Deck the Hall with Ologies! | Jan. 2 - 5 | 11:00am - 3:00pm daily

✨ This is your last chance to attend Deck the Halls with Ologies! ✨

Kick off the year with curiosity and wonder as we invite you to explore the fascinating world of “ologies” and experience the magic of science through festive exhibits and hands-on workshops. Experiences during this event include:

🐛 Entomology: The study of insects! Experience the wonders of metamorphosis with live, touchable insects showcasing different life stages.

🦠 Microbiology: The study of microorganisms! Experiment with germs to uncover their hiding spots and learn the secrets to truly clean hands.

🦖 Paleontology: The study of life on Earth through fossils! Get hands-on with REAL fossils and uncover the secrets of ancient life. Visit our exploreLAB to journey back in time and experience a world from Earth's prehistoric past!

💎 Geology: The study of Earth! Explore the wonders of Earth's treasures in our Mineral Gallery, featuring sparkling gems, dazzling crystals, and more.

⚒️ Anthropology: The study of humans! Discover how early civilizations used natural resources for survival, and try your hand at ancient tools.

🌱 Biology: The study of life! Craft your own bean sprouting kit to grow and observe germination at home.

🪐 Cosmology: The study of the Universe! Embark on a stellar journey through galaxies with the Acheson Planetarium.

🐯 Zoology: The study of animals! Discover the fascinating art of animal camouflage and match your animal to the ideal environment where it can seamlessly blend in.

💧 Rheology: The study of how materials deform and flow! Investigate the science behind how materials bend, stretch, and flow! Get hands-on with oobleck, a captivating non-Newtonian fluid that defies classification as either a liquid or a solid.

🤖 Robotics: Explore the world of robotics! Create a robot glider that you can control with a simple tug on a string.

⚙️ Engineering: Delve into the world of designing, testing, and constructing machines! Put your engineering skills to the test by building a strong bridge that can bear weight.

🫧 Physics: Uncover the science behind matter and energy! Experiment with surface tension, observe what happens when two bubbles collide, and challenge yourself to blow a bubble inside another bubble.

🧪 And more!

Activities are FREE with the purchase of general admission, with the exception of the planetarium, exploreLAB and The Science of Archimedes exhibition, which require an additional fee.

Family Workshops | Select Saturdays | 1:00pm to 3:00pm 

This year, embark on scientific adventures that the whole family will enjoy! 

Join us for one of our engaging Family Workshops, featuring hands-on activities and interactive experiences that spark curiosity and inspire a love for science in all ages.

Upcoming workshops include: 

🍪 The Science of Food | February 1, 2025

🧪 Chemical Reactions in Action | February 22, 2025

⚡ Electric Adventures | March 2, 2025

🦖 Dino Fossil Detectives | March 22, 2025

✈️ Flying High | April 5, 2025 

🐸 Down by the Pond | May 3, 2025

Registration is required. Tickets are $17 for members and $20 for non-members.

Explore Camps are Back and Better Than Ever! | Mid-Winter, Spring, & Summer Break 

Our on-site STEAM camps provide curious campers with hands-on experiences that allow them to learn through doing with fun activities, experiments, and investigations. The museum will transform into a laboratory for campers, featuring daily programs like planetarium shows, interactive science demos, dinosaur activities, exploreLAB workshops with critters and fossils, and more.

NEW! In addition to our beloved Summer Camps, we are thrilled to introduce our FIRST-EVER Mid-Winter and Spring Break Explore Camps! These new camps offer a fun and educational way to keep kids engaged during the winter and spring breaks. 

But don’t delay—spots are limited! 

Camps cover a wide range of scientifically fun topics, from the wonders of biology, geology, paleontology, and astronomy to mastering outdoor skills and tackling STEAM challenges.

☀️ Summer Break Explore Camp Dates: 

June 9 - 13 | June 16 - 20 | July 7 - 11 | July 14 - 18 | July 21 - 25 | July 28 - August 1 | August 4 - 8

Each week is filled with new experiences – sign up for one or multiple! Summer Camps are designed for students entering grades K-3, with limited dates for students entering grades 4-9. 

❄️ Mid-Winter Break Explore Camp Dates: 

Feb. 17, 18, and/or 19

🌷 Spring Break Explore Camp Dates: 

March 24, 25, 26, and/or 27

Each day is filled with new experiences – sign up for one or multiple! Winter and Spring Break Camps are designed for students in grades 1-4.

New Year, New Perks! | Become a Member Today 

Have you explored our brand-new, revamped membership levels, yet? Designed to make 2025 your most exciting year of scientific exploration, our upgraded memberships offer unlimited opportunities to explore, discover, and make a difference!

Now, current and new Institute members will have the opportunity to take advantage of new benefits, including: 

🎁 With every Back Stage membership purchase, a family membership will be donated in your name to a household in need.

🎊 50% off general admission to 200 children’s museums nationwide through the ACM Reciprocal Network for Back Stage, All Access, Galactic, and Family membership levels.

✨ Free general admission to 1,391 NARM art museums and galleries, historical museums and societies, botanical gardens, children’s museums, zoos, and more for Back Stage and All Access membership levels. 

🤩 15% discount on CIS Summer Camps, birthday parties, overnights, and special events for ALL membership levels.

🎉 Discounts on Science Shop and Reflections Cafe purchases.  

😍 Discounted or FREE admission tickets to the Acheson Planetarium, Changing Exhibit, and exploreLAB.

🥳 And more!

All Institute memberships (Companion, Family, Galactic, All Access, and Back Stage) will still include long-standing benefits like free admission to all permanent exhibits, exclusive invitations to members-only events, access to hundreds of Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) museums, and more.

The Science of Archimedes | Open through June 1, 2025

Looking for some family fun to kick off the new year? Dive into the mystery of the Archimedes Dial! 

In Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the legendary Archimedes Dial—also known as the Antikythera—is portrayed as a device for time travel, allegedly invented by Archimedes himself. 

But what’s the real story? 

You might be surprised to know that the Antikythera Mechanism isn’t for time travel at all—it’s a hand-powered model of the solar system! Recent studies reveal it could predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance, making it the oldest analog computer ever discovered.

It dates back to the 2nd Century BC, though the actual inventor remains a mystery. Some believe Archimedes, known for his genius innovations, could have been behind it. After all, this is the man who built war machines to defend Syracuse and unlocked groundbreaking principles in math and science that we still use today! 

Ready to uncover shocking facts from fiction? Explore Archimedes’ incredible legacy at our newest traveling exhibit, The Science of Archimedes!

Tickets to Archimedes are $8 for adults and $6 for children (ages 2-12) and seniors (65+) for non-members. Tickets for Family or Companion Members are $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Back Stage, All Access, and Galactic Members and children under 2 are free. Non-members must also pay general museum admission.

The Science of Archimedes is presented by the Leinweber Foundation with additional support from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Don’t Forget! 

• Register for Free First Friday (January 3), courtesy of MASCO, to get FREE admission to the Institute! Free admission hours are from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Pre-registration is required.
• Experience everything the museum has to offer for only $5 every Friday after 5:00pm! General admission and Acheson Planetarium tickets will be available for just $5 each. Learn more. 
• And during your next visit at the Institute, stop by our Science Shop and Reflections Café for apparel, books, souvenirs, and tasty snacks and beverages.