Want to keep up with all our Out and About Mom adventures? The Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College offers free planetarium admission for up to four members of the same family membership to the ASTC. When she visits us in MA, we use the Durham pass to go to the Museum of Science in Boston. Union Station is a member of ASTC. You can also learn more by visiting the ACMs website or the ASTCs website. There are some museums and zoos that are listed as discounted admission, like the Philadelphia Zoo and are clearly identified on the MOS website. Show your EAA membership card at the admissions area of the museum you are visiting* to gain access to their facilities for free.**. 180 0 obj <>stream Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. Read here for the family zoo and science museum membership we bought. But the good news is that sometimes there are exceptions. ASTC- Association of Science and Technology Centers Founded in 1973, ASTC has approximately 650 members in nearly 50 countries. BTW, the Ecotarium is on our list of places we really want to visit. These museums are primarily for younger kids. Enjoy them! Playgrounds are slowly starting to open up again. For $62 we get free admission for our family of 7, to over 1,800 museums for the entire year. // {_|'??vM Purchase tickets online The kids are always excited to go to a zoo. Parking passes for Premium members must be picked up at the Box Office during business hours. Google Universal Analytics long-time unique user tracking identifier. Becoming a member is a great way to support your local accredited zoo or aquarium. Invitation to USKC Giving Society, including Signature Events. For $62 we get free admission for our family of 7, to over 1,800 museums for the entire year. JavaScript is required to operate this site. All other family members over four will get to pay the youth price. And I would definitely recommend them. However there are some restrictions for the ASTC one about it not working within 90 miles of your home address either I havent tested this yet but may be worth making some phone calls if this impacts you. The 12-month membership would begin when your recipient redeems the voucher. http://www.childrensmuseums.org/family-reciprocal-membership.html, 21 Fun Things To Do In Port St Joe Florida, 17+ Fun Things To Do In Philadelphia With Kids [Plus 1 day Itinerary], Best Hikes In Canyonlands National Park [Maps Included], Crazy Family Adventure One Year of Full-Time Family Travel - Crazy Family Adventure, Crazy Family Adventure 10 things we learned from 365 days of living and traveling in an RV - Crazy Family Adventure. I actually found out about the two deals I was considering through family and a Facebook-friend. Exclusions apply and benefits vary. + $14 per additional child. The prices vary greatly so we always check ahead of time. Within CT, we have free access to: Beardsley Zoo, Discovery Museum, West Hartford Childrens Museum (with a hassle), Stepping Stones (require ID), Lutz Museum, and I cant remember the others, but those are the ones we use regularly). Its a fabulous place and we had a great time. We are members of the Boston Science Museum, not the Childrens Museum. And guess what? Preserving Union Station and her stories. Kansas Citys Science Center is THE place for inquisitive minds of all ages to experience the amazing world of science with 92,000 sqft of indoor and outdoor hands-on learning and non-stop fun. Thanks for all the info Jen at www.free2breathe.com! Thanks for de-mystifying the ACM reciprocal membership changes for everyone I know its going to be a bumpy ride come April 1st, but this post will surely help folks understand the changes. For the last 6+ years they have explored all over North America and share their top tips on things to do in locations with kids, along with road trip ideas and tips on RVing. Not far away. This membership costs $125, but during the week of Black Friday, they had a sale and it was only $62! When you consider the amount youd like to gift, you can personalize the membership to the needs of the family. This site uses cookies. Dont have time to check back in? If you wish to attend the Intuitive Planetarium and the National Geographic Theater, it does cost extra. The museum must be at least 90 miles AWAY from your home address. USA. Also, you can like us onFacebookandTwitterto keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites. To learn more read, below. When we first started traveling we bought a membership online to the Montana Natural History Center. Ive written it off our list. All memberships include discounted admission to over 300 science centers and museums across the United States and around the world through the Association of Science and Technology Center's (ASTC) Travel Passport Program. The 12-month membership would begin when your recipient redeems the voucher. Of course, thats not always the easiest thing to do when you have small children! This essentially means that if you have two ASTC-participating museums in your city and you belong to one of them, you cannot go to the other one for free. I am sure there are LOTS of folks who have run into the same issue. Members also can get up