Sciencenter 2023 Annual Report

REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

In 2023, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the community build that saw the creation of a permanent home for the Sciencenter. This milestone anniversary allowed us to look back with appreciation for the contributions of our volunteers and staff, who have helped shape our identity over the years While reflecting on the past, we also looked to the future with a new Strategic Plan.

Our board and staff met throughout 2023 to reflect on our successes and chart a course for our future. We have set priorities, goals, and objectives that are framed by three pillars:

Science: A process for learning sparked by curiosity and powered by exploration.

Community: People coming together through meaningful interactions and collaborations.

Inclusion: Being a welcoming place where people with diverse lived experiences feel that they belong.

As you read our 2023 Report to the Community, you will see those pillars reflected in our work.

Thank you for your continued support of the Sciencenter. We are truly grateful to be part of such an inspiring community!

MICHELLE KORTENAAR Executive Director

IGNITING CURIOSITY TOGETHER

MISSION

Cultivate an engaged community of curious, collaborative, critical thinkers.

A community where people use science as a way of understanding the world.

WE VALUE

Being a welcoming place that embraces a diversity of lived experiences.

Our place in the community, which includes our story, our reputation, and our meaningful collaborations.

Our team, both staff and volunteers, for their connections, adaptability, drive, and collaborative spirit.

Science as a lens for learning about the world.

Natural curiosity that leads to free-choice learning.

A PROCESS FOR LEARNING

sparked by curiosity and powered by exploration

We built new spaces, reimagined our interactive exhibits, and inspired curiosity through educational programming, bringing new science experiences to children and families!

The Mezzanine Gallery was unveiled in the spring, featuring new animal enclosures encouraging visitors to get “up close and personal” with some of our reptiles.

New animal residents - Bones and Touie (red-footed tortoises) and Bonito (rainbow boa) joined our collection of 76 unique animal species living at the Sciencenter a new Caribbean habitat provided our rhinoceros iguana, Strawberry, with an enriching new home.

Children under 4 experimented alongside their grown-ups at Science Together, building science process skills by observing, predicting, and problem-solving through hands-on learning.

Local scientists shared their knowledge with our visitors at weekly Science Connections, Chemsations, and special programming - inspiring kids and families to learn more about the science around them.

Our visitors experienced everyday science through hands-on demonstrations and up-close encounters with our animal collection with the help of 149 Sciencenter volunteers

"One of the best things to happen to us since becoming parents. It’s safe, educational, and fun. The staff is passionate, hardworking, and brilliant. Everything is intentional and this is an under-celebrated institution. Become a member, give them your money, take your kids! Their reach goes way beyond just the museum."

-Jillian Rorrer, Sciencenter Member

53,589

visitors met a reptile or sea creature up close and personal

83,408

participants in Sciencenter programs that ignited their inner scientist

5

featured exhibitions inspired our visitors to explore science all around them

2,560

students explored STEM on field trips to the Sciencenter

PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER through meaningful interactions and collaborations

We engaged children and families near and far with hands-on education experiences and community partnerships that share science with everyone

We partnered with the Finger Lakes Library System to share Solar Eclipse Activity Kits with their 33 libraries in celebration of the October 14, 2023, and upcoming April 8, 2024, eclipses.

We partnered with NISE Network, the Children’s Creativity Museum, The Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Museum of Life and Science to create the DIY Solar System app. 3,249 families downloaded the app to explore space at home.

We developed activity kits focusing on NASA's human exploration of the moon and beyond for 350 museums and planetariums nationwide.

Through our Future Science Leaders program, middle schoolers practiced science communication skills, prototyped exhibits, and facilitated hands-on activities with 3,214 visitors at the Sciencenter

We embarked on a feasibility study to reimagine our Science Park. We celebrated the retirement of Kathy Krafft, our Exhibits Fabricator, after 32 years at the Sciencenter.

“Thank you so much for hosting the most popular program the Apalachin Library has ever had! I know navigating the excited crowd wasn’t easy, but you made all the right adjustments to ensure a great program for our community. Everyone loved it!”

Tracy Savard, Library Director

30

years since the first community build that constructed our permanent home

3

2,744

community members during outreach events

583

We brought science to murals painted by local artists Paulina Melechkina and Justin Suarez to enhance Mezzanine Gallery

teachers and educators practiced informal STEM education strategies at Sciencenter workshops

BEING A WELCOMING PLACE

where people with diverse lived experiences feel that they belong

In 2023, we welcomed over 104,000 kids and families to engage their curiosity at the Sciencenter

We hosted monthly Family Science Nights, welcoming Head Start families to the museum for special activities and a hot meal, and brought science to rural elementary schools in Groton, Enfield, Newfield, and Dryden.

Through our Membership Access Program, we provided free memberships to 997 families facing financial barriers, ensuring they could enjoy all that the Sciencenter has to offer.

Our Community Partner Pass provided free admission passes to organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) In this local youth mentoring organization, 90% of matches have their first outing at the Sciencenter.

To benefit library patrons, the Sciencenter provided memberships to 48 public libraries in Tompkins County and several other counties in the Southern Tier and Central New York regions

To further enhance the experience of our visitors, we installed WiFi accessible to both our staff and visitors to facilitate connectivity and convenience within our space.

Our DEIA working group adopted an anti-racist lens to guide our approach to advancing our DEIA values and goals. As part of this journey, our staff meets monthly to reflect, discuss, and learn together.

"Big Brothers Big Sisters is so grateful to our partners at the Sciencenter for providing our matches with passes for free admission. This allows our ‘Littles’ and ‘Bigs’ to have a fun, educational, and free place to go on their outings year-round! Thank you Sciencenter for this awesome experience!"

- David Menard, Match Support Specialist, BBBS

1,079

people joined us for our free Spooky Science event

Participants from

35

community-based organizations visited for free

4,086

families with EBT cards visited for $1 through Museums for All

997

free memberships to families through our Membership Access Program

Children explore water engineering in our Watergates Gallery.

Sciencenter volunteer introduces our visitors to the inhabitants in our Tidepool Touch Tank.

WHO ARE OUR VISITORS?