Out and About Mom is a blog providing Connecticut parents with fun and creative ideas for family-friendly outings. However, if there is a specific museum you are interested in visiting, it never hurts to call ahead just to make sure there are no restrictions (some museums may have special times of day or certain days of the week when only card-holding museum members can visit, etc.). Also, you can like us onFacebookandTwitterto keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites. If you have older kids that may be the better option for you. Invitation to USKC Giving Society, including Signature Events. Reserve Tickets. My family has enjoyed membership at the Boston museum of Science for several years now. I work at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and all employees automatically get a free ASTC membership. The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your home address. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. We can send you specific announcements based on your topic selections below. Sometimes we pay just a couple dollars per person and other times we opt out and use one of our free reciprocals. Im so glad to hear that you have found a membership that works well for you and your family! Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable. Actually The Children's Museum isn't part of ASTC. However, it does not include 3-D films, and if you want to watch those, it does cost $5 per person. Becoming a member is a great way to support your local accredited zoo or aquarium. Sign up with your email address to receive our latest outing ideas and updates. Press J to jump to the feed. A museum membership makes a good gift of shared experiences. Taking advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program is easy. Here are links where you can find the lists: Science Museums http://www.astc.org/passport/ This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We have yet to find a childrens museum we dont like. Google advertising cookie used for user tracking and ad targeting purposes. Whoa, you have to pay to go into your museums? We have literally saved hundreds of dollars since we bought ours back in January! If you do decide to visit the Chicago museums, it's totally worth buying the $70 Indiana State Museum family membership. How to Sign up for Reciprocal Museum Memberships? Exclusions apply and benefits vary. Core memberships are 100% tax deductible. The two major member organizations that offer these reciprocal programs are the Association of Childrens Museums (ACM) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). The kids are always excited to go to a zoo. You will have admittance to the Extreme Mount Washington Museum in the Mt. We regularly use our reciprocal benefits as they offer ASTC & AZA. Tax-deductible membership gifts and Annual Fund donations are non-refundable. With our membership we get: Free admission or discounts to science museums - ASTC science museums ( http://www.astc.org) Discounts at zoos and aquariums -AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums ( https://www.aza.org ), Half price at Children's Museums - ACM Association of Children's Museums ( http://www.childrensmuseums.org) Members also can get up to 10% off purchases from Star Store except for autographed books. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Free visits to Science City, Planetarium. Our Premium Members receive FREE tickets to the exhibit and can book those tickets for any date, even dates that are sold out! The next year got even better. You will need to provide proof of your residence. 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. ACM-AssociationofChildrensMuseumsHalf price admission to over 200 childrens museums. 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. Members save $50 on birthday party packages. Be a part of this go-to resource and sign up now! This site uses different types of cookies. The US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will grant free admission to one adult and up to two children free with membership to ASTC. Costco says the time to raise membership prices is 'about now,' but it won't just yet: 'We'll let you know'. 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). Thanks for sharing your experience, Susan! Patrons receive all the benefits of membership for up to 6, plus: So it never hurts to call ahead to see if your membership will be accepted. Or can you continue to visit the same museum for free multiple times? ASTCs Commitment to Diversity, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equity, ASTC Fellow Award for Outstanding Contribution, 2020 PIT Community Innovation Fellowship Program, Community Science Dialogue & Deliberation Fellowship Program, Thriving Earth Exchange Community Science Fellows Program, Accessibility Toolkit for Museum Digital Engagement, Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education, Sparks for Science, Community, and Equity, CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute), Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES), Informal STEM Learning (ISL) Professional Framework, International Science Center and Science Museum Day, Diversity and Leadership Development Fellows Program, Dialogue & Deliberation Fellowship Program, Thriving Earth Exchange Fellowship Program, Public Interest Technology Community Innovation Fellowship Program, ASTC Passport Participant List, November 1, 2022-April 30, 2023, ASTC Passport Participant List,November 1, 2022-April 30, 2023. RMSC Membership - Roper Mountain 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? Top 12 Attractions Within the ASTC Reciprocal Network IL For details, phone our Membership Office. Please be sure to check each museums website for the most current information. The 12-month membership would begin when your recipient redeems the voucher. Questions/Comments. 180 0 obj <>stream Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, this incredible museum will allow two adults and up to three children from the same household to enjoy a day of exploring. Wondering what museums are on the list? BTW, the Ecotarium is on our list of places we really want to visit. We bought a gift membership to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC for our daughter who lives there. This got us an ASTC membership. