The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) is an organization of science centers and museums dedicated to "furthering public engagement with science". Buying an annual membership to ASTC can save individuals and families money when visiting participating science centers, museums, nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children's museums all over the world.
How to Save Money With a Science Center Membership
With the purchase of an ASTC passport, families will be able to visit a variety of science related centers all over the world for free or at a reduced rate.
For example, a Philadelphia family visits a local participating Philadelphia museum, such as The Franklin Institute. Instead of paying admission per family member, the family purchases an ASTC passport. The family now has unlimited visits for one year at the Franklin Institute. That same family, later in the year, decides to take a family vacation to Phoenix Arizona. The ASTC membership would allow the family visit to the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix – for free.
They could also visit The University of Arizona Science Center and the International Wildlife Center in nearby Tuscon. A short two-hour drive north during that vacation to Phoenix, allows the family to use their passport for free admission to the Lowell Observatory, the home of the telescope that discovered Pluto.
Rules and Restrictions With a Science Center Passport
It is recommended that visitors call the science center they plan to visit in advance. This is to ensure that the center is still participating in the program and to find out if there are any restrictions to using the passport. To receive Passport Program benefits, members must live more than 90 miles away from the center/museum they wish to visit. However, many centers work out agreements with other participating museums within the 90-mile radius to allow reciprocity.
Fun With Science Online and Offline
The Association of Science-Technology Center has partnered with IBM Corporation and the New York Hall of Science to bring fun interactive science to children, parents and teachers. Check out Try Science for experiments, adventures and field trips that promote science in a fun active way. Live web-cams allow visitors the opportunity to observe the real time happenings at participating science centers all over the world.
"Try Science" offers lessons plans for teachers in a variety of science related subjects. Parents can learn how to bring science into the home and how to make it more engaging. Students will be able to access great ideas for science fairs or for experiments to do at home.
A science center is a great educational tool with hands on learning and interactive exhibits. An Association of Science-Technology Center passport ensures fun with science all year long.
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