Children made rockets, roasted marshmallows, froze objects with dry ice, and more at Camp Fire and Ice with Mad Science from August 4 to August 8. It was held at Newtown Middle School.

True to its name, the camp had children ages 6-11 learn the science behind extreme temperatures through fun hands-on activities. Each day had its own unique theme, with different experiments to coincide with it.

The camp kicked off with fire-themed activities on August 4. Campers explored the wonders of heat by making indoor fireworks and roasting marshmallows on a small propane tank. They even made fire tornadoes and had a surprise fire where they poured glycerin on different items.

The campers changed course for August 6, which was all about gas. Everyone got to make “elephant toothpaste,” a foamy substance created by the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with yeast, warm water, and dish soap. Campers also froze objects with dry ice and tried the classic diet Coke and Mentos experiment.

August 7 focused entirely on light. Campers learned about UV light and the different ways they can protect themselves from the sun, from hats and umbrellas to protective clothing and sunscreen.

They also learned about solar ovens, which draw thermal energy from the sun and create temperatures so hot it can cook food. Everyone got to use their creativity when designing a solar oven of their own. Campers focused as they used items such as a take-out container, aluminum foil, black cardboard paper, and tooth picks to decorate their solar oven before later using it to roast mini marshmallows outside.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the day for campers was making their own color-changing slime out of polyvinyl alcohol, sodium borate, and sun-activated pigment.

Students laughed with one another as they mixed their ingredients with popsicle sticks, excited to have their own slime to play with and take home after camp.

Fostering A Love of Science

Camp Fire and Ice was run by Mad Science, a science enrichment provider for children in preschool through sixth grade.

Mad Science hosts a variety of science programs across the world that give children hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and math. These range from assemblies and after-school programs to summer camps and birthday parties.

For Mad Science Head Instructor Xavier Cortez, who led Camp Fire and Ice, seeing children get excited about chemistry is what he sets out to do.

Cortez said he has always been around kids, even when he was a kid himself. He has several siblings, with his little sister, who is the closest in age to him, being around eight years younger than him.

Cortez originally started in business, but said he did not like the cutthroat nature of the industry.

“I just don’t like that kind of environment,” Cortez explained. “And so I’ve always been passionate about math, science, and physics ... and so I literally just looked up science jobs and found Mad Science.”

Cortez has worked under Mad Science for two years, specifically under the branch that serves Fairfield and New Haven Counties. As an instructor, Cortez goes to schools all around Connecticut teaching kids about science during the school year and in the summer.

He said Mad Science has grants from the government, so they can help out low-income areas such as parts of Bridgeport and New Haven. This is especially important since low-income neighborhoods “don’t even have a lot of science stuff,” according to Cortez.

“Like there’s no science lab equipment, and if they have it, it’s very outdated and old,” Cortez continued. “I’ve had so many kids be so excited for Mad Science just because they don’t get that kind of stuff in their schools.”

Cortez said a lot of experiments are disposable or one-time use. This means that it is easy for public schools to run out of science supplies when offering experiments for hundreds of kids.

It is because of that Cortez said he is happy to teach students in low-income locations and help them fall in love with science.

“Everything is science, down to the smallest thing to the biggest, anything you do is all science. So to be hands-on, to be working, to really be able to use your mind is important. And that’s what we’re here to do,” Cortez said.

His favorite part of being involved with Mad Science is getting to know his community more. Born and raised in West Haven, Cortez said he had never been in Newtown Public Schools before. Teaching programs like Camp Fire and Ice at the middle school is a way for him to connect with people across the state.

Two years in and Cortez has gone to places such as Bridgeport, New Haven, Newtown, Darien, Cromwell, and New London. Cortez said he has “been all over now,” and that getting to meet teachers, principals, and students from all over has been incredibly fun and enriching.

“There’s something about working with kids that just makes you happy,” Cortez said. “You could have a bad day and then you’ll come in and these kids will just make you laugh. They bring this good side out of you ... and I think that’s one of the top things for me.”

To learn more about Mad Science, visit madscience.org.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.