Building on 30 years 2012-2013 Report to the Community EARLY YOUNG FUTURE EXPLORERS SCIENTISTS SCIENCE Three initiatives to LEADERS empower every young Three newperson initiatives to use support science in and strengthenshaping our a mission. better future. Sciencenter Mission To inspire excitement for science through interactive exhibits and programs that engage, educate, and empower. Our framework has three linked initiatives covering the preschool, elementary, and middle-school years. Each initiative spawns a variety of on-site and outreach Learning Families experiences, inspiring interest in science, boosting science skills, and empowering children to use science in their lives. Our Children. Our World. Our Future… staff Sciencenter FUTURE When volunteer teachers Debbie Levin and Ilma Levine opened a small storefront discovery EARLY YOUNG center on Buffalo Street in Ithaca 30 years ago, they hoped to inspire children with a curiosity and SCIENCE passion for science. They never imagined, however, that it would grow into an organization with EXPLORERS SCIENTISTS LEADERS an international reach. ages 0 - 5 ages 5 - 11 ages 11 - 14 But that’s exactly what happened. Their small storefront has grown into an organization that serves more than 100,000 guests in Ithaca every year and sends exhibits and educational materials to hundreds of science museums throughout the world. Curiosity + Confidence + Critical Thinking Contents Throughout North America, 1.5 million people experience science every year through traveling Creativity + Collaboration + Communication exhibitions and outreach programs created by the Sciencenter. This year, we have provided traveling + Leadership & exhibits to several museums in Europe for the first time. In addition, the leadership, exhibits, Letter of Welcome ....................2 Responsibility programs, and tested management practices of the Sciencenter have had a profound ripple effect Learning Families ....................3 throughout the museum field, to the benefit of 30 million visitors around the world each year. What’s New .........................7 As you read through the pages that follow, you will see a new direction. Our activities are now focused around three educational initiatives, each addressing a distinct developmental period Regional Impact......................8 in children’s lives. Collectively, these initiatives create an experiential pipeline extending from National Impact .....................11 birth into high school. Our aim is to ensure that more children embrace science in their lives, whether to satisfy their own curiosity or apply it in shaping a better future for themselves, their Giving . .12 communities, or the planet. Youth Empowerment Through Science The Catalyst Society .................16 As always, we are profoundly grateful for the dedicated efforts of our 25 staff, 250 volunteers, The Sciencenter is fostering a new generation of youth empowered and 2,500 members. We couldn’t do it without your gifts of talent, time, and financial support. to address the global challenges of our times by helping parents and Endowment Report ..................17 caregivers actively coach and facilitate their children’s learning. Thank you for all you do to grow the impact of the Sciencenter! 2012 Financial Report ................18 Building on our strength in elementary science, our new Learning Families educational framework pushes boundaries in three key ways: Corporate and Foundation Giving......19 age, geographic reach, and depth. Sciencenter Board ...................20 Sciencenter Staff . 21 Robin Davisson Charlie Trautmann Chair, Board of Trustees Executive Director 2 3 Early Explorers Young Scientists NanoDays Future Science Future Scientist: We celebrated with special hands-on activities Caroline Prybyl This initiative supports the curiosity and creativity of To build confidence and bolster the collaborative spirit of children ages 5-11, this about nanotechnology, the smallest BIG idea in early learners ages 0-5, through programming, parent initiative emphasizes open-ended exhibit experiences and re-imagined educational science. Leaders Having grown up in workshops, preschool science curriculum, and research. programs and activities. This initiative provides opportunities for Showtime! Ithaca, Caroline Prybyl middle school students to remain connected More than 3,000 guests experienced science in knows the Sciencenter Curiosity Corner Programming 2012-2013 Exhibitions to science through teaching, research, action through weekly interactive amphitheater well. During her many Every week children four and under enjoy a story followed by programs ranging from cutting edge science to and projects. We foster the growth of visits to the museum as a science activity in our Curiosity