At the Science Center, we specialize in the element of surprise--trust us when we say you don't want to miss a moment of the fun we're having this summer. With something new to experience every day, your entire family can enjoy indoor AND outdoor entertainment during the summer months here at the museum. We've got something for everyone--whether you're 2 or 102, you can have fun and enjoy our animals, brand-new exhibits, special summer programs, and more. To start the summer off right, we'll have a discount on memberships from June 11-18; see below for more info! We do ask that you review our COVID-19 policies prior to your visit for guest and staff health safety. We will be closed for Memorial Day, but beginning June 1, our hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Discover Our Animal Ambassadors
From June 2 through September 3, join our Creature Features every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 11-11:30 a.m. We are home to over 35 animals, so expect to see a vast array of scales, feathers, and fur. Our trained educators are a wealth of unique facts when it comes these animals, so you'll definitely leave each presentation with new knowledge. This is a great opportunity for all ages to safely interact closely with our Animal Ambassadors--if you're feeling brave, you'll even get to touch some of the animals! We have varying species that are native to our region, exotic, or even invasive species in some cases. With such a wide array of animals, you can expect to see fuzzy or scaly new faces every day. This is definitely one of our more popular programs, so be sure to grab your spots early to enjoy the show! Access to Creatures Features is included with general admission.
Become the Chemistry Expert
We absolutely live for leaving a lasting impression on our guests, and we find lighting things on fire or small-scale explosions help us accomplish this goal. Our Chem Demos give guests a safe viewing experience during our 'Mad Scientist' moments, but this year, we want your family to go chemistry crazy, too. Join our all-new Chemistry Corner every Friday to be wowed with awesome feats of science. Witness a Chem Demo at 11:30 a.m. followed immediately from 12-1 p.m. by hands-on chemistry and science experiments your whole family can do together. Chemistry Corner begins June 4 and runs until September 4; access is also included with general admission.
Climb Aboard the STEAM Machine
This is definitely our version of the Magic School Bus, graciously donated to us by Liza Jackson Prep School in Spring of 2021. Join our newest summer program every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 1:30-2:30 p.m. Enjoy different activities every week, from human and animal biology, to virology, chemistry, and more. Learn about things like how viruses work, the effect of oil spills on birds, how food fuels us, and other topics. In the STEAM Machine, you'll be able to explore creative ways to solve challenges with the whole family. For our upcoming schedule of activities, visit our events page. STEAM Machine activities will be held June 2, 2021 through July 29, 2021.
Experience SMALLab Excitement
With SMALLab, you can experience cutting-edge science magic. A system of infrared cameras track your movement while you play on a 15x15 grid, completing activities together as a family or mixing things up with some healthy competition (no judging here). Whether it's a fun game of Memory trying to matching our animals, debating Marvel vs DC characters, or learning a new language, SMALLab has a lesson for just about everything...and they're so much fun you don't even realize you're learning! You'll be up, moving and immersed in enjoyment, we promise.
We'll have SMALLab open to the public from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday beginning June 2 until September 4. This one is great for ALL ages since there are so many different types of games. It's recommended that you book your time in SMALLab before your visit, so just call 850-664-1261 or sign up when you check in at the front desk during your visit! Reservations are made in 20- to 25-minute increments so that each family visiting the center has the SMALLab room and experience to themselves.
Looking for Drop-Off Workshops?
Summer STEAM Workshops start June 14! We have exciting new workshops for 2021 including hands-on, interactive lessons that give kids the opportunity to spend their vacation on a science adventure. From Disney-inspired engineering to galactic space adventures and our Wizarding World of Science, Monday and Tuesday workshops will delight and educate all.
Camp time includes the lessons listed on our camp page as well as fun activities in SMALLab, in our new STEAM Machine, and in our outdoor exhibit area, plus a 20-minute lunch break. Each week, there will be the same theme on Monday and Tuesday, but there will be different activities each day, so sign up for both days to experience the ultimate amount of fun!
We offer member discounts, multiple sibling discounts, and 10% off workshops when you sign up for at least 8 workshops at once, and 20% off if you sign up for all 15 workshops at once. To sign up for workshops, call 850-664-1261, stop by, or visit our events calendar. SPACES ARE FILLING UP QUICKLY!
Enjoy it all with a membership!
We LOVE our members, and we'll be running a special from June 11 to 18 only: receive 20% off all Science Center memberships so you can be ready to celebrate the summer with us! Our members get in FREE to the museum as many times as they'd like, so all general admission activities like the Makerspace Experience, Chem Demos, Creature Features, Planetarium Nights, and SMALLab experiences come at absolutely no additional cost to our members. Members also receive discounts on all our workshops and in our gift shop! Are you planning on traveling this summer? Because your Science Center membership also gets you access to over 300 other Association of Science and Technology Center museums for free! Check out the list of participating museums here.
For more information about the types of memberships we offer or to grab this awesome discount, please visit our membership page. Membership discount offer cannot be combined with any other offers or used on previous purchases.
We look forward to seeing you and your family this summer!