 | Patsy Terrell is public relations and events coordinator of The Kansas Cosmosphere, located at 1100 N. Plum in Hutchinson. The Cosmosphere’s mission is to honor the past and inspire the future of space exploration. They provide information, education and entertainment with regard to science. You can contact Pasty by phone at 620-662-6305; by email at patsyt@cosmo.org or at The Kansas Cosmosphere, 1100 N. Plum, Hutchinson, KS 67501. |
Science
2010-12-01 11:33:00
How about giving an “experience” this Christmas?
Question: Everyone is always looking for that extra special gift that will be remembered. Got any ideas?
Answer: Gift buying in the holiday season often turns into a chore, instead of a chance to get something meaningful for those you want to remember. It can be especially challenging to select a gift that’s not just lost in the chaos of Christmas morning. You want your gift to mean something for a long time to come.
This year, consider something that won’t add to the sea of brightly colored plastic, and boxes that may get played with more than the toys. Step outside the norm and buy an experience for your loved one.
For example, send a child to a summer camp. You can find one for the child’s interests, regardless of what they are. Camps are designed to focus on art, math, music and science. Several institutions and groups throughout the area offer camp experiences for kids as young as those going into second grade, on up through high school age. Some are day camps, and some are designed for students to stay on campus for a few days. Students get to experience simulators and learn science and math in an interesting way.
Now there are even camps designed for adults to do with children or grandchildren. That’s a gift for you, as well as them. What could be better than a gift that lasts for an extended time period and involves making memories together?
Admittedly, an experience is a little hard to wrap and put under the tree. Check gift shops of the groups offering camps for something you can wrap that relates to the experience yet to come. Maybe you get a watercolor set for a child who’s headed off to art camp, or some space food for a student who will be training to be an astronaut. Many places can handle all of that online for you.
Choosing to give an experience rather than a toy provides an opportunity for something meaningful the student can look forward to, and something they’ll remember far beyond the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