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. 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. Call us at (773) 947-3161 or email us. Core Level - The Essentials. Our favorite way to save money while traveling is through reciprocal memberships. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. [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. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. The Providence Childrens Museum is also part of the ASTC. Click here to learn more. Not far away. And guess what? Sustainer member facility rental includes Haverty Family Yards, Arthur Stilwell, Jarvis Hunt, Innovation Center. Located in Owensboro, Kentucky, the Owensboro Museum of Science and History will allow ASTC members free admission to the exhibit hall for a family of six. Sounds like you picked a great membership for your family. With the launch of our new membership program, we also introduced our new premium memberships. When the recipient is ready to redeem your gift, they can go online and pick the membership that best suits their family. Some are free and some are 50% off. With your membership to ASTC, you can get free general admission for up to two adults members and their children under the age of eighteen who live in the same home. JavaScript is required to operate this site. Google Universal Analytics long-time unique user tracking identifier. You can see the full list of participating museums at https://www.astc.org/membership/find-an-astc-member/passport/. PDF ASTC Travel Passport Program Participants - Association of Science and We are members of the Boston Science Museum, not the Childrens Museum. I could not get free admission to the Indiana State Museum because it was within 90 miles of my home address. Google Universal Analytics long-time unique user tracking identifier. Stacey Hi! It didnt include the zoo membership, but we can always get online and buy from Baton Rouge again, or we can do some more research and possibly find another one that will save us more money. You can now personalize your membership to the needs of your family. %PDF-1.5 % Featuring 400 new state-of-the-art theatre chairs, 4-K digital projection, and crystal clear sound, its the perfect venue to enjoy full-length first run and educational films. Google advertising cookie used for user tracking and ad targeting purposes. You will also qualify for a 10% discount at the gift shop for museum purchases. We also have reciprocity at many childrens museums (e.g., Providence, Stepping Stone, etc. Check your museum memberships. If they participate in ASTC - reddit This link has a list of all the participating museums and science centers. These are the cornerstones of our mission. They also do not follow the 90 mile rule for most other participating museums in Massachusetts so we have found we can enjoy our pass at almost all of the places we love throughout our neighboring states, but mostly right here in Connecticut. Open tomorrow Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Add-on to Dual: $25 per grandparent/nanny up to 1. LACMA-ArtMuseums Free admission to 24 art museums nationwide. Deepen your relationship with us and ensure Union Station continues to serve Kansas City. You can have them resent using this link. Our first stop was Seattle Science Center. 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. Its that they are encouraging you to visit other childrens museums when or if you travel. 136 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<02AB88942348AD4ABF77BBF7C2E2C9FF>]/Index[109 72]/Info 108 0 R/Length 128/Prev 444798/Root 110 0 R/Size 181/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Ive written it off our list. Especially if you have kids! Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. Free admission, discounts at museum shops, discounts on concert/lecture tickets. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. Thats right. You will need a photo ID and proof of membership. Yes! It includes over 300 organizations in more than 40 states across the country. We paid for our annual membership online to the Baton Rouge zoo in Louisiana for $59. 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. A day trip for my family of 5 to Field Museum is $65 admission with no extras (special exhibits, 3D movies,etc). Well, I have a confession to make. 4:00 These programs are completely separate, although many museums in our state belong to both organizations. Of course, thats not always the easiest thing to do when you have small children! Membership | The Franklin Institute The Maryland Science Center welcomes members from participating ASTC Passport Program institutions. Many are privately owned by non-profit groups, so they have to charge admission in order to pay the bills. ACM Associations of Childrens Museums https://www.childrensmuseums.org/. Gift memberships are sold as gift cards. Let us send you an automatic notification of new posts straight to your email inbox by signing uphere. The gift of Membershipto Union Station is guaranteed to please, with great savings to year-round attractions and special touring exhibitions. Stay up-to-date with whats new to see and do at Union Station with our weekly e-newsletters. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. We use the heck out of our AZA and ACM memberships to stretch our legs on those long drives. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Our family has found a great way to avoid the agrivation of the 90 mile rule that works for us. Members can also receive dollar-off access to see the OMNIMAX theater and special exhibits that are there. We use it all the time. Can You Use a National Parks Pass at State Parks, Save Thousands on Your Next Family Road Trip with Reciprocal Programs. The name of the ASTC reciprocal program is the Passport Program, which makes me think they are encouraging people to travel by offering reciprocity. The current annual price of the Montana membership is $60. This one offers reciprocal benefits for ASTC, ACM, NARM, and Time Travelers. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. hbbd```b``v5 i74[fkHLYzgEk`@1H2vD,DA ." l k&;20P?k d Click on each one to go to their website and check out the participating museums, centers and zoos and read about any special rules. 