Explore your world from the dirt under your feet to the stars that twinkle above your head. We'll get you to dig in to the science that shapes our world!

Ecology in a Jar

Explore ecological principles in a small scale world through creation of an ecosystem that you can take home with you. Learn about living things and find out how they interact with the environment. Choose your take home craft activity:

• Soil Sammy - A chia pet-like creature that students will dress up and keep. At home, feed it water and sunlight and see what grows.
• Handy Garden - A vegetable garden made of several different seed types set to spout in a handy glove. Keep it on or by your window to watch it grow.
• Bottled Ecosystem - An entire ecosystem, complete with a worm, constructed in a bottle that students can take home.

Program Length: 1 hour
Maximum: 35 students
Cost: $250

Hidden Power: Energy, Electricity and Efficiency

Investigate and explore the concepts of energy, electricity, generation and efficiency. See demonstrations of real phenomena and understand how electricity and energy really work. Using hands-on demonstrations investigate and explore energy materials and their applications in order to better understand the invisible forces and work.
Program length: 1 hour
Maximum: 35 students
Grade: 4-6
Cost: $120 per group

Inquiry into Earth Science

What is a landform? What are the forces that shape the Earth? Join us for this self-guided data collection activity in the Environment and Ecology Gallery where participants will learn about landforms and Earth's forces.
Program length: 1 hours
Maximum: 35 students
Cost: $150

Our Solar System

This program exposes participants to numerous elements that make up our solar system. Activities focus around an investigation of planetary surfaces and the building of a space probe out of recycled materials to conduct research on other planets. Activities are current and may change with new scientific discoveries.
Program length: 1.5 hours
Maximum: 35 students
Cost: $200

I Can Dig It!

"I Can Dig It" Is an exciting program in which students will form crews of paleontologists and archeologists to uncover the past. Learn the processes that scientists use In archeology and paleontology and each discipline is similar and different. We'll explore dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, and everything in between using the tools and techniques used by real scientists!
Program length: 2 hours
Max: 35
Grade level: K-5
Cost: $200

Stream Table Able

How do rivers and streams shape the Earth? What is erosion and how does it change the Earth's landscape? Reserve time for your group at our interactive Stream Table experience and find the answers to these questions and more! Your group will work with Science Center staff to design their own landscapes scenarios to run at the table and witness how and rivers impact the land.
Onsite Only - Environment and Ecology Gallery
Program length: 1 hour
Maximum: 20 students
Grades: 3-8
Cost: $100

The Answer Is Energy Efficiency!

This science demonstration explains the concepts of climate change, greenhouse gases, and energy efficiency with amazing explosions, futuristic technology, and easy ways that ordinary people can start saving energy and taking care of the planet.
Program length: 1 hour
Maximum: 100
Grades: 6-12+ (or 6-adult)
Cost: $100 per group

Unisphere

These star-studded programs dazzle participants by bringing the stars and constellations indoors during the daytime. The wonders of the night sky are introduced in the Unisphere, a portable planetarium.

• Space, The Final Frontier - Identify seasonal constellations, differentiate stars from planets, and explore other astronomical phenomena in this spaced-out show!
• Stellar Stories, Legends and Lore - Stargaze while the night sky heroes and legends from different cultures around the world are immortalized. Featuring lore from African. Native American, and Greek cultures.

An air-conditioned room (in hot weather), away from traffic and noise and one grounded outlet are required. Room size requirements are 30' x 30' x 12' for a group of up to 30 participants and 36' x 36' x 20' for up to 60 participants. Choose from the following available options:
Program Length: 45 min/per session Cost- 30 person dome:
1 session $200
2 session $275
3 session $350
4 session $425
5 session $500

Cost- 60 person dome:
1 session $250
2 session $375
3 session $500
4 session $625
5 session $750

Weather

This program introduces participants to the tools used to understand and predict weather patterns. Participants create a weather station instruments such as: barometers, thermometer, anemometer, wind vane, psychrometers and precipitation gauge.
Program Length: 1 hours
Maximum: 30 students
Cost: $200

Customized Programming

The Science OFF Center Team will work with your Scout group, youth serving agency, or other non-formal education group to personalize our programs to meet your needs. We will come to any event! Birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, graduations, banquets, you name it! Whether you need programming to meet specific badge requirements or something that helps you address a grant related goal, let us help you meet the challenge. Our programs combine hands-on, inquiry-based learning with an appropriate amount of fun and exploration. Call (314)289-4439 to discuss your needs.

For a full listing of all our on-site and off-site programs, check out our complete program guide. Call (314)289-4439 for more information or to book a program.