab for kids entering grades k-12 held on Wednesdays, July 1-August 21 from 4 to 8 p.m.

WHAT
In this hands-on, eyes-focused, feet-walking, arts-infused science writing workshop we joyfully explore Lake Superior science through the ” jolly ologies” . The jolly ologies are the many scientific specialty courses taken or taught by award-winning Grand Marais and St. Paul science writer, Anne Brataas, during her three graduate degrees in water, climate science, zoology and three- decades-long career in science journalism.

HOW
By using Anne's digital-display microscope we investigate field samples children collect. We

interpret, write and draw them guided by the jolly ologies Anne teaches that include: limnology,

ichthyology, malacology, phenology, aquatic entomology, zoology, ethology, microbiology, palynology, bryology, geology, glaciology, climatology, rheology, mycology, phycology. And more! If you donʼ t know what these topics are about, come find out! If you have others you want to explore, let's do it!

WHY
1. To mentor youth scientific leaders in investigating and communicating the evidence for Lake

Superiorʼ s ecological health, and in observing through digital microscopy amazing adaptations of flora and fauna of aquatic environments.

2. To write, illustrate, edit, design and professionally publish 1 co-created youth-authored and -illustrated book on topics we explore during pop-up labs. Participants contributing 10 or more productive lab hours will be credited as authors and illustrators. Each co-author will also receive 1 copy of our printed 34-page softcover book free of charge.

Lake Superior Story Scouts Pop-up Lab is sponsored by Grand Marais' newest child-focused educational non-profit, Minnesota Children's Press, www.minnchildpress.org and The Story Laboratory, LLC, (www.thestorylaboratory.com) with generous support from the Regenerative Medicine program of the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic and Minnesota State Legislature ( https://www.regenmedmn.org/ ) . Big thanks to Boreal Community Media (www.boreal.org ) for administrative assistance.

To learn more a out the Children's science program, contact [email protected]

Contact:
Steven Harsin, Director