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. Please enable cookies in your browser. Our Core membership grants free general admission for one year, 50% off Museum parking, 10% off purchases at the Caf and Museum Shop, access to members-only hours and participation in the ASTC Passport Program. Membership | Explore The Benefits | Maryland Science Center EXCLUSIONS 1. The two major member organizations that offer these reciprocal programs are the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). 1. Military Discount Active, Reserve, and Retired Military - $2.00 off per person in the immediate family with proper ID. We purchase our membership through The Boston Childrens center on our yearly Boston trek. You may also get $tickets to the Omnisphere theater for $3 for adults and $2 for children. They are located in River Grove, Illinois. 60637 I was surprised how many where close to my hometown too! Membership at my museum easily pays for itself in a year. Museums that offer this are required to charge a minimum of $125/family for an annual membership. Google Universal Analytics short-time unique user tracking identifier. They are a blast for kids under 10, but even our older kids love them. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive Adult (18+) $10. 3. 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. 9:30 We love science centers, they are educational hands on learning and play areas for kids and adults. Got any Momsense for us as we consider all this information? Venues requesting proof of residence are marked by ( IDs) on the Passport Program participants' list. Senior (65+) $9. Please check each institutions website for more information about their operations, including any requirements for advanced reservations. This membership costs $125, but during the week of Black Friday, they had a sale and it was only $62! Here I am writing a blog filled with insider tips for getting out with your kids, and I made a doozy of a mistake! Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the Catawba Science Center is an excellent place to explore the day with your family. AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums https://www.aza.org/. Please note that AZA does not offer memberships to the public that provide discounts to any zoos or aquariums. Entry through Members' Only ticket lines via our Harborside Entrance. If you use Bank of America they do "museums on us" allowing their card holders one free ticket per card during the first weekend of every month (http://museums.bankofamerica.com) there's over 150 participating museums all over the US! We heard about a reciprocal to Kern County museum in California. So when Mandy suggested that we should put together a post outlining the basics of the two major reciprocal programs, the Association of Childrens Museums (ACM) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), I jumped at the chance to educate myself right alongside our readers. Premium members receive guest passes to our traveling exhibitions, Science City, and Planetarium. Special Offers | The Museum of Flight 1. The Mount Washington Observatory located in Conway, New Hampshire, will allow two adults and up to four children six and over into the observatory for free. The prices vary greatly so we always check ahead of time. from They wouldnt be much of a benefit if you stay in one place, but they have provided us with a way to go to so many different places and it only costs us the gas to get there. These days, most museums list all the details of their membership on their website. Children under six are always free. Reciprocity Revealed: The ACM, the ASTC and how to get the most out of Find Participating Museums . Buy Membership. What the heck is a reciprocal program anyway? 2. Proof of eligibility required - a valid membership card with ASTC logo. The 12-month membership would begin when your recipient redeems the voucher. Yes! PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2013. Looking for a museum to visit with your kids? 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. The Natural History Museum of Los Angelos County will allow two adults and up to four children admittance and includes the La Brea Tar Pits and the museum. Required fields are marked *, 2023 Roadschool All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. With your ASTC passport, two adults and up to four children can get into the attraction for a day of fun. For more information on the ASTCs reciprocal program (called the Passport Program), click. For a reduced rate of $5.00 each as long as one person is listed on the membership card. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. Our entire family of 7 got in free. BIG mistake. p.m. Open tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 2023 Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Association of Science-Technology Centers. The ASTC logo is in the top right corner. Plus, access to a preview of the exhibition before it opens to the public! Sci-Store purchases - 10% off. Reciprocal admission is only available in person at the Perot Museum Box Office on the date of visit. The price we would have paid to get into the science center for 1 day was $140. As an MSI member, you may take advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program that allows you to visit museums across the U.S. and around the world for free or discounted admission. When you consider the amount youd like to gift, you can personalize the membership to the needs of the family. These museums are primarily for younger kids. Parking passes are not valid during event parking. Preserving Union Station and her stories. Many museums, especially childrens museums, offer membership levels that include reciprocity with other museums. This membership costs $125, but during the week of Black Friday, they had a sale and it was only $62! Membership - Association of Science and Technology Centers I got blindsided by that 90-mile rule when I tried to use my Stepping Stones membership at the Childrens Museum in West Hartford! All Rights Reserved 2023. Birthdays at Science City are a blast of epic fun! Regnier Extreme Screen theatre popcorn for only $1. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. 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. }{?Fo~.a/>{_|'??vM 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.