It’s no secret that California is experiencing a budget crisis.

The state’s financial woes have left no area unaffected. This means education feels the pressure too.

Former public school science teachers Michael Finnegan, who holds a doctorate in Materials Science, and Ryan Nurmela decided to postpone their plan to write a book on quantum physics and, instead, start an organization that would bring the instruction of science to Bay Area students in an innovative way—a way they felt could not be provided by local public and private schools.

QuantumCamp, an educational organization offers "engaged" learning classes and summer camps in high-end mathematics and science like  quantum physics, calculus and computer engineering to elementary through 10th grade students. They opened in Berkeley approximately two years ago. Last month, a second location opened in Mountain View.

Nurmela quoted a recent study by the Lawrence Hall of Science as one example of how public and private schools fell short of the quality and quantity of math and science education that students should have access to. The study suggested that California students received less than 40 hours of science education per year, and with "book time" factored in, that meants students barely received 20 hours of "hands-on" science instruction per year.

"Research shows that immersion is very powerful in getting students to learn, so that’s how we run our classes," Nurmela explained.

QuantumCamp aims to double the time spent on hands-on math and science education in the typical California classroom. It offers supplementary classes for elementary students that offer 60 hours of science or math for the year, or 90 hours for middle school students, in classes that meet for three hours, once a week in the evening. Summer camps are also offered.

Mary Lairon, who oversees academics and curriculum for the Mountain View Whisman School District (MVWSD) said, interestingly, that the local science curriculum for grades K-8 is actually designed by the Lawrence Hall of Science, and that she feels it offers a good balance of both hands-on science and lectures or presentations.

"I think it’s an excellent curriculum that is very complete and hands-on," she said. "Of course, we can always do more, and we’d love to be able to do more, but I think what we offer is very good, and very hands-on."

Lairon said, though, supplemental programs like QuantumCamp are great for those students who want to excel in the subject and go above and beyond what is offered in local classrooms.

"It’s always nice to be able to do more, so I applaud any organization that does that,” she said, although she said she had not heard of QuantumCamp and therefore could not comment on the organization’s specific programs.

Nurmela says, for those students who do want more, QuantumCamp utilizes research to offer the optimal learning environment for students, including small class sizes of no more than 12 students, engaging teaching styles, and the very best in equipment.

"We spend much more money on our equipment than anybody else does, by a factor of 10. And by repeating a class many times, we get out money’s worth, and then some," he said. “Basically, we do whatever is necessary to have the optimal learning environment for students. That’s the most important thing we’re trying to accomplish."

Nurmela said, all of QuantumCamp’s instructors are experts in their field, as well.

"We don’t develop any curriculum that we’re not experts in," he said. "For example, we have a Ph.D. in biology teaching our biology courses."

Nurmela added that demand for QuantumCamp’s programs has skyrocketed since the Berkeley campus opened roughly two years ago, which led them to open the Mountain View center in August.

“The first summer, when we were offering just summer camps, there was a very large response to our program,” he said. "We were getting requests from all over the Bay Area to do this full-time."

Will Sutton has been sending his 10-year-old son, William Sutton IV, to the Berkeley QuantumCamp center for nearly a year, and said it has been fantastic for William’s education.

Sutton said they went to an open house last fall and fell in love with the program.

"My son was all over it," he said. "Anything that gets my son that excited about learning has got to be a good thing."

Sutton said he was sold on the concept once he saw the high standards QuantumCamp adheres to.

"There’s no one doing science like they are—not just content-wise, but with the kind of equipment they have, too," he said. "And, their expertise. They’re experts with Ph.Ds. How many students have access to that kind of environment? It just doesn’t happen."

Sutton said he has seen the Berkeley center grow by leaps and bounds, just in the past year.

“Classes fill really quickly,” he said. “It’s really grown, just by word-of-mouth, I think.”

Nurmela said, the average cost of a 10-week course in a particular subject is around $600 to $700, and year-long memberships are available that can bring the cost of each class down to around $400 to $500.

At this time, QuantumCamp does not offer any type of scholarship or financial assistance to underprivileged families, but Nurmela said he hopes they will be able to soon. He said the school will look into possible grants that could help QuantumCamp be able to offer such assistance.

For more information, visit www.quantumcamp.com.