Algebra 1-B

Scientists use lots of different telescopes to peer into the vastness of space. What have they found? From powerful supernovas and quasars to massive black holes and huge nebulas, the universe is full of extreme and strange objects.

Engineer a drone show for the HiTech Carnival!  Program a squadron of drones using block coding to perform a coordinated flight presentation at the Carnival!  With colored kite tails attached and synchronized music, we are going to wow t

Grades 6-12.

Registration required.

Register once for all four sessions.

Monday-Friday (Closed Thursday, July 4th)

Taught by a HiTech Instructor.

Enhance your math savvy to improve your SAT score!  Relieve test anxiety by taking practice tests in a low-risk environment and gain full comprehension of what to expect on test day.  Examine the types of problems that are presented on t

STEAM Leadership Academy: Over two weeks, explore the opportunities and skills for STEAM leadership. Interact with leaders in the field and apply what you learn to hands-on projects.

Walking is a great way to get some activity into your routine.  Lets get up and walk together. Come and walk around East Columbia Library. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.

Learn how to use TinkerCAD and the basics of 3D Modeling and 3D printing.

Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Prerequisite: Histology 

Engineer a Skee Ball Game for the HiTech Carnival!  Build this classic carnival game from scratch using Arduino micro-controllers, sensors and software to keep score of your game. Highest score wins!

Grades 6-12.

Compete in the ultimate racing challenge! Working in teams, learn how mechanical systems operate by using a 1:10 scale electric radio-controlled car that can be set up in 4 million ways. Teams race their engines at the HiTech Carnival!

Learn about the process behind designing your own characters and using illustration software.  Create the look of your character, its costumes, and props, and give it a unique personality!

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Character designers work in video games, movies, TV, animation, and even comic books and graphic novels! Design and develop your own characters by using technology to create "model sheets" which consist of costumes, facial expressio

Learn the structure and design of artificial intelligence. Explore the concepts needed to program a human-to-robot interactive conversation and investigate recent technological advances like the Amazon Echo.

Grades 6-12.

Want to know how to garden without soil? Learn about the structure of plants and explore various hydroponics technologies to grow food using less space and less water.

Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

Bring your problem-solving skills and prepare to compete in a variety of challenges that will take your understanding of robotics to the next level. We will cover the foundation of LEGO Mindstorms programming.

Learn how the digital single lens reflex camera is engineered to utilize part of the electromagnetic spectrum we call visible light. Obtain hands on experience using a DSLR camera and learn numerous picture-taking techniques.

Dive into underwater robotics.   This summer stop by and participate in the 3 week Seaperch submersibles and marine science classes. SeaPerch is a remotely operated vehicle built by students to accomplish underwater competitions.

Ages 3-5 with adult. 45 minutes. Ticket required.

Discover the creativity of children's illustrators through stories and activities. Dress for mess; children will come into contact with tempera paint, clay, playdoh, or oil pastels.

Ages 0-5 with adult. 30 minutes. Ticket required.

Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas en español. Seguido de un tiempo de juego.

Ages 3-5 with adult. 30 min.  Registration required.

Children of all abilities and their caregivers welcome at this supportive, judgment-free class that includes stories, music, and movement in a small group.

All ages. 

Drop in and have fun coloring. We provide the materials; you supply the imagination!

How did engineers build the Hoover Dam, Eiffel Tower, and Chesapeake Bay Bridge? Explore the principles of engineering used to build the largest structures in the world!

Grades 6-12.

Registration required.

Learn about infectious diseases, how they spread, and how scientists work to find and stop their spread using medical technology.

Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

This class is being held Mon - Wed and Friday. Closed on Thursday, July 4th.

Register once for all sessions.

The students will do a deep dive into some of the marine environments they see often but know little about.

Science rules both inside and outdoors! Join us for some awesome, messy, and WEIRD fun in
the sun. We will perform chemical experiments, engineer s’mores, create our own sustainable
energy and more in this HiTech class!

Edit your photos and create amazing art with free online software in this HiTech class!

Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Explore the use of color and tie-dye techniques in this fun class.  Students will tie-dye drawstrings bags, pencil cases, and fabric that will be part of a larger project for the Carnival.

Taught by a HiTech instructor.  

