Sciencenter facts for kids

The Sciencenter is a fun, hands-on science museum located in Ithaca, New York. It started as a non-profit educational group on February 28, 1983. The idea for the Sciencenter grew from a science program that volunteers ran for 15 years in local elementary schools. Even though it became famous across the country, the museum didn't have paid staff until the 1990s. The Sciencenter is recognized by important museum organizations, showing it's a great place for learning.

How the Sciencenter Started

The Sciencenter began with a big idea from two community volunteers, Debbie Levin and Ilma Levine. They wanted to make their "Science Discovery Room Program," which they started in the 1970s, even bigger.

In 1982, they put an ad in the local newspaper. It asked anyone interested in starting a community science center to meet at the library. A group of people came together and formed a board of directors. This group helped build the strong foundation for the Sciencenter we know today.

Moving Around a Lot

In its early days, the Sciencenter didn't have a permanent home. It moved around to different empty storefronts in downtown Ithaca.

The first exhibit space opened in 1984. It was at 200 East Buffalo Street, in a space that was kindly given to them. When they had to move again, they found free space in an old music store. Volunteers built all the exhibits themselves! They also added a small museum shop. Schools were invited to bring classes for hands-on activities.

From 1986 to 1989, more and more people visited the Sciencenter. The number of volunteers also grew. Eventually, they had to leave the music store. But they found temporary space and kept going. In 1990, they closed their exhibit space to focus on building a permanent home.

Building a Permanent Home

By 1988, it was clear the Sciencenter needed a bigger, permanent place. Architect Bob Leathers, known for building community playgrounds, offered to help. He suggested that the community itself should build the Sciencenter.

This meant that everyone – from business people to teachers, doctors, and even kids – would help build it. The idea was that if the community built it, the museum would truly belong to everyone.

The First Big Fundraising Effort

A fundraising effort began in 1990 with a $50,000 donation. In October 1990, Dr. Charles Trautmann became the executive director. The project was announced in February 1991 at a big party. Many important people attended, including Mayor Benjamin Nichols and famous astronomer Carl Sagan.

With strong leadership, the Sciencenter team made detailed plans for the new building. They also planned a $1 million fundraising campaign. The new building would be about 5,000 square feet (465 square meters). It would also have an outdoor science park.

Building Phase One

The first part of building the Sciencenter happened thanks to many helpful people. Companies, individuals, and community volunteers all gave valuable support. Many local businesses donated building materials or offered big discounts. Restaurants and individuals even provided food for the volunteers during construction!

A big moment was a $100,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. This foundation usually didn't support projects built by volunteers, so it was a special commitment.

Construction officially started in August 1992. Between August 1992 and May 1993, 2,200 volunteers worked for over 40,000 hours! The grand opening was on May 22, 1993, less than a year after they started building. In the early days, about 50,000 visitors came each year to explore the exhibits and join the programs.

Expanding the Museum

The Sciencenter quickly created many new exhibits. By 1995, they had so many that some were in storage because there wasn't enough space! More people wanted to join their programs, and the staff had grown.

To make more room, the Sciencenter leased a nearby building in 1995. In 1996, the City of Ithaca gave this building and more land to the Sciencenter for just $1.

In 1999, the Sciencenter started another fundraising effort to expand to 32,000 square feet (2,973 square meters). This would add more exhibit and program space, plus areas for younger kids. They raised $5.5 million. The big expansion opened on February 28, 2003, which was the Sciencenter's 20th anniversary!

Helping Visitors and Running the Museum

The Guest Relations and Operations team manages the front desk and the Sciencenter store. Volunteers are still a huge part of how the museum runs. They help as museum guides, assist members, work on building maintenance, and lead educational programs. With the help of volunteers, the Sciencenter often organizes free days at the museum and free community events.

Educational Programs

The museum offers many different programs. Some are at the museum, and some are off-site. They have programs for schools and for the general public.

Educational programs include:

• Field trips for school groups
• After-school programs
• Summer camps
• "Showtime!" presentations

The museum has programs for all ages, from toddlers to adults.

Fun Sciencenter Exhibits

The Sciencenter wants to help everyone become curious, confident, and critical thinkers. The museum in Ithaca has over 250 fun, hands-on exhibits!

You can explore:

• An outdoor science playground
• A seasonal 18-hole Mini-Golf course
• A Tidepool Touch Tank with live marine animals
• An animal room
• A special area for kids aged 4 and under with its own playground

A unique part of the Sciencenter is its outdoor science park. It has ramps and structures with more than two dozen playground activities. These activities teach you about physics, engineering, and geology. In 2008, 275 volunteers helped improve the park and other outdoor learning spaces.

The Sagan Planet Walk

In 1997, the Sciencenter opened the Sagan Planet Walk. This is an outdoor walking model of our solar system. It's named after Carl Sagan, a famous astronomer who was part of the Sciencenter's advisory board.

The walk is 1,200 meters (about 0.75 miles) long. It stretches from downtown Ithaca to the Sciencenter. In 2003, an audio tour narrated by Bill Nye (the Science Guy!) was added. In 2009, they added an Asteroid station with a real meteorite! In 2018, you could even use augmented reality features at some stations.

Traveling Exhibitions

The Sciencenter also creates exhibits that travel to other museums! In 1996, they received a big grant to start this program. They were one of five museums that worked together to create traveling exhibits for smaller museums.

The Sciencenter's own traveling exhibit, called "FUN, 2, 3, 4: All About a Number of Things!", has 15 exhibits about measuring, counting, and estimating. It's still on tour! They also developed "Tech City," a 3,000 square foot (279 square meter) exhibit that started touring in 2003. The Sciencenter has become well-known for managing traveling exhibits for other museums.

Discovery Trail

The Sciencenter is part of the Discovery Trail. This trail connects several of Ithaca's museums and the Tompkins County Public Library. It's a great way to explore many learning places in the area!