What We Do
The WhizKids Foundation offers a variety of services to schools. Any or all of these services can be chosen to create a tailored package that best meets your school's needs.
We offer:
- individual science project help
- assisting schools with creating science fairs and science clubs
- organizing field trips to explore science
- giving lectures and presentations in the STEM subjects
- facilitating a hands-on project for students
- providing access to scientists and research mentors
- developing and running a science day for large groups
- teaching students how to be entrepreneurs
WhizKids Collaborations
Currently, WhizKids is collaborating with schools, community organizations, and corporations. Partnerships and collaborations have been initiated with the following organizations: the MIT Public Service Center, the Massachusetts State Science Fair, MolySym, the Inner City Scholarship Fund, the New England Chinese Information Network Association, the The Combined Jewish Philanthropies, the Girl Scouts of America, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, the Center for Women and Enterprise, the Museum of Science, The McAuliffe Space Center, and the Center for Engineering Education Outreach at Tufts University. Additionally, WhizKids is working with Massachusetts state Representatives and Senators.
Current Projects
WhizKids is currently running a year-long science program in Marblehead, Massachusetts. We are also teaching after school programs in Everett, Massachusetts and in Revere, Massachusetts. Other current projects are underway in Framingham, Massachsuetts. See our complete list of WhizKids programs.
Past Projects
In November 2006, in collaboration with the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, WhizKids hosted 150 students at MIT for CSI Comes to Boston II. Due to the popularity of the first CSI day, a second event was thrown. Students solved a different mock crime using results obtained from Chemistry, Biology and Physics experiments. These experiments included an unknown substance identification, mock blood splatter analysis, mock blood type analysis, hair identification, and physics experiments. The event was featured on Channel 7 news. See a clip from the newscast.
In March 2006, in collaboration with the Jewish Day School Advocacy Forum, WhizKids hosted 200 students at MIT for CSI Comes to Boston, a day-long science experience where student participants solved a mock crime using results obtained from Chemistry, Biology and Physics experiments. WhizKids was responsible for designing the experiments and for creating the storyline for this event. An article about the event was featured on the cover of The Metro West Daily News.
In October 2004, WhizKids gave a presentation about science opportunities for women at the Women in Science Conference sponsored by the Northborough Junior Women's Club.
In March 2004, WhizKids was involved with the Northern California and Western Nevada Junior Science and Humanities Symposium as well as the San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair. Erika Ebbel was both a judge and presenter at both of these contests, sharing information about The WhizKids Foundation. She also spoke to participants about the importance of being involved in science research projects and science fairs.
In February 2004, a group of 42 fourth and fifth graders from Casimir Pulaski Elementary School in New Bedford, Massachusetts visited MIT for a math day. The students learned about elementary mechanics and solved math problems. Later, they built and launched model rockets. Finally, the students had the opportunity to visit the MIT museum.
In January 2003, WhizKids got involved with the St. Matthew Catholic School in San Mateo, CA. After recognizing a need at the school for a science fair program, WhizKids contacted science department staff and began planning one that all seventh graders are required to participate in. After consulting with staff and school administrators, the project began. WhizKids provided research ideas, helped set up a timeline for completion of projects, and assisted the faculty in obtaining judges and mentors. The school held its first-ever science fair in April 2003.
In 2003, WhizKids helped the Engineering Club at The Winsor School of Boston, MA designing solar-powered cars. The students competed in the Junior Solar Sprint, a model solar car competition for middle school students at the end of May 2003.
History
Erika Ebbel started the WhizKids Foundation, Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2002 while pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After reading several articles in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post describing declining student interest and performance in math and the sciences, Erika decided to start WhizKids, a program which would reignite student interest in these important subjects. WhizKids’ goal is to help schools and students organize and set up science fairs, science clubs, facilitate access to the scientific community, run science days, teach students how to be entrepreneurs, and offer ongoing lectures by WhizKids staff in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and technology. Erika believes that participation in science fairs stimulates students to develop inquisitiveness, creativity and reasoning power. She also says that early hands-on experiments allow students to see the applicability of science in the everyday world. Through WhizKids science club discussions and the reading of scientific materials she hopes to help improve reading comprehension and verbal skills. Also, in the science clubs, students that lack help at home will be able to get help reviewing material that they have difficulty understanding, so that they will not fall behind and lose interest in math and the sciences. WhizKids is involved with many student groups and communities. Erika has started WhizKids programs in Massachusetts, California and Florida.