to 10% off purchases from Star Store except for autographed books. How to Sign up for Reciprocal Museum Memberships? EXCLUSIONS 1. This one offers reciprocal benefits for ASTC, ACM, NARM, and Time Travelers. One point for clarification: the Connecticut Science Center is an ASTC member; however, the center doesnt participate in the Passport Program. You can get a membership for as little as $60/year with ASTC privileges. Hipcamp. And although youll want to check out municipal websites or call local Parks & Rec departments to double check on the status of those destinations before heading out, you can use our popular Big List of Connecticut Playgrounds to discover the more than 50 playgrounds []. Core Level - The Essentials. Located in Columbus, Georgia, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center offers a fun day of exploration. Whoa, you have to pay to go into your museums? Add-on to Dual: $25 per grandparent/nanny up to 1. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. 9:30 Roger Williams Park Zoo in RI is a favorite as is the Ecotarium in Worcester. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. EAA members can present the EAA Membership card to enjoy nearly 400 museum and science centers worldwide free of charge, thanks to a partnership with the Association of Science-Technology Centers and its ASTC Travel Passport Program. Press J to jump to the feed. We love science centers, they are educational hands on learning and play areas for kids and adults. Thanks for sharing your experience. https://tickets.unionstation.org/resend. Participants in government assistance and EBT . All who currently serve or have served in the U.S. Military receive a $3 discount on Museum Admission and a 10% discount on Dual through Family Plus memberships. We heard about a reciprocal to Kern County museum in California. I got screwed a second time over by not being able to get free admission to Museum of Science and Industry (also Chicago) because it was within 90 miles of the museum that I was a member of. Thanks so much for your feedback. To check if a museum participates in the ASTC Passport Program, click HERE. Your membership is tax-deductible and, with it, you remain part of our historic family of supporters helping ensure our place in the community for years to come. Sci-Store purchases - 10% off. Union Station including Science City and all of our vital offerings is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with an operating budget that is sustained through donations. The current annual price of the Montana membership is $60. Learn about Allied Member Benefits. 1. Enter your name and email and get our latest blog post straight to your inbox it's FREE! If you are a member of a science center or museum participating in the ASTC Passport Program, you are eligible for benefits such as free general admission when you travel outside of your local area. Questions/Comments. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Great question! I hope this works for others! I just found this post on researching the ASTC and ACM programs. When visiting a partner museum, just show your digital card for your membership to be honored. Actually The Children's Museum isn't part of ASTC. Thank you for your feedback, Molly. Google advertising cookie used for user tracking and ad targeting purposes. These programs are completely separate, although many museums in our state belong to both organizations. Thanks for sharing! Be a part of this go-to resource and sign up now! Many are privately owned by non-profit groups, so they have to charge admission in order to pay the bills. To review EAA's data privacy policy or adjust your privacy settings please visit: Click here to upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge. Certified Teacher Discounts 2 World-class Traveling Exhibit Guest Passes, including Auschwitz. We bought a gift membership to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC for our daughter who lives there. I felt terrible after hyping it up we had to turn around and get back in the car because paying full price wasnt an option for us. Located in Oakland, California, this wonderful space and science center will awe your family while you learn and explore space for the day. h%yoe],8{dI:wZ33 UEqT2o-ny[T GWY-PV5=wJ]RNJ^*C*-hV1P}yYJMGPZ'IRi,CHPkW,}v=+%FGZG|uW4GS##'47ETC}O}4RF[}]iZ>jHWz?__~EG?3?/;37? Government owned museums are mostly free, but some charge if the museum is fairly new and was expensive to build. Basically you buy an annual membership from a participating museum, zoo, or science center and you can use your membership for free or reduced admission at hundreds of others across the country. Thanks again for your feedback! Many museums, especially childrens museums, offer membership levels that include reciprocity with other museums. I feel dumb now. General Admission Includes admission to the aquarium, museum and zoo GSC Members: Free Adults (ages 14 - 64): $19.50 Seniors (ages 65+): $18.50 Children (ages 3 - 13): $17.50 Children 2 and Under: Free Want free admission for a year? Hope this helps! Thanks for the clarification! Core memberships are 100% tax deductible. Reciprocal admission is only available in person at the Perot Museum Box Office on the date of visit. Admission benefits at more than 300 different science centers and museums through the ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) Passport Program Supporting Memberships: Supporting Memberships help to create world-class exhibits and STEM educational programs. PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2013. What the heck is a reciprocal program anyway? Please note that AZA does not offer memberships to the public that provide discounts to any zoos or aquariums. A museum membership makes a good gift of shared experiences. