Arizona Science Center

 

 

Unlike grade school, college students are free to follow any educational pathway that they are most passionate about; however, we have all experienced similar challenges involving the complexities of science at some point regardless of our status in school. Over the course of three decades, the Arizona Science Center has transformed the perception of science and provided exciting alternatives for education. With over three hundred hands-on exhibits and four different levels that visitors can enjoy, the enormous facility offers fascinating programs for both children and adults. For example, on the third Saturday of each month, the center hosts Learning with Legos, a program dedicated to preschoolers that spark an interest for science, technology, engineering, and math using the building fundamentals of Legos. In a similar manner, the Arizona Science Center opens its doors to adults and parents on the first Friday of each month to explore the four levels of galleries, including a thought-provoking lecture instructed by leading professionals and professors in the scientific community, all of which are free. Without a doubt, the center is a great place for families to spend time, but it attracts tons of scientists and educators as well. Specifically, for each seminar that an educator addends every month counts as an hour towards an hour of professional development. Although some programs presented are free of charge, complete access to what the center has to offer comes with admission and fees. Kids from the ages of 3-17 are $11.00 and adults are charged $14.00; seniors over 62 years of age only receive two dollars off admission, $12.00. As for other features throughout the facility such as the IMAX theatre and the planetarium, children are $7.00 and adults are $8.00. Exhibitions also range from $20-$24 depending of the nature of the event. Because the center is a landmark for scientific education, general group admission cost $6.00 and showcase prices are substantially lower. The Arizona Science Center recognizes the importance of scholastic preparation, so they encourage expeditions and provide downloadable educator manuals for nearly every department throughout the facility. The opportunities at the Arizona Science Center are becoming seemingly endless as we enter a new age surrounded by technology and innovation. Though one cannot experience all of its features in one day, another visit is definitely worth the time and money.