“Science is so much fun!” That’s why 7-year-old Juliana from Miami wished to be a scientist for the day. She even showed her volunteer wish granters some experiments that she was working on at home. What did she envision her day as a scientist would be like? Mostly, she wanted to learn how to make goop and find out more about different types of sand. Little did she know the over-the-top wish ahead of her. Instead of a one-day experience, her wish was a five-day adventure.

During an exciting wish party at the South Florida Science Museum, Juliana discovered that she would be flying to Boston, where she would be a VIP at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium, among other places. Juliana’s eyes lit up when she was presented with a lab coat with her name on it and a pair of goggles. She felt like a bona fide scientist with her new gear.

While on her wish trip, Juliana spent hours engaging in a whirlwind of fascinating science experiments. She listened diligently as safety protocols for each experiment were explained. With the help of some beakers, drops of colored dye and floating beads, she learned about patterns of water and sand movement in rivers. For a truly electrifying experience, she entered an atom smasher, a 25-foot-tall cone where lightning strikes are created. She sat gleefully as a bucket of dry ice vapor cascaded over her head. She studied how to create a chemical reaction, made flubber and gazed at the effects of acid rain through a microscope. Juliana intently watched a demonstration on how to make goop from glue and other household items, an experiment she couldn’t wait to duplicate at home! Everywhere she went she received gifts of intriguing educational and scientific games and kits to take home with her.

But that’s not all. She received behind-the-scenes access, went on a dinosaur exhibit tour and got hands-on experiences with all kinds of marine life. A very enthusiastic Juliana loved petting an octopus named George. She watched the “Sea Monsters 3D” IMAX movie and rode on a “duck,” an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious vehicle that the guide let Juliana steer.  Her mother said of the future scientist, “The trip was perfect! It was something that really made an impression on Juliana – something that she will look back on.” 

Wish Granters: Shari Byrd & Norm Wedderburn
Referred by: Broward Children’s Hospital
Sponsored by: Astoria Tree Service