Bridging the gap between home and classroom learning experiences

With most schools closed and many daycare centers only accepting children under the age of five, parents of students in first through sixth grade have few childcare options.  

“As the school year approached, we heard from community partners across the county,” said Kris Mooney, Director of Education. “Working parents were in urgent need of options for their elementary school kids.”    

In response, we created Distance Learning Hubs, utilizing the talents of our experienced educators and the Fleet’s more than 25,000 feet of gallery and education space in Balboa Park. Our full-day program, which began on September 21, combines a facilitated space for kids to complete their school work with an afternoon of hands-on science activities.       

This program supports the needs of the San Diego community and it extends our mission of bringing science education to students in ways that are fun, engaging and accessible. In an effort to reach more students and families, scholarships are available for qualifying participants to attend the Distance Learning Hubs at no cost. Since the beginning of this program in September, 90% of the seats have been filled through the scholarship program, giving families a place for their kids to connect with their schools remotely and enjoy hands-on science enrichment activities, alongside other students while following health and safety guidelines.  

“The Fleet Science Center is a county-wide organization that aims to put science at the service of the community,” said Steve Snyder, the Fleet’s President and CEO. “We are living through a once-in-a-century disruption of our economic, civic and cultural lives. We have a moral obligation to rise to the occasion and serve the needs of our community and an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of our fellow San Diegans.”  

You can still can register your kids to attend the Distance Learning Hubs by the week on our site. The Fleet is ready to increase capacity to meet community needs. For more information on scholarships, contact community@rhfleet.org.