To continue meeting the growing need to feed hungry children and families and fill the nutritional gap over the summer months, the Howard County Public School System -HCPSS- continues its free summer meal program

Algebra 2–B: Radical, Rational, Exponential, and Logarithmic Functions

Dive into the Arduino philosophy of learning through tinkering, problem solving, and rapid prototyping.

Have you ever wondered what kinds of arrocks make up our planet? Are you interested in learning about beautiful gems and minerals or fascinating fossils? Join us for a look into the Earth’s most amazing geological artifacts!

Genetics will introduce students to the basics of Mendelian Genetics. Topics including inheritance patterns, genetic diversity, and genetic diseases will be explored using laws derived from Gregor Mendel’s experiments.

Discover the basics of Java, a class-based, object-oriented language used to design applications. Learn data and expressions, using classes and objects, conditionals, and loops.

Learn about one, two, and three-point perspective and create illustrations using newfound knowledge. By learning perspective drawing techniques in Sketchbook Pro, students will be able to create illustrations with dynamic angles and views.

Learn how the creation of art is influenced by science and do experiments in chemistry, fluid dynamics, and color theory to make amazing works of art!

Deflategate and the ideal gas law? Bend it like Beckham? What is a knuckle ball? Learn about the physics behind your favorite sports with hands-on experiments.
Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

This course will cover an overview of the topics in zoology, including cell biology, taxonomy, major vertebrate groups, physiology, genetics, evolution, and ecology. Activities related to the course material will be completed each day.

Play Bingo featuring superheroes and win a book! 

Drop in for hands-on, interactive activities for family members of all ages.

Ages 7-11; 60 min. Registration required. 

Dive into the Arduino philosophy of learning through tinkering, problem solving, and rapid prototyping.

Using a variety of software and techniques, design your own keepsakes that you can print using the Glowforge™ laser cutter and engraver in the East Columbia Makerspace! 

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Registration required. Grades 6-12. 

Taught by a HiTech instructor.

This class is being held M - Th & F (closed 7/4), register once for all sessions.

If it's not a boat, plane, or car, then what is it? It's a hovercraft! Learn about how these vehicles defy gravity as you collaborate with other students to build a life-size, functional hovercraft. Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Design and build a champion mousetrap car! Explore physics and engineering concepts such as torque, energy, and inertia to maximize speed and distance -- all the way to the finish line!

Grades 6-12.

This is a 2-week class.

How does data travel through the Internet? What's the relationship between bandwidth and speed? How do wired and wireless network connections work?

Get hands-on experience in the ancient art of paper folding! Students will see how origami can be used to create structures like solar panels, bridges, and packing materials.

Come and learn how to program a robotic arm! You won't just program the arm to move and carry out simple tasks, but you will also program generative AI, enabling the robotic arm to grow smarter with each movement it makes.

Grades 6-12.

Let the Games begin! Take on engineering challenges of old with Rube Goldberg Challenges. In every class, we'll take on a new challenge while reinforcing core engineering principles.

Learn how the creation of art is influenced by science and do experiments in chemistry, fluid dynamics, and color theory to make amazing works of art!

Have you ever wanted to become a mad scientist? Explore fun and exciting chemistry experiments using basic household chemicals. Engineer an assortment of mind-blowing matter to take home and spook your friends and family.

How do films shape and connect us? Join our film discussion series. Please watch monthly films prior to their actual discussion dates

Jul 1: Seymour: An Intruduction 

Ages 6-9. 45 min. Ticket required.

Explore the science of coding and programming with Colby, the programmable mouse.

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Read and discuss a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books on different cultures around the world as well as immigrant fiction.

1st Mondays; 7- 8 pm. 

Join for a discussion of the following titles:

Ages 9-12. Registration required.

Calling all LEGO™ bricks fans! Receive your challenges for the day and work individually or in groups to create and engineer designs with LEGO™ blocks.

ONLINE CLASS | Ages 11 & up  |  Registration required for Zoom link

Find the answers to gardening questions by talking with a University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. Drop in; no registration required. 

Join us for a casual D&D game, open to all experience levels, beginners welcome! Missed the first meeting? No problem--this D&D club is designed for flexibility! Ages 12+.