Southern Oregon’s new interactive science museum launches its first summer season

Science Works Hands-On Museum, photo: Kathy Hollis

(Ashland, OR) April 30, 2003… Since its opening on December 7, visitors from all over the region have enjoyed the museum on Science Saturdays, prompting one of our most frequent suggestions — “Be open more days!”  Well, we have some good news. As a direct result of the success of our first season, which saw nearly 15,000 Saturday visitors and 3,000 visitors from schools and other groups, ScienceWorks is launching its first Summer Science season with new hours and a full schedule that you would expect from other museums of its kind.

From June 7 to August 31, ScienceWorks will be open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday from 11 to 5. In addition to new hours, the museum will offer festivals each month, celebrating science with world-class performers and outdoor activities. The summer also includes Summer Science Camps every week of the summer and a special new Museum Matinee program in conjunction with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

The expanded days make possible an increased reach for the museum. “We know there are people who have not yet been able to visit on a Saturday,” says Executive Director Sharon Javna. “We hope our Science Summer season will make it possible for more families in the Rogue Valley to experience ScienceWorks.”

The summer will include a few more additions to ScienceWorks.  A snack bar and outdoor picnic facilities will make it easier for families to extend their stay. Gift items will also be available, including innovative science activities to take home.

In order to meet the demands of the new season, ScienceWorks will be introducing new summer admission rates. From June 7 to August 31, admission for adults will be $7.50 and children 2 to 12 will be $5. Membership for an individual or family will start at $45. Members and children under 2 will continue to be free. ScienceLive! performances will continue everyday the museum is open and will be free with paid admission.

“Keeping our prices affordable is an important part of our mission and even with this increase we are still well below other attractions of this kind,” says Board President Dave Bernard. “Our memberships are still a great value.”

SUMMER FESTIVALS
The summer hours receive a sensational kick-off with the Science Circus Festival, June 7 – 8 and 12 – 15. On June 7 and 8 Jill Fjeldheim will lead a troupe of circus arts students in performing amazing feats of scientific acrobatics. She will also instruct visitors in activities that use circus tricks to explore science! Fjeldheim has performed nationally and internationally with companies including the American Mime Theatre and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Science Circus activities for all ages continue June 12 and 13, and on June 14 and 15 juggling wonder Rhys Thomas explores gravity through bowling ball juggling, gyroscopic stability through glass bowl spinning, and inertia with the old tablecloth pull. Thomas has served as Artist-in-Residence at the Smithsonian Institution and has performed at science museums and juggling festivals on three continents.

 From July 24 to 27 join ScienceWorks for BubbleFest! This festival explores the wondrous world of bubbles and lets visitors participate in a variety of bubble challenges. Who can make the longest bubble?  Who can blow the biggest bubble? Can you make a square bubble? ScienceWorks is pleased to announce performances on July 26 and 27 by world-renowned Professor Bubbles.  Professor Bubbles (a.k.a. Richard Faverty) has appeared in museums and on television programs from Tokyo to Paris.

Kites and Flights on August 14 – 17 will transform the ground of ScienceWorks into a stunning exploration of flight and its many forms.  Make a kite, make a paper airplane, and check out some cool flying machines, such as hot air balloons and hand gliders. On August 16 and 17, the Southern Oregon Wind Chasers demonstrate their flying skills in a special kite extravaganza.

 An important goal of ScienceWorks is to provide a fun and educational service to the community. Two programs this summer help families provide meaningful experiences for their children – the Museum Matinee program with OSF and Summer Science Camps.

MUSEUM MATINEE
 ScienceWorks is introducing a new program that will serve patrons of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, providing an innovative solution for parents attending summer matinees. Children 5 to13 can have a supervised museum experience while their parents attend a show.  This service is provided every day there is an OSF matinee. The fee is $35 per child, with discounts for multiple children. The ratio of children to museum counselor is no more than 6 to 1. Reservations are highly recommended.

  “It is so exciting for this community that ScienceWorks is able to offer an education-based drop-off program for youth, “ says Janeen Olsen, Director of Marketing and Communications at OSF. “This opens an incredible opportunity for our patrons with children who are perhaps too young to see a play. Both kids and parents will have a great experience.”

Science Works Hands-On Museum photo: Kathy Hollis

SUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS
 ScienceWorks is also offering a season of Summer Science Camps. These weeklong day camps are offered to children entering 1st through 5th grades. Twelve different camps cover a wide range of topics including The Science of Clowning, Kitchen Chemistry, Music to My Ears, The Science of Native American Lifeways, ArtWorks and Wet Science. Dynamic and highly educated teachers bring their experience and enthusiasm into a wide range of science explorations. The afternoon day camp sessions begin June 9 and run through August 29. More information on Summer Science Camps is available at http://www.scienceworksmuseum.org/ and 541-482-6767.

  ScienceWorks and the Ashland Family YMCA have teamed up to provide a full day of educational fun for children signed up for both for a YMCA morning sports camp and an afternoon Summer Science Camp. Children signed up for this program will eat lunch at the YMCA and be transported to ScienceWorks for their afternoon science camp.

ScienceWorks is also partnering with Southern Oregon University. ScienceWorks will be offering the science component for SOU’s Kid’s College, week-long day camps offered for kids ages 9 to 14 with sessions in July and August. More details and registration information is available at www.sou.edu/ecp/youth or by calling 541/552-6331.

ScienceWorks is currently open to the public every Saturday from 10 to 4.  Summer hours begin June 7. Located at East Main near Walker in beautiful Ashland, Oregon, the museum has ample parking and is conveniently located a few minutes drive from downtown. For more information on events, directions, membership and sponsorship opportunities call 541-482-6767 or visit http://www.scienceworksmuseum.org/.