Providing students an opportunity to engage in hands-on, inquiry based science learning has been shown to have both short and long term impacts. The activities will reinforce science concepts covered in school, improving students’ performance in class and on exams. An exciting experience with science can also inspire a student to continue studying science in the future and possibly pursue a scientific career. Even those students who do not stay in the sciences benefit from the critical thinking skills underlying the scientific inquiry activities. A scientifically literate population enhances the ability of a community to respond to scientific issues in current events.