BL, we have that same problem. Unless your kid is a super self-advocate who is willing to go out and ask local professors or scientists about doing projects, the odds are that they won't get the chance to do some of that cool stuff. My kid is NOT the self advocating type. The only thing I can think of is for you to ask the science teachers at the school if they have any contacts or could help your daughter find a lab to work on one of the more interesting topics.
Ignoring the science fair/project stuff, I am watching for summer camp opportunities that give her a chance to do lab work beyond just basic course work. I am hoping that THINK at Davidson offers a course next summer that involves lab work. But once she ages out of THINK (and she just has one more year), we will probably look at for summer programs that have interesting lab components.
My goal is to help light that fire again on science stuff. She LOVED science in elementary school, but didn't have such a great experience in that vast wasteland/marking time experience that is middle school. She perked up regarding science once she got to ninth grade, but not with the same passion she used to have for it. She would make a great scientist.
