Educational Insights GeoSafari® Tuff Scope Review and Giveaway

So you know by now “Bug” likes anything to do with outdoors, bugs and science so it was only natural that when we were asked to review the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope from Educational Insights it was an easy YES!! After showing “Bug” the photos of the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope and explaining to him that he could use this scope to look at his bug collection and other random outdoor things he immediately got excited and well to admit it I was pretty excited myself since he gets his love of nature and science from his mommy J!

About Educational Insights (taken from website):

Based in Southern California, Educational Insights, is the manufacturer of playful products with serious educational value, including subject-specific classroom products, teacher resources, educational toys, and games. Our products are designed by seasoned educators and parents who know that, first and foremost, learning must be fun.

About the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope (taken from website):

Explore images up to 400x their original size with Tuff Scope! This two-in-one microscope is perfect for classroom projects or magnification on the go! Simply set up as a classroom station or remove the microscope from the base and send kids outdoors to explore. When used with the GeoSafari® Tuff Cam digital video camera, GeoSafari® Tuff Scope transforms into a digital microscope, projecting magnified images onto a computer screen or projector. Also features 2x continuous optical zoom, transmissive and reflective LED lighting, and a storage drawer.

Features:
* 2in-1 microscope with base and removable scope
* 400x magnification
* 2x continuous zoom
* Transmissive and reflective LED lighting
* Storage drawer
* Requires 3AA batteries (not included)
* Compatible with GeoSafari® Tuff Cam for magnified digital photography


Our Thoughts:

Educational Insights kindly sent us the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope to review and once it arrived “Bug” could not wait to get it out of the box and get his bug collection out to see what they looked like up close! Once we got the scope out of the box and the batteries (I keep a drawer of nothing but random battery sizes since all of “Bug’s” toys run on batteries) in the scope it was ready for the first test run. It just so happened that I had my nephews visiting the day it arrived. They are 7 and 5 and could not wait to have a turn looking at the bugs!

Once we got the scope set up on the kitchen table so that it was on a stable surface they began taking turns looking out the bugs in the collection and each time one of them looked at the bugs magnified they found something new they didn’t know even existed on the bugs. After they finished the bug collection K (he’s 7) decided to head outside and collect some blades of grass and flowers to look at and all three of them had just as much fun with the grass and flowers as they did the bugs. I myself am amazed at how well this scope magnifies the tiniest bugs and blades of grass, it is by far the best child’s scope that I have ever used, I would definitely compare it to the scientific grade scopes that we used in our chemistry class at college this year…..IT’S AWESOME!

We have been using the fire out of this scope because “Bug” wants to look at everything when it’s big (straight out of his little mouth) and well loving science myself I find myself using it even when I’m home all by myself. We have used the scope on the stand and I’ve even removed the scope itself from the stand and let the boys take it outside and see what interesting things they could find when magnified and let me tell you it has kept these kiddos busy for hours on end and they always seem to find something new to show us under the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope.

Needless to say the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope has really been put through the ringer around our house and the many trips to the grandparents house that I feel pretty safe in saying that the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope is most defiantly tuff and can withhold the wear and tear of three young adventurous boys! I have also been informed that I need to give each of my nephews one for either their birthdays or Christmas because they are driving their mommas crazy for one!

Bottom Line:

The GeoSafari® Tuff Scope has gotten the ultimate approval from three super active and curious boys ranging from ages 3 to 7 and has yet to give me any reason not to give it the parents approval as well. I love that this scope is portable with or without its base and that it magnifies the object in question so that we can all see it with no problem. I would not trade the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope for anything seeing how much fun the boys has had hours on end exploring the entire yard and house for new things to learn about.

I would defiantly recommend the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope to any parent or teacher because this scope makes learning so much fun that the kiddos don’t even know they are learning most of the time and if it’s tuff enough to stand up to three boys I think it’s safe to say that it will stand up to just about anything!

Buy It:
To purchase the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope mentioned above visit the Educational Insights website!

Win It:
Educational Insights has awesomely agreed to offer one of my super lucky readers a GeoSafari® Tuff Scope of their very own (ARV $39.99)!

Mandatory Entry: Visit Educational Insights and tell me what one item you would like to get for your kiddo(s) to keep them busy this summer! Please remember to leave your e-mail address if it’s not visible in your profile.

Want or need extra entries? Check out how to grab em’ below! (Mandatory Entry must be complete for these to count)

1. Become a public follower of my blog (2 extra)

2. Follow me on twitter @sgrant2005 and tweet this giveaway (can be done daily)

3. Subscribe to my feed via a reader

4. Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post and to Educational Insights be sure to leave me a link (5 extra)

5. “Like” Educational Insights on Facebook

6. Follow Educational Insights on Twitter


Giveaway ends July 19, 2011 @ midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random, using random.org and contacted by e-mail and has 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen.

This review is based strictly my opinion. Others may have a different opinion with the product listed above. I did receive the GeoSafari® Tuff Scope mentioned above complementary for this review. No monetary compensation was received.