Corner. In the past year this gardening at home. critical thinking and communication skills, a child, she was drawn program has drawn 750 children, with its popularity growing as well as leadership and community as families make it a regular engagement. Weekly Wonders to interactive exhibits responsibility. such as Watergates, the Shadow Wall, the Hoop gliders, stomp rockets, and scream cups are CU’s Early Childhood Cognition Lab fish, aquariums, and the Emerson Science just a few of the special hands-on activities offered Summer Camp: Early Childhood Cognition Lab Park. “The Sciencenter sparked curiosity Cornell’s brings every weekday during the summer. Counselors-in-Training undergraduates, graduate students, and professional for me,” Caroline explains. “I loved learning Students mentor younger campers, run hands-on researchers together with Sciencenter guests to study staff Sciencenter Field Trips about mysteries—why something happens activities with museum guests, present the Touch how young children learn. This partnership benefits all— Kids Discover the Trail! In partnership with , the Tank programs for campers, and produce a daily at an exhibit—and I felt inspired to figure researchers find willing study participants, and parents nd Discovery Space Sciencenter invited 1,200 2 graders in Tompkins newsletter for parents of campers. out what was happening and how it was learn about current studies in child development while This quiet area off the museum floor is for County for a free field trip to learn about happening.” their children play an interactive game. The Sciencenter families to explore the world of science through renewable energy and participate in an engineering Citizen Science shares research findings with parents and offers strategies to In 10th grade, Caroline wanted to get Sponsor: M&T Bank activity kits and games. Guests investigate a challenge to build their own windmills, or learn In partnership with the Finger Lakes Institute, encourage science skill development in young children. more involved with the Sciencenter and Media sponsor: wide variety of science topics including magnets, about our watershed and experience our live Community Science Institute, and the Cornell Cayuga Radio Group animal Touch Tank. became a Counselor-In-Training (CIT) in Programs at the Downtown fossils, and electricity. In 2012, 15,130 guests Lab of Ornithology, middle school kids learn the museum’s summer camp program. Ithaca Children’s Center participated in activities in the Discovery Space. about science and share their knowledge with Afterschool Enrichment She led activities with campers and Every week a Sciencenter educator leads lessons for museum guests. Emerson Science Park This takes place at local elementary schools and particularly enjoyed taking them on preschool children highlighting the process of science, with Guests enjoy science outside with hands-on runs for six weeks. The Sciencenter provided Floating Classroom a literacy component. Each lesson includes a story and a cruises on Cayuga Lake. exhibits that let them climb and hang, make hands-on science activities afterschool to students According to Caroline, “The Sciencenter science-related activity. at Enfield, Caroline, Belle Sherman, Northeast, BJM, music, investigate bubbles, and bounce on the makes science fun!” and Cayuga Heights. Workshops and Professional Development world’s ONLY Kevlar Suspension Bridge. Sponsored in part by: Caroline is now pursuing a major in Sciencenter staff conduct workshops in the community on Media sponsor: WVBR Tompkins Trust Programs Star Lab Outreach Company environmental studies at Cornell, with a how children learn and how to encourage children’s interest Our interactive educational programs offer an Star Lab, our portable planetarium, provided in science. This year’s workshops took place at Head Start, minor in marine science. She is particularly array of topics such as air, light and sound waves, programs for 200 children at the Downtown Ithaca interested in ocean conservation and WSKG, and the Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center. Children’s Center, local preschools, and Dryden simple machines, magnets, and matter, each is studying marine science at Cornell’s Exhibition Sponsors including both a collaborative component and High School. Shoals Marine Lab off the coast of New an open-ended challenge. Hampshire this summer. “The Sciencenter Homeschool Science helped lead me to my love of science. Sciencenter staff Sciencenter Our Homeschool Science Program is designed It’s a big part of why I’m doing what I’m Using readily available as a family learning experience for parents and now doing.” materials to learn about children ages 6-12 to participate together using building structures and special