Science is Fun at Connecticut Attractions
Since its opening in June, the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford has re-confirmed that science can be fun through engaging and inspiring exhibits. The Connecticut Science Center is the newest addition to educational destinations across the state that have been inspiring careers in science, innovation and exploration by offering free or low cost activities that are accessible to everyone.
The Connecticut Science Center is the beginning of your science journey in Connecticut. With 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens and adults. At the center, every part of science is at a visitor’s fingertips, from physics to forensics, geology to astronomy. With a wide array of exhibits and hands-on activities, the Connecticut Science Center is quickly becoming a beacon for learning and fun.
After spending time at the Connecticut Science Center, adults and kids alike can continue their exploration of health, physics, exploration, aviation and outer space themes by visiting one of the many other science themed museums and educational centers that continue to inspire young people.
Health
Did you know that science is a part of our everyday activities? Now is your chance to find out at the Connecticut Science Center’s Sports Lab and Picture of Health exhibits. At the Sports Lab, use a sophisticated computer program to select the sports and activities that suit you best. Learn the dynamics behind equipment safety as you mix and match padding and shells to create your own version of a helmet. At the Get it in Gear station, explore a unique collection of sports technologies that are leading the industry into the future. Videotape yourself performing athletic activities then compare your results to local, regional and national celebrities at the Virtual Coach station.
If you are interested in personal health and the effects our life choices have on our body then the Picture of Health exhibit is for you! Get a better understanding of how lifestyle can affect personal health at the Life Span station. Feed a fictional character to see different aspects of each food item they digest such as dietary information and caloric intake. Learn about the fascinating world of genes and how we can use an understanding of the subject to make healthier lifestyle choices. The People with Prosthetics station features actual examples of prosthetic devices and stories from people who have overcome obstacles in their life with the help of science.
After visiting the Connecticut Science Center, learn more about health and science at the Bodies Revealed exhibit at Foxwoods in Mashantucket. The Bodies Revealed exhibition allows visitors of all ages to explore deep within the human body in a way that informs but doesn’t overwhelm. The exhibition uses 14 full body human specimens and over 200 organs to tell the story of the miraculous systems at work within each of us every second of our existence.
Then, put what you have learned to use at one of Connecticut’s outdoor attractions or sporting venues:
Connecticut State Parks
(Statewide) – Get outdoors and get active at Connecticut’s 71 State parks and forests. Spend a day hiking, biking, swimming and canoeing along the trails and waterways of the parks and forests throughout our state.
Connecticut Minor League Baseball (New Britain Rock Cats, Connecticut Defenders, Bridgeport Bluefish) – Grab a mitt and have a catch, run the bases or swing for the fences! Learn about the game and the science involved during a Minor League Baseball game this summer. These teams offer great promotions throughout the year and great lessons for young athletes!
Connecticut sport centers (CT Sportsplex in North Branford; Sports Center of CT in Shelton; Only Game in Town in North Haven) – Learn how to hit, throw, kick and shoot at one or all of Connecticut’s multi-purpose sport facilities. With a diverse offering of activities between them including soccer, flag football, mini-golf, ice skating, softball and more, each site has something for every level and type of sports enthusiast!
Physics/Motion
What can the power of the wind, magnets and robotics do for you? Find out when you visit the Forces in Motion exhibit at the Connecticut Science Center. Use a motion analyzer to see the effects of gravity on different objects in super slow motion or compete against others to see who can keep the motion-related designs they have created flying longer, racing faster or shooting straighter. Get behind the controls of a ball-throwing robot and set the trajectory for a perfect toss at the Robotic Ball Throw station.
After a fun day at the Connecticut Science Center, see the forces in action at one of Connecticut’s Amusement Parks. At Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, feel the force of one of Quassy’s roller coasters, let gravity guide you back to the ground on one of Quassy’s water park slides or just enjoy the 20 rides and attractions located throughout the park. At Lake Compounce in Bristol, enjoy thrill rides and water slides that bring the idea of forces in motion to life!
Exploration for Young Children
Looking for an educational and exciting experience for children ages seven and under? The Connecticut Science Center’s Kid Space exhibit is the perfect place for developing minds to learn about the fun involved with science. Little ones can roll up their sleeves and explore the different forces found in nature as they play with floating blocks, gushing fountains, water jets and more. Children can learn about transfer of energy between objects at the Magnetic Ball Wall or relax in a quiet corner and read books full of adventure and new worlds in the Science Center’s Reading Nook.
Explore even more at other great children’s sites across the state!
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s No Child Left Inside program encourages young explorers to enjoy all the recreational resources and outdoor activities available at Connecticut's state parks, forests and waterways. From Kent Falls in Kent and Stratton Brook in Simsbury to Fort Trumbull in New London, it's time to discover the great outdoors!
The Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk offers four main galleries, a toddlers-only gallery and more than 100 hands-on activities geared to children ages 10 and under.
At KidCity in Middletown, toddlers and young children use their imaginations to create their own worlds of fun and excitement at the museum’s ten interactive exhibits.
The Imagine Nation Children’s Museum in Bristol is a hands-on, interactive children's museum that teaches children while they have fun.
The Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Garbage Museum in Stratford offers tours, hands-on activities, unique exhibits including the Trash-o-saurus and a skybox view of the tipping and sorting process at the recycling center.
Aviation and Outer Space
Go on an out of this world adventure at the Connecticut Science Center’s Exploring Space exhibit. Examine moon rocks or inspect an actual space suit while viewing some of the great souvenirs brought back from space throughout the years. Strap into a flight chair and take control of the world's first ever Mars Flyover where you will see actual images from the surface of Mars including the largest volcano in our solar system and other important regions on the red planet. Later, check out a supernova as you navigate your way through the galaxy on a space adventure. Then, continue your extraterrestrial fun at other great sites across the state that focus on space and the world beyond.
At the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, guests will learn about space exploration by becoming part of the team conducting missions to the moon at the museum’s Challenger Learning Center.
At the West Hartford Children’s Museum, learn about different constellations and see what it is like living on a space station at the Traveler’s Science Dome.
The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks takes guests on a fascinating ride through aviation history. With over 125 aircraft and 200 engines on display, the museum houses one of the largest aircraft artifacts collections in the world!
Connecticut’s Rivers and Our Ocean Environment
New England's largest river is vital to our history, our economy, our ecosystems and our future energy needs. At Connecticut Science Center’s River of Life exhibit, visitors immerse themselves in an interactive exploration of the river and its importance to our environment. Navigate the entire length of the Connecticut River by helicopter, from its source along the Canadian border to its mouth on Long Island Sound at the River’s Journey station. The center’s wet lab gives visitors a chance to test river water quality and search for small organisms with specialized high-tech meters and lab equipment. Get an up close look at the different fish and wildlife that call the river home at Habitat Junction. Crawl under tanks and stick your head into windows to see the amazing diversity of the river’s ecosystem.
Get an even closer look at Connecticut’s marine wildlife at these sites along the river and on Long Island Sound.
At SoundWaters in Stamford, embark on Hands-On Ecology Cruises and learn about water quality, marine life, observe organisms from the water with microscopes and examine a salt marsh while learning how important all these pieces are to the ecosystem of Long Island Sound.
The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk helps visitors appreciate Long Island Sound and protect it for future generations.
Project Oceanology in Groton is a marine science and environmental education program that utilizes a variety of oceanographic equipment and vessels to educate students and the general public. Lighthouse expeditions, oceanographic research cruises and seal watches are just a few of the unique educational outings offered to families. In Milford, the Connecticut Audubon Society, located at the intersection of the Housatonic River and Long Island Sound, provides a special look at the wildlife that inhabits our local ecosystem. Through educational exhibits, demonstrations and lectures and programs the center is able to enhance the public’s understanding of the world we live in. Connecticut’s State Fish Hatcheries in Burlington and Quinebaug offer the opportunity to see where young trout and other fresh water fish are bred along the Connecticut River. Take self-guided tours of each facility as you learn about Connecticut’s native fish and the state’s fish repopulation efforts.
Innovation and Invention
The Invention Dimension exhibit at the Connecticut Science Center allows visitors to explore and demonstrate for themselves the process of invention. At the Chain Reactions station, use a small golf ball to start a chain reaction of events along a closed course. Create the next generation of vehicles at the Idea Generator station where photos of unusual vehicles and other transportation inventions inspire your design. Walk along the walls of this exhibit for a history lesson on the many inventions that were developed right here in Connecticut!
Now that your creative juices are flowing, visit these other sites across the state to inspire the inventor in you!
At the Time Expo Museum in Waterbury, learn about the Timex Group and its heritage dating back to the 1850s. A time tunnel leads to ancient mysteries, magnificent timepieces, hands-on activities and much more. Then, visit the nearby Mattatuck Museum where paintings and exhibits devoted to historically significant advancements help teach children about the significance of invention.
In Hamden, the Eli Whitney Museum provides a fascinating learning workshop for students, teachers, and families. The museum inspires young inventors with an array of experiments and educational courses.
Meanwhile, the New Britain Industrial Museum offers a glimpse at the many products that trace their roots to this city.
For more information on the Connecticut Science Center and other science related venues throughout the state go to CTvisit.com.
