Chemistry and Physics - Los Gatos, CA 2026

Step into the lab and watch science come alive through bubbles, launches, and surprising reactions! Campers explore chemistry and physics with hands-on experiments that turn everyday materials into real discoveries. Campers investigate molecules and mixtures as they create slime and observe big, foamy reaction demos. They’ll test changes of state, design simple reaction “recipes,” and explore what makes bubbles last and scents travel. Then the focus shifts to physics as campers experiment with forces like push and pull, gravity, lift, and drag through paper airplanes, balloon-powered demonstrations, and air-pressure paper rockets. They’ll also explore how vibrations create sound and how energy moves through materials. By the end of the week, learners will practice making predictions, recording results, and explaining cause-and-effect using evidence. Campers will also meet YSI’s live animal ambassadors and head outside for a guided nature walk to practice real-world observation skills.