In less than two weeks, Mount Holyoke students will experience one of the most anticipated and beloved times of the year: summer break. Before you leave the Valley, be you a senior or a firstie, take some time out of Reading and Exam days to get in touch with all the scientific wonders the area has to offer! The opportunities for students to relax and have fun are infinite. Here are some ways to enjoy yourself and learn some science during your down time:

	Take a bus down to the Museum of Science (MOS) in Boston, the ultimate destination for fun learning. In addition to the regular exhibits at the MOS, live presentations offer a more hands-on method to learning about different topics including the effects of liquid nitrogen on everyday materials to the electric forces behind lightning. A new interactive exhibit called “Identity: An Exhibition of You” explores how things like genetics, gender, and ethnicity shape who we are. If you have not yet visited the MOS, or have already gone twenty times, the MOS is the place to be.
	Take a short bus ride to the Springfield Science Museum. Closer than the MOS, and just as cool in its own right, $9 will allow you access to a variety of exhibits and the four other museums in the area. Learn about the world’s ecosystems, black holes, African wildlife, the dinosaurs that once roamed the area and much more.
	Find the wonderful beauty of science right here at Mount Holyoke. Print out the Curricular Trail Guide from the Center for the Environment website and learn to appreciate our wonderful trails as you stroll along them. Rent a bird watching guide from the library and identify the bird outside your window. Or, if you are feeling particularly lazy, go sit on one of the couches in the atrium of Kendade, read the latest science journal, and feel the science around you.
	Mammoths, elks and footprints, oh my! The Amherst College Science Museum has an incredible assortment of fossils ranging from exotic to the extinct. Curators at this museum are more than happy to answer questions (or you can take Evolution with Stan Rachootin and recieve a grand tour). The museum is also full of tables and nooks, perfect for studying. Take advantage of one of the 5-colleges best and most inspiring science resources.
	Ride the PVTA to the Botanical Garden at Smith College. Open to the public, you can view a wide variety of plants in the Lyman Conservatory or visit one of the seven gardens found across campus. Currently, The Lyman Conservatory is hosting an exhibit called “The Inner Beauty of Flowers,” which uses x-rays of flowers to learn more about their structure. The perfect combo of science and nature!

Related posts:

1. The valley in bloom
2. Get Your Geek On: Prepare to be Different
3. Beyond the Valley
4. Summer Science Vacation Hot Spots
5. Student Showcase Blanchard Gallery Features Student Work