Mad Science Program Seeks To Educate Through Entertainment

With summer vacation coming to an end and the school year fast approaching, the Montville Recreation Department is looking to bring the best of both worlds for the town kids by offering an eight-week after-school event that shows kids science can be fun. 

The department's Mad Science workshops classes, aimed at children ages 1 to 5, is set to begin at the end of September. According to recreation supervisor Kellie Kehoe, the program is a familiar one to the department.

""We do a lot of after school programs," she said. "We have worked with the people of Mad Science for years now." 

The program will offer such courses as "Discover Detection," which, according to a release from the recreation department, will include to step " uncovering the science involved in evidence gathering and analysis [and] students will find out by using their Fingerprint Finder to place and identify UV [ultra-violet] prints."

The release says that a similar class, "Junior Detectives," will focus on education through "what it takes to be a detective in this hands-on look at detective science [and learn how to use the] powers of observations and your inspectikit, you will have all you need to get started on detective adventures." 

Joe Pszonek, who has owned the Mad Science franchise since 2009, describes his classes as "after-school enrichment programs."

"All of the activities are science based and we give children different topics to study, but we provide a 'wow' factor," said Pszonek. 

He said that the goal is to not take the place of the local school system but to make each session as "fun and as possible and for the kids, to enhance learning that their schools provide." 

'We mix in a little C.S.I.," he said. "Of course, they don't dissect a dead body, but they use a foam skeleton that will be pieced together."

According to Pszonek, the purpose of the Mad Science workshops is to offer "a large selection of after-school, preschool, summer and vacation programs, workshops, special events and birthday parties. From entertaining educational programs to educational entertainment, Mad Science sparks imaginative learning."

"I have found that the most memorable of teachers were the ones who helped the students visualize the lessons," he said. "They were amazing. The biggest accomplishment we get is that people will say at the end, 'We liked what you are doing."

He said one time, as he left with a fellow instructor, a child followed them out to the drive way. 

"He waved at us and said, 'Bye, bye, Mad Scientists. I'll miss you'," he said. "It made it all worth it." 

Pszonek praises Kehoe and Montville Recreation Department for allowing the Mad Scientists to return.  

"They have just been wonderful," he said. "This year we will be able to do in Montville what we do, and that is have some fun, be a little whacky and learn." 

For more information, visit the Montville Recreation flyer here.