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Union Station members receive FREE General or Discounted Admission to 300+ Science Museums Worldwide (including museums in Kansas and Missouri) through the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Program. They are located in River Grove, Illinois. To redeem your guest passes, please call membership at 816-460-2231 or visit the box office on Level B during business hours. Not far away. Participation in and the benefits of reciprocity programs can change at any time, so please keep these tips in mind: MSI members at all levels enjoy 50 percent off admission at the following museums: Can't find your answer online? Your browser is not compatible with this website. We are so lucky to have so many great museums in our state. Paid for family admission at the Museum of Science and Industry last time we were in Chicago. Open tomorrow It includes science centers and museums, as well as nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children's museums. 0 To purchase a membership using the value of your tickets, call 816-460-2231 or email [emailprotected]. Give thegiftof education, entertainment, and discovery. Members can gain free access to the exhibit gallery for up to four people. You just call and tell them you want the $136 membership and verify to make sure that it includes the ASTC, AZA, and ACM reciprocal program. This was a great savings. Present a valid military ID at time of purchase; at the museum only. We continued learning and the following year when the memberships were up for renewal we bought a membership from Dayton Society of Natural History, also called Boonshoft, for $145 and this membership gave us all three of the reciprocals. Copyright Out and About Mom 2011 - 2021. If you have a friend that works at one of these museums, they might have a program where they can add people onto their own membership plan for a discount. Zoos & Aquariums https://www.aza.org/reciprocity/ Thanks for being your awesome selves. Again these are only 50% off, so with a family of 7, the price can still add up. To provide a better user experience, EAA uses cookies. We use it all the time. Its not that they are encouraging you TO travel. If you arent close to Ohio I dont think it will impact you much. The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. Google Universal Analytics short-time unique user tracking identifier. PATRON MEMBERSHIP: Donate $250 to receive a Membership for 6 with parking and more, SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP: Donate $500 to receive a Membership for 8 with parking and more. Allied Members currently include companies and independent contractors; emerging science centers and museums not yet open to the public; foundations; scientific societies; community organizations; North American Federal, state, provincial, tribal, or local government agencies; and more. Members save 10% at Union Station Restaurants and Retail Stores, including: Escape Room, Museum of Illusions, Harvey's, Parisi Coffee, Pierpont's, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory & the Science City Store. (Any U.S. State or Territory)AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFederated States of MicronesiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarshall IslandsMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPalauPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming, Keyword Search by name, institution, or city (not required), 2020 Association of Science and Technology CentersSite map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. ASTC had=s attractions in all fifty states and some other countries, including Mexico and Canada. I had one questionwhen getting in free to other museums, is it a one-time benefit? So I can't buy a local membership. Your email address will not be published. Science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of the vi sitor's residence. Sustainers receive all the benefits of membership for up to 8 plus: Our Corporate Program offers various levels of engagement to fit your company. I believe North America as a whole has a reciprocal agreement with many big zoo's and aquariums. EAA is now hiring seasonal grounds crew employees! For example, if you have a membership to the Lutz Childrens Museum (both a ACM and a ASTC member), you can still get into the Providence Childrens Museum and the Boston Childrens Museum for FREE since those museums also offer reciprocity through both programs. Members can buy a small popcorn for only $1. They are a blast for kids under 10, but even our older kids love them. Membership at my museum easily pays for itself in a year. hb```) eaq4CaE?X\````h `*mb)H( f2 En62.ozc~~`NaA&N4#-KyAD A+ The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. If we bought our membership from the Living Desert zoo that we were visiting it would have cost us $130 for the year and all other zoos would be half off, none would have been free. This link has a list of all the participating museums and science centers. MSI belongs to the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), a global organization of science centers and museums. We use the heck out of our AZA and ACM memberships to stretch our legs on those long drives. Buy Membership. