Sat 2/13 & Sun 2/14
This Valentine’s Day weekend, rediscover the Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) in proclaiming your love for science at their inaugural affair, Smitten with Science. The special event takes places Sat 2/13 10am-5 pm, and Sun 2/14 noon -5pm.
You got that right — it’s a family-friendly Valentine’s Day celebration full of science! There’ll be workshops for learning how to write secret love notes, uncovering the science of (magnetic) attraction, creating your very own cupid crossbow and on-site animal adoptions in partnership with the Cleveland Animal Protective League.
“One of our main goals here at the Science Center is to make science, technology, engineering and math come alive for our visitors. We try to forge connections between people and the everyday science that surrounds them,” says Joe Yachanin, communications director at the Great Lakes Science Center. “One of the best ways to do that is through hands-on programming, and our super-creative education staff came up with some very fun and timely seasonal science ideas to tie into Valentine’s Day.”
Guests of all ages learn how science can explain the seemingly unexplainable as they explore six themed exhibition areas and encounter a calf with two faces, an albino porcupine, the “Impossible Gate,” artifacts, shrunken heads and a host of other curated curios from Robert Ripley’s legendary collection.
“The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” will be on site through April 24th. It’s a special 6,000 square-foot traveling exhibition, packed full of one-of-a-kind oddities, record-setting feats, biological anomalies and interactive exhibits. (Price is included with regular admission.)
“Each one of our special events has a few things in common. We try to make many of the activities free and included with your general admission, and we make sure they are fun and educational at the same time,” explains Joe. “Smitten with Science, in particular, is different in that we’ve themed the activities and programs around our love of science! Guests will be able to make their own stethoscope and listen to their family’s heartbeats and learn how to make a secret message using goldenrod paper and a chemical reaction involving a base. Plus, they can learn all about the science of magnetic attraction in that weekend’s special Big Science Show and check out a “Chemistry of Candy” demonstration in one of our labs.”
And, just because GLSC’s heart belongs to science doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a little four-legged companionship as well! “The APL does a lot of great work in the community and we know they do adoption events off site on a regular basis. We thought it would be a great fit for our event and make Smitten with Science just a little sweeter,” Joe says.
“Personally, I’m most excited for one of the ‘make and take’ activities that involves building my own cupid crossbow. This activity will teach guests about potential and kinetic energy — and best of all, after you build your crossbow, you’ll be able to test it out by firing it at a target on our practice range,” concludes Joe.
Most of the Smitten with Science activities are free with general admission ($15 per person for adults and $12 per person for youth ages 2-12). Tickets are $12/family of four and $10 for members to participate in the dissection workshop. To register for special workshops and to see the weekend scheduleFor the full schedule of events, visit Great Lakes Science Center.
[Photo by Kristen Beck]Cleveland, OH 44114