The Sciencenter in Ithaca, NY is an Ideal Place for a Family Field Trip

Founded in 1983 and located in the town of Ithaca in central New York State, the Sciencenter is a fun and educational attraction geared mostly towards children but suitable for family members of all ages. Inspired by the hands-on science program run for about 15 years by volunteer teachers Debbie Levin and Ilma Levine at several of the Ithaca City School District Elementary schools, the museum's mission is to provide "open-ended discovery'' in a safe environment, to inspire visitors to strive for new ideas, to encourage sustainability of the environment and our society, and to help the local community by giving back.

A portion of the building in which the Sciencenter is located was once a City of Ithaca water treatment facility. A two-story wood addition was constructed of wood to encourage sustainability and is designed specifically to demonstrate the application of science. Most of the new building was constructed by volunteers and it opened to the public in 1993.

Inside, there are lots of interactive, hands-on exhibits to keep visitors busy for several hours. Exhibits are both permanent and temporary, with several visiting displays landing at the Sciencenter each year. Most provide plenty of buttons to push, knobs to turn, and levers to crank. Guests can discover how hydraulics work in Watergates, play ball with the Bernoulli Blower, play music on the Slap Organ, learn how to build a gravity dam, make magnetic drawings, and explore a number of other enticing exhibits.

Connect to the Ocean provides a chance to observe live tide pool animals and learn about this important ecosystem. The Mars and Stars exhibit displays fascinating photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, and guests can walk through a life size model of the solar system at the Sagan Planet Walk. At the Reinvention Station, kids and their parents learn about recycling and how to make crafts from items that might otherwise be considered trash.

The outdoor Emerson Science Park, which is open during museum hours when weather permits, encourages kids to literally climb to new heights, blow bubbles, dig in the sand, bounce on a suspension bridge, and much more. This area is one of the most popular portions of the Sciencenter and is included with admission.

Special events and programs are a regular occurrence at the Sciencenter. Six-week after school enrichment programs encourage kids in grades K to 5 to come to the center to explore a variety of topics. Summer camps, limited to 24 children, are offered in two-week increments. These full-day programs include physical games, focused classroom experiences, special presentations, and free exploration of the museum and the science park. A number of additional workshops and classes are scheduled throughout the year, some for children only and others that welcome the entire family to participate.

The museum is open year-round except on Mondays (with some exceptions for Monday holidays). Admission is very reasonable and children under 3 are free. Hours for the Tide Pool Touch Tank vary. In addition, an onsite miniature golf course is open for business during the warmer months.