Summer Fun 2012

What do frogs, flying monsters, outer space, a Great Lakes Freighter and polar bears have in common? They are all part of Great Lakes Science Center’s 2012 summer fun lineup! Check out all of the family fun activities below!

Summer Fun Events
OMNIMAX Magic
Members-Only Events

Summer Fun Events

Steamship William G. Mather
May, September, October: Saturdays and Sundays only / 11 am – 5 pm
June, July, August: Tuesday through Sunday / 11 am – 5 pm

Climb aboard this historic Great Lakes freighter and explore its cargo holds, pilot house, guest quarters and engine room. New in 2012! The Great Lakes Story: Discover more than a dozen interactive exhibits that tell the story of how the Great Lakes were formed, what environmental threats they face, and how we’re using science and technology to help restore the health of these great bodies of water. Click here for more information!

Frogs! A Chorus of Colors
Special exhibition opens May 26

Immerse yourself in the colorful world of frogs. View more than 70 live frogs from around the world, test your frog I.Q., perform a virtual frog dissection and more. Kids can also learn how to make a Robot Frog* using simple materials and creativity! See how the slightest variations in leg shape or body weight will make a Robot Frog jitter and dance differently from the rest. *Additional fee for Robot Frog. Click here for more information!

Great Summer Science Day Camps
June 11 – August 17

Discover the scientists in you with week-long camps for students in preschool through high school. Choose from more than 40 different camp themes! Register here or at 216-621-2400.

Great Lakes Adventure Week
June 25 – July 1

Dive into a week of Great Lakes fun! Enjoy lake-themed activities, special programs, guest presenters, microscopic investigations and more.

Lake Erie Sails on the Appledore IV
June 28 – July 1

Take a two-hour sail aboard the schooner, Appledore IV. Enjoy the beauty of Lake Erie and participate in onboard activities for the whole family. Try your hand at knot-tying, participate in water-testing of Lake Erie and learn basic ship functions like setting sails. Explore Great Lakes history, Lake Erie geology and Great Lakes environmental issues. Or just sit back and enjoy the cruise!

$52 ($39 members). Presented as part of Great Lakes Adventure Week. Space is limited. Call 216-621-2400 to reserve tickets today.

Rock and Boom
July 4 at 7 pm

Celebrate Independence Day from the decks of the Mather and watch Cleveland’s fireworks. Food and drinks can be purchased onboard. $15 ($12 members). Call 216-621-2400 to reserve tickets.

New in 2012: Rock and Boom Family Four-Pack! Bring the entire family to the Science Center for an evening of fun!  Join a Fourth of July science-themed workshop, watch indoor fireworks, get hands-on with science and then view fireworks from the deck of the Mather. $75 for a family of four, which includes workshop, admission to Rock and Boom and one ticket per person for a hotdog, chips and drink. Call 216-621-2400 to reserve tickets.

Sweet 16 Birthday Celebration
July 21

Great Lakes Science Center is turning 16 years old, and what better way to celebrate our birthday than with fun family activities, wacky experiments, tasty treats and FREE OMNIMAX movies all day for guests! Regular Science Center admission fees apply. Click here for details!

Space Adventure Week
July 23 – 29

It’s a week of space-themed fun! Hear guest speakers from NASA Glenn Research Center, visit the STARLAB planetarium, enjoy hands-on activities and see the OMNIMAX movie, Destiny in Space. Want more space? Click here for additional activities.

Space Sleepover
Friday, July 27

It’s all space, all the time! Launch stomp rockets, design and test your own space capsule to see if it can survive a 70+ foot landing on a planet, sample “soil” from Mars, experiment with Liquid Nitrogen, explore the NASA Glenn Visitor Center exhibits, get transported to space in the OMNIMAX movie, Hubble, and explore our brand new exhibit, Frogs! A Chorus of Colors. Then grab your sleeping bag and spend the night. $39 per person. Register at 216-621-2400. For more information on our sleepover events, click here.

NASA Glenn Visitor Center

Discover more than 50 space-themed exhibits. Don’t miss special family programs on Space Saturdays on June 16 and July 28. Be sure to visit on Saturday, August 11, and meet NASA astronaut Greg Johnson in person.

The Fusion of Food and Science
Saturday, August 25
11 am – 4 pm

Ever want to play with your food and not get into trouble for it? Here’s your chance! Join us for our first-ever food science event, with a special appearance by Chef Steve Schimoler of Cleveland’s crop bistro & bar.

Take food science challenges and determine how important your senses are in the tasting process! Families of all ages are invited to watch and participate in taste experiments, while learning the science behind food.

This event is free with paid general admission to Great Lakes Science Center. Demonstrations are available on a first-come, first-served basis and limited quantities are available. Individuals with dairy, latex, egg or nut allergies are asked not to participate in tasting experiments.

Air Show Deck Party
September 1 – 3

View the 2012 Cleveland National Air Show from the Mather decks. Food and drinks sold on board. $16 ($12 members). Call 216-621-2400 to reserve tickets. New family workshops also available. Click here for more information.

OMNIMAX Magic

To The Arctic
Now playing

Take an extraordinary journey to the top of the world. Follow a mother polar bear and her twin cubs and witness a story of love, family and survival in the harshest place on earth. For tickets and show times, click here.

Flying Monsters
Opens Saturday, May 26

When dinosaurs walked the Earth, pterosaurs rules the prehistoric skies. Join world-renowned naturalist David Attenborough as he recounts the fascinating story of these flying creatures. For tickets and show times, click here.

All Access
Wednesdays and Saturdays in July at 5 pm

This raucous tribute to Rock and Roll will get you dancing in the aisles. See your favorite performers on our giant OMNIMAX screen. Suggested for mature audiences. For tickets and show times, click here.

Summer Movie Discount
Show your Cuyahoga County Public Library card at our box office and get $2 off Flying Monsters. Valid through Monday, September 3. Also, visit any Cuyahoga County Public Library branch and see the Flying Monsters display on view during the month of June. Each display showcases books, DVDs and CDs related to prehistoric creatures.

Members-Only Events

Member Appreciation Days
Friday, May 25 – Monday, May 28

Show your memberships card at the Science Store to receive 20% off your entire purchase. That’s an extra 10% savings from the regular member discount.

Saturdays & Sundaes
Saturday, July 7 and Saturday, July 21

Bring the entire family for a science scavenger hunt and for an ice cream social afterwards. $7 per person. Reservations at 216-621-2400.

On July 7th only: Taste liquid nitrogen ice cream! This isn’t your typical sweet treat – it’s a science experiment that you can eat! See our staff put on gloves and goggles and dramatically mix liquid nitrogen with everyday kitchen ingredients to make edible ice cream. Beware of the brain freeze!