Fort Wayne, IN Destinations: Science Central #3
The Science Central website says it best, “Why is Science Central important to the Fort Wayne community? Sure, it’s a fun place to bring the kids when the weather is rotten. But at its core, Science Central is much, much more than just a place to play. Science Central is a catalyst for learning, and it’s a catalyst for learning the most important subjects that employers will need our kids to know to perform work in the future – science, technology, engineering and math, or as they are commonly called, STEM. Careers in STEM are among the fastest growing fields in the nation. However, the United States is trailing behind the rest of the world when it comes to preparing students for success in these fields.”
Some of us were born for science and exploration and others not so much. No matter, slight pun intended, science central has something for all of us. The best part is you actually learn in a meaningful and fun way. That doesn’t really feel like the way I remember science class. Rather we can only wish we could have went to science central for the stated purpose of “learning science”.
Science Central was originally incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1987 by a group of teachers, parents, engineers, and community/business leaders who wanted to see the creation of a local science discovery center.
While working towards that goal, the group also set about developing hands-on science programs for use in schools, camps, and public settings. In June of 1989, Science Central sponsored the animatronic “Dinosaurs Alive” exhibit at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, and by its fifth year, over 130 schools and some 30,000 participants had taken part in the organization’s popular Teach Reach program.
Science Central, originally known as the Science Collective of Northeast Indiana, Inc., grew to include more than 200 volunteers. On November 5, 1995, this dedicated group’s dream became reality and Science Central opened its doors to the public for the first time. On that day, Science Central also became Indiana’s first hands-on science center.
Today, Science Central is an exciting mix of inspiring and fun hands-on learning and engaging fun! Each year through attendance, programming, and outreach they impact over 140,000 individuals and have served nearly 2 million people since opening!
So in conclusion it is really special this thing called science central we have right here in Fort Wayne and many of us drive right by it. I do not want to spoil the fun and surprises that await first time visitors. But I can tell you that 40-50 year olds can have a lot of fun too! Get this …
You can learn about gravity and have fun. You can learn about static electricity and have fun. Learn about sound waves and all kinds of scientific principles … you guessed it … have fun or sans boredom. Are you noticing a theme at play here?
At Chem-Dry of Allen County we understand the science of cleaning better than anyone else.
This might be a could time to warn you to watch out for mad scientist on the loose and beware of smiles and laughter. This is family entertainment at its finest.