By Jennifer Breuer, Co-Editor of RocketCityMom.com
Spring Break is just a few weeks away and summer is right around the corner. Have you made your plans yet? Don’t worry, you’ve still got time and this Saturday, you’ve also got a lot of help! Hosted by Sci-Quest and the Huntsville Arts Council, the Spring Into Summer Activities Fair will give you the low-down on literally hundreds of camp offerings throughout the Tennessee Valley. For a full list of exhibitors, click here. Saturday also serves as Sci-Quest’s annual Community Open House so admission is completely free! Doors open at 9 AM and close at 6 PM. The fair runs from 9-5 PM.
To find out more about this exciting day and a few upcoming changes for Sci-Quest, I spoke with the museum’s Marketing Manager Jennifer Deermer.
Q: This is the second year of the Activities Fair. For those who don’t know anything about it, describe what it is and how it came about.
The Arts Council approached Sci-Quest last year to discuss ideas about ways to market spring and summer camps offered by The Arts Council members. Sci-Quest and the other attractions are all members of The Arts Council, and all not-for profit organizations. After a brainstorming session, we decided to offer the Spring into Summer Activities Fair. We utilized the annual Sci-Quest “Free Day” to hold the event so that it would be free to the public. The event highlights spring break and summer camps offered by 30 different nonprofit agencies focusing on science, art, culture and nature. Parents can come and participate in a “one-stop shopping venue” for all of their spring and summer needs for their children. The camps focus on education and fun. Several hundred camps will be highlighted, so there is something for everyone. In addition to the booths set up by the various agencies, there will be door prize drawings every 15 minutes and performances throughout the day by the various Arts Council agencies. There will be hands-on activities throughout the day for the children to enjoy. Buffalo Rock will offer food items for sale for convenience of the attendees. Over 1,300 individuals attended the first Spring into Summer Activities Fair last year, so we have extended the hours this year to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the expected crowds for the day.
Q: One of my favorite things about the Fair is that it doubles as a free day for parents to check out Sci-Quest but it is a pretty crowded day. What advice would you have for families who’ve never been to Sci-Quest before about what to be sure they don’t miss?
This is a great day to check out Sci-Quest if you have never been before! The exhibits will all be open and there will be plenty to do. You will want to check out the Cells Exhibit, which is unique to Sci-Quest. You will also want to check out the WHNT News 19 Weather Station and do a weather forecast. Once your kids get a taste of what Sci-Quest has to offer, they will want to come back, so we advise you to stop by the front desk and purchase a family membership for $75. With that, you can come back to Sci-Quest for the entire year for free! The membership will also entitle you to visit 300 science centers throughout the US for free as well, so if you travel you will be able to utilize your Sci-Quest Membership on the road. Sci-Quest is truly “An Experiment in Fun!” and you will want to return time and time again.
Q: There is talk about Sci-Quest moving locations. Is that because you are outgrowing the space and if so, any inside scoop on exciting new attractions that might be in the works?
Sci-Quest has expanded during the past four years, and now serves over 100,000 visitors each year. We have been actively planning for a new facility in Huntsville during this past year. We are currently exploring several options for a new location, and will have an announcement soon. The new Sci-Quest will be an exciting, state-of-the-art facility which will make Huntsville and the North Alabama region proud! There will be something for everyone in the new Sci-Quest facility, and it will be a true destination location for tourists and a community gathering place for our locals. If your readers have suggestions on what they would like to see in the new Sci-Quest, please feel free to contact me at jdeermer@sci-quest.org. Be sure to get your family membership now, so that you will be a part of the future at Sci-Quest.
Sci-Quest Spring Into Summer Activities Fair:
March 3, 2012
9 am- 5 pm
Free Admission All Day!
102-D Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
256-837-0606
About Rocket City Mom
Rocket City Mom is an online parenting website created in 2010 by a local mom who was new to Huntsville and looking for information on raising kids in the Tennessee Valley. The site now has more than 10 regular contributors, all local moms and dads, who share their insights and experiences with the goal of making life just a little easier for other local parents. On the site, you’ll find reviews of local attractions, a directory of services and businesses that have been mom approved, resource information (i.e. moms groups, support groups, birthday party planner, kids eat free) and much more!
Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.
