My Blog

The Raccoon Circle of Sharing (ice-breaker)

The Raccoon Circle is a collection of games and ice-breakers all centered around a circle of rope or tubing used by a group (typically youth). There are hundreds and hundreds of Raccoon Circle activities that have been created and shared virally for years. You can find several online listings of activities (Jim Cain’s being the most …

54 Hours to Tackle Education Challenges with Tech

Despite having lived in San Francisco for seven years and working in a tech field, I’ve never actually participated in a hackathon. Since I’m not a developer or a designer, it just never felt like something that I would have much to contribute to. That changed this weekend. For the past couple of months, I’ve …

REVIEW: ‘Science Fair’ Offers Feel-good Portraits of Teen Science Geeks from around the World

In these difficult times for anyone who cares about science, the state of our educational system, fact-based inquiry, and the values of diversity, ‘Science Fair’ could not come sooner. A National Geographic documentary, ‘Science Fair’ follows seven teams of dedicated young scientists from around the world, all vying for a spot at the International Science …

Cal Academy Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary with Free Days Sept 23-25!

On September 27, 2008, the California Academy of Sciences officially opened their new space to the public – a dramatic, modern, environmentally-friendly science learning facility designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. Ten years later, 15 million visitors have experienced powerful exhibits, eye-popping planetarium shows, awe-inspiring animals in the aquarium, and incredible views from the living …