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Discovery World is a great place to spend the day with your family exploring. M|_ww/go?A>0wwBo}G_?_g}H~?7|xq;z/zo;ZZ z/?__c~}~7?=yg>?|` z;T~9{[rvqkZyn]*tgY8RgQCwh_IS:Rmk:#kI[iA. The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a membership organization of science engagement institutionsespecially science and technology centers and museums in North America and around the world that provide opportunities for lifelong learning about science and technology; connect science, technology, and society; engage diverse We sincerely appreciate your membership donation to Union Station. 2. ACM-Association of Childrens Museums 200+museums offer 50% discount up to 6 people/family membership. Heres a quick breakdown for some of the most popular museums in and around Connecticut: 4. IF you have more than six members in your family, regular rates apply for the rest of the group. Reciprocal admission through this program is an . Any particular favorites? The ASTC logo is in the top right corner. With your membership at Boston Childrens Museum, does that AZA get you into the Roger Williams Park Zoo for free or at a discounted rate? Wondering what museums are on the list? Nonprofit or for-profit organizations that engage the public in science and share ASTCs commitment to diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and equity, but that do not operate science centers or museums. Members also can get up to 10% off purchases from Star Store except for autographed books. IL This got us an ASTC membership. A day trip for my family of 5 to Field Museum is $65 admission with no extras (special exhibits, 3D movies,etc). Tips to finding the best zoo and museum memberships for you or your family. The San Diego Natural History Museum allows two adults and children under eighteen to spend the day exploring. Do you know what that means? Happy travels! We paid $109 for the day, but then we could get into other zoos for free or half price for the rest of the year. While your idea sounds good, one of the conditions is that you cannot get free admission to participating museums within 90 miles from your home address. Valid state-issued ID may be requested at the time of purchase. %%EOF [CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/97/1032023597.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-9fl4orvz7")); // ]]> There is also a less expensive option to purchase a membership without the ACM (Childrens Musuems) included in it. Premium members receive guest passes to our traveling exhibitions, Science City, and Planetarium. Thanks for your recommendations! Stacey Hi! from If your organization is passionate about increasing understanding ofand engagement withscience and technology among all people, ASTC is the community for you and your team members. At our first stop we had already saved money. Not long ago. Its always a good idea to call the membership office if you have any doubts about which membership levels include reciprocity. Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium first visit for free and additional tickets for only $4. The spirit of a Union Station membership is for the benefits to be used by the family members listed on the membership. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This site uses different types of cookies. Current Premium Members can pick up their parking passes Additionally, membership rates for individual museums may have increased since this post was published. Well, I have a confession to make. Here I am writing a blog filled with insider tips for getting out with your kids, and I made a doozy of a mistake! The Kentucky Science Center in Louisville is free admission too. Military Discount Active, Reserve, and Retired Military - $2.00 off per person in the immediate family with proper ID. Admissions, guest passes or discounts granted as a privilege of membership can never be sold to another person or entity. Thats a wonderful idea! Discover the universe like never before in our 60 foot, clear 360-degree dome featuring twin 4K projection technology, booming surround sound, and new seating and lighting. Adult (18+) $10. If someone like mesomeone who spends a good chunk of her free and waking hours researching and writing about things to do with kidscould make this mistake, then I am probably not alone. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Youth (5-17) $5. Click on each one to go to their website and check out the participating museums, centers and zoos and read about any special rules.