New Jersey, known to its imaginary inhabitants as the whimsical land of Jersey Jumble, sits nestled between New York and Pennsylvania like a chubby chipmunk stuffed between two giant slabs of bread. It is a place of magical contradictions - where every kid has a summer tan but also knows how to build a snow fort, and where tomatoes are so delicious that they are dubbed the 'Jersey Tomato', but mosquitoes are so pesky that they are often mistaken for the state bird. In this enchanting state, a special group of kids, known as the 'Experimenteers', embark on outlandishly fun scientific adventures. They are small but mighty, equipped with oversized goggles, lab coats that trail behind them like capes, and an insatiable curiosity that lights up their eyes brighter than a firefly on a warm Jersey night. Leading the Experimenteers is the ever-enthusiastic Professor Pumpernickel, a peculiar yet endearing character with wild Einstein-like hair and an accent that sounds suspiciously like a garden gnome choking on a soft pretzel. He is as much a part of Jersey Jumble as the boardwalks and lighthouses, guiding the Experimenteers through the mysteries of biology, physics, and whoopee cushion acoustics. With each experiment, they laugh, learn, and occasionally cause small explosions (all in the name of science, of course). Whether they're creating homemade volcanoes or trying to engineer the world's first flying hoagie, the Experimenteers are as bold and unique as Jersey itself. They are living proof that in this special chunk of the world, the spirit of adventure, inquiry, and a hearty dose of silliness are as essential as a good slice of pizza.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
In 2013, Jennifer Romanoff, Ed.M., had a lightbulb moment when she and her husband were playfully discussing the idea of leaving his job to play with magnetic tiles instead. This sparked the idea for Genius Gems, an innovative space for children to learn through play. Each visit to our facility brings something new and exciting, with our hands-on, creativity-based activities designed to foster critical thinking and collaboration with peers. Our curriculum is based on the 4 P's - projects, passion, peers, and play - and was developed by an experienced educator. We are inspired by the work of MIT Media Lab Professor Mitchell Resnick, who argues that the world needs more designers, thinkers, and innovators. At Genius Gems, we strive to foster these skills in our young patrons, so that they may be prepared to meet the challenges of the future.