Be a Biologist at your local library!

This year's GSK Science in the Summer theme is Be a Biologist! with all-new activities that invite children to play the role of professional biologists and tackle real-world challenges in fisheries, plant biology, paleobiology, and wildlife biology.

The program will be offered in-person at libraries across the greater Philadelphia area for children entering 2nd through 6th grade. The program team and library staff are working together to ensure we can deliver a safe and memorable summer science program.   

Interested families may enter an online lottery now through June 3 for a chance to participate at the library of their choice. Summer calendars are available for each participating county below. 

If you are not selected in the lottery, the educator guide, materials lists, and videos will be shared online, so you can still assemble your own materials and have fun being biologists at home!  

Lottery Instructions

Lottery registration is open now through 5:00 pm on Friday, June 3, 2022. Parents/Guardians may enter each child in one program lottery.  

To enter the lottery, click the registration button for your county’s programs then select the lottery for the program location, date, and time of your choice. You may enter one lottery per child. Create an account or login using your information from last year and follow the prompts to enter your child in the lottery. Repeat for any additional children. You will receive a confirmation email for each lottery you enter. 

Bucks County Chester County Delaware County Montgomery County Philadelphia County

For step-by-step registration instructions, use this registration guide. 

Important Dates

May 9, 12:00 pm: Lottery for Be a Biologist! opens 
June 3, 5:00 pm: Lottery for Be a Biologist! closes 
June 17: All participants notified about outcome of lottery
July 5 – August 12: Programs run at all participating libraries. Participants attend Be a Biologist! at their selected location, at the specified date and time.  
July 1: Any programs that are not at capacity will reopen for first-come, first-serve registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How old does my child have to be to participate?

    GSK Science in the Summer™ is for children entering grades 2 – 6. If your child is currently in grades 1 – 5, they will be eligible to participate this coming summer.

  • What do I need to do for my child to participate in the 2022 program?

    When the lottery is open from May 9 to June 3, 2022, enter each child into the lottery for your preferred program. If selected, your child(ren) will be offered the opportunity to attend programming at your selected library during the date and times specified.

  • When is the program happening?

    GSK Science in the Summer takes place during the summer months at participating libraries. This year all programs will take place between July 5 and August 12, 2022. Select your county above to find your closest library's specific program time. 

  • Why a lottery? How does it work?

    Every year we have more interest in this program than we can accommodate. A randomized lottery helps ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to attend this popular free program. The lottery will open from May 9 to June 3, 2022. During this time, children may be entered into the lottery for the program location, date, and time of their choice. When the lottery closes, participants will be randomly selected and all entries will be notified of their selection status.

  • How many programs can my child attend?

    Each child is eligible to participate in a maximum of one (1) GSK Science in the Summer™ program. All programs feature the same content and activities. Programs are offered multiple times throughout the summer  at a variety of locations.

  • I have multiple children, should I enter them each in the lottery?

    Yes. Each child must be individually entered into the lottery of your choice. You may enter multiple children into the same lottery, but each child must individually enter the lottery for your program of choice. 

  • What happens if my child is placed on a waitlist?

    Children who do not receive a spot in the program through the lottery will automatically be placed on a waitlist. The library will reach out directly if space becomes available. 

    If programs are not filled through the lottery, they will open for registration by July 1 on a first-come-first-served basis. If you would like to register for one of these programs, you first need to cancel your lottery entry by logging into your account, clicking the reservations button, then selecting the program you would like to cancel. After you cancel your original reservation, you can register for a new program. 

  • I can no longer attend the program I registered for. How do I cancel?

    You can cancel at any time by logging into your account, clicking the reservations button, then selecting the program you would like to cancel. After you cancel your original reservation, you can register for a new program if needed. 

    If you need to cancel the day of the program, please call the library directly.