News and Events Calendar

Summer Exhibition: A Garden of Gizmos

On Display Through Sunday, September 27
A Garden of Gizmos features mechanical flowers, plants and creatures that are as mesmerizing and fun as they are educational.

Turn a crank to make a "peacock" display its extravagant tail, move a ring of "birds" to make them circle and flap their wings, and control a time-lapse movie that shows real plants and exhibition designer Clifford Wagner’s hair grow through the four seasons. Control a "groundhog" that passes underfoot, make a giant "flower" bloom, do the date palm boogie and watch palm trees sway and dance with you, and much more!

Weekly Wonders

Mondays-Fridays in July and August, 3 p.m.
School's out and fun is in! Cool, creative hands-on activities will be in session at the Sciencenter every weekday afternoon at 3 p.m. during July and August. Kids can experiment with dry ice, concoct slime, launch rockets, and design kites. A new activity will be introduced each week. Included with admission.

Sciencenter "Chemagine!" Family Program

Saturdays in July and August, 3 p.m.
Families can solve real-life challenges together, using simple procedures and safe chemicals. Purify stinky, muddy water, make a battery out of air, and identify mystery solutions. A new activity will be offered each week. Included with admission.

Showtime! "Small Size, Big Deal!"

Saturday, July 4, 2 p.m.
Sciencenter educator Rae Ostman will introduce the surprising and exciting world of the nanoscale. Visitors will mix chemicals, turn potatoes black, generate electricity, and see invisible light in their exploration of super-tiny things that are too small to see.

Showtime! "Stretch-ology!"

Saturday, July 11, 2 p.m.
Balloon artist Peter Muzio will talk about the properties of balloons that make them perfect for creating air-filled sculptures. Kids will have a chance to observe the creation of balloon animals, and can try making a simple shape to take home.

Curiosity Corner Program for Our Youngest Visitors

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are especially designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Storytime and Tactile Time are included with admission. Kids under three receive free admission.

Storytime

Tuesday, July 14, 10:30 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story, "Mouse Paint" by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Kids can play with color filters to explore light, and make a color craft to take home.

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are made possible with the generous support of:

Sciencenter Activities at Ithaca Wegmans' W-Kids Fun Center

The Sciencenter is partnering with Wegmans to bring kids more hands-on science fun! Free activities change monthly and are designed for children ages 3 to 8 years.

Also at W-Kids: Collectible "Try This at Home" Activity Cards

Cards change every two weeks, and collections of six cards can be redeemed for a 15% discount on a Family Membership at the Sciencenter.

Showtime! "Growing Grasses"

Saturday, July 18, 2 p.m.
Hay, wheat, maize, bamboo, and sugarcane may seem like very different plants, but they’re all grasses. Kids can examine different kinds of grasses with Sciencenter educator John Alvarez del Castillo, and make a "sprouthead" craft to grow at home.

Showtime! "Mini Water Gardens"

Saturday, July 25, 2 p.m.
Sciencenter educator John Alvarez del Castillo will share techniques for growing miniature water gardens. Kids can take home a water plant to start their own garden in a tub.

Curiosity Corner Program for Our Youngest Visitors

Tactile Time
Tuesday, July 28, 10:30 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to explore their world through touch by painting with a variety of textured brushes. Smocks will be available. Tactile Time occurs on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m.

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are made possible with the generous support of:

August

Showtime! "Small, Smaller, Nano!"

Saturday, August 1, 2 p.m.
David Jones of Cornell University will help kids explore the micro and nano world that's too small to see with just your eyes. Kids can play a guessing game with "zoom" videos, identifying tiny objects that have been magnified many times.

Showtime! "Keeping it Cool!"

Saturday, August 8, 2 p.m.
Local teens from the Sciencenter's ScienceWorks program will explain how to weatherize your home, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter-and saving you money at the same time!

Curiosity Corner Program for Our Youngest Visitors

Storytime: "Wonderful Worms"
Tuesday, August 11, 10:30 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story, "Wonderful Worms" by Linda Glaser. Afterwards, kids can observe and touch live earthworms. Storytime occurs on the second Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m.

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are made possible with the generous support of:

Showtime! "Scraping the Sky"

Saturday, August 15, 2 p.m.
Evan Kopelson will explain how a local company, Vertical Access, uses rope access to inspect tall buildings such as the Chrysler Building and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Then, he'll demonstrate some of climbing techniques they use in the science park outside the Sciencenter.

Showtime! "Creepy Crawlies"

Saturday, August 22, 2 p.m.
Join Sciencenter John Alvarez on an outdoor expedition to find slugs, snails, bugs, worms, and other creatures that live around the Sciencenter.

Curiosity Corner Program for Our Youngest Visitors

Tactile Time: "Clay Play"
Tuesday, August 25, 10:30 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to explore their world through touch by playing with clay. Smocks will be available. Tactile Time occurs on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m.

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are made possible with the generous support of:

Showtime! "Tea Time"

Saturday, August 29, 2 p.m.
Sciencenter educator John Alvarez del Castillo will introduce visitors to the herbs growing around the Sciencenter. Kids can taste different iced teas and take home fresh herbs to brew their own teas.

September

Showtime!

Saturday, September 5, 2 p.m.
See science in action with a special interactive presentation at the Sciencenter every Saturday at 2 p.m.

Curiosity Corner Program for Our Youngest Visitors

Storytime
Tuesday, September 8, 10:30 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to listen to a story and participate in a fun, hands-on activity. Storytime occurs on the second Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m.

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are made possible with the generous support of:

Showtime!

Saturday, September 12, 2 p.m.
See science in action with a special interactive presentation at the Sciencenter every Saturday at 2 p.m.

Showtime!

Saturday, September 19, 2 p.m.
See science in action with a special interactive presentation at the Sciencenter every Saturday at 2 p.m.

Curiosity Corner Program for Our Youngest Visitors

Tactile Time
Tuesday, September 22, 10:30 a.m.
Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to explore their world through touch. Tactile Time occurs on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m.

Early Childhood Programs in the Curiosity Corner are made possible with the generous support of:

Sciencenter Activities at Ithaca Wegmans' W-Kids Fun Center

The Sciencenter is partnering with Wegmans to bring kids more hands-on science fun! Free activities change monthly and are designed for children ages 3 to 8 years.

Also at W-Kids: Collectible "Try This at Home" Activity Cards

Cards change every two weeks, and collections of six cards can be redeemed for a 15% discount on a Family Membership at the Sciencenter.

Showtime!

Saturday, September 26, 2 p.m.
See science in action with a special interactive presentation at the Sciencenter every Saturday at 2 p.m.

October

Save the Date! Spooky Science Free Halloween Event

Friday, October 23, 6-8 p.m.
Visit the Sciencenter—in costume—for this annual free community event. Explore tricked-out exhibits and make eerie crafts to scare the ghosts away from your house on Halloween.