There's always something to see at Mid-America Science Museum, but there's even more to learn with its new program, Science Saturdays.
In addition to the regular educational opportunities there are extra activities and exhibit deep-dive explorations to enhance the experience.
"So, Science Saturdays is something special we've started to kind of give visitors an extra kick on their Saturday, weekend visits," Casey Chandler, director of educational development at the museum, said.
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Now in its second week, the program will change each week, but there will be some regular rotation of events to give everyone a chance to take part in an activity they may have missed. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., discovery tables will be set up around the museum, featuring science experiments. In the afternoons, a staff educator will lead an exhibit exploration to share details, tips and tricks for a deeper, or a new, understanding of exhibits that are well-known and loved at the museum.
Last Saturday, when the program began, the exhibit exploration was the Block Pit Challenge, where families raced against each other to build tall towers out of foam blocks.
"At other times it may be a scavenger hunt of our Rowland Emett exhibits," Chandler said. "Seeing all the really, really interesting household items that they used to build. Or, sometimes it's going to be a tour on our Dino Trek, a safari led by a dinosaur expert, or at least as expert as we get around here with that."
Another bit of bonus content available at Science Saturdays is the series of special activities at the Tinkering Studio. Facilitated by staff member and tinkering expert Anna Crane, the studio is open from 1-4 p.m. Saturdays.
This past weekend, she led students in anamorphic drawing, which uses a reflective cylinder to show an artwork that has been drawn in a distorted manner.
The second Science Saturday runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a Dino Trek safari and a Tinkering Studio activity called Scrappy Circuits.
Science Saturdays will continue every weekend for the rest of the year, included with the cost of admission.
While the schedule of events is subject to change, the best way to keep up to date is to check the museum's social media accounts or visit:
http://tinyurl.com/bdh26x7h
Casey Chandler, director of educational development at Mid-America Science Museum, shares details about Science Saturdays, set to continue the rest of the year. (The Sentinel-Record/Lance Brownfield)