Your Monthly News & Updates | |
|
Our Mission
To ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world
| |
|
Join us for Afternoon Explorations each Thursday and Friday
from 1:30-5PM!
• Explore the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building, Harrison Hall of Science, and the Living History Farm!
• Bring items to our popular Nature Exchange
• Search for life-size models of both young and adult dinosaurs along our outdoor Dinosaur Adventure Trail.
• Enjoy a stroll through our beautiful Butterfly Garden
• Sail the high seas while playing at the Pirate and Castle playground
• Engage in creative outdoor play in Wildwood
| |
Oh for the LOVE of STEM! Join us on February 16th for our special event, "For the LOVE of STEM." During this event visitors will be able to meet local STEM professionals and learn more about what they do each day through hands-on activities. | |
|
Pi Day Party - Save the Date!
Pi Day Party – March 14, 2024, 6 – 8 pm,
at the Environmental Science Building
Join us for an evening of fun, hands-on STEM demonstrations, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and pie (of course!) at our second annual Pi Day Party, hosted by Roper Mountain Science Center Association (RMSCA). Are you or your business interested in sponsoring Pi Day Party? Contact Phyllis Henderson, pjhenderson@greenville.k12.sc.us, for information.
| |
|
SUMMER 2024 CAMPS!
The 2024 Summer Exploration Camp Guide is now available on our website!
Members Only Online Registration begins Monday, March 4, at 7 a.m.
Public Online Registration begins Wednesday, March 6, at 8 a.m.
Want to guarantee the camps for your child? Consider upgrading your membership to the CREATOR or ORIGINATOR level for access to our special Concierge ONSITE member registration days on Monday, February 26 and Tuesday, February 27.
To upgrade your membership, log-in to your membership at RoperMountain.org and renew at either the Creator or Originator level (found under Supporting Memberships). Creator members ($500) are eligible for up to 6 total camp registrations during concierge registration. Originator members ($1000) may pre-register for an unlimited number of camps. Creator and Originator memberships are good for one year of Concierge camp registration.
There are a limited number of Creator and Originator memberships available. Unless sold out earlier, the last day to upgrade for an appointment for 2024 concierge registration is Thursday, February 22. Get yours before they are gone!
| |
|
Congratulations to our Life Science Specialist, Tim Taylor, on his state Conservation Educator of the Year Award for the Primary to K-6 level, given by the South Carolina Association of Conservation Districts!
Tim has dedicated his personal and professional endeavors to natural science and conservation efforts and has been invaluable in developing lessons for students and creating interactive and engaging activities for our public programs. We are grateful for his knowledge and imprint around the mountain! Be sure to congratulate him the next time you see him around the mountain (or out on the trails)!
| |
|
2024 KABOOM AWARDS
Thank you to everyone who voted for us in the 2024 KABOOM awards! We’re excited to share that we won first place in 5 different categories including Best Educational Fun, Best Field Trip, Best Family Membership, Best Outdoor Fun, and Best Outdoor Playground!
We can’t thank you enough for your support of Roper Mountain and hope you’ll continue to be part of the Roper Mountain family for years to come.
| |
|
LIVE DEMO ON FOX CAROLINA
Tune into Fox Carolina on Tuesday, February 14th between 10AM-11AM to see Joe Blizzard LIVE with a fire tornado and a hot air balloon!
| |
|
Thanks to the generosity of Fluor and their “Golf for Greenville” grant, the planetarium will be upgrading to a brand new state-of-the-art digital planetarium system this year! The current system in the planetarium is no longer supported by its parent company and it has been a few years since we’ve had any upgrades to the system. The new system, Digistar 7, will allow us to update and enhance our current astronomy programming, including new shows, pre-scripted astronomy demonstrations, star talks, and interactive live shows that have not been available to us in the past.
| |
|
Additionally, we will be able to purchase a new show created for the Digistar system called “James Webb Telescope: The Story Unfolds.” The show highlights the engineering and deployment of the space telescope and then explores its four primary science mission objectives. The show features the latest imagery from James Webb telescope and includes 3D visualizations of the Southern Ring Nebula and the Pillars of Creation.
| |
|
In order to install this new system, the planetarium will be shut down for approximately two weeks. We are looking to install in either May or August of this year. Stay tuned for the official install date and our grand reopening!
| |
|
Did you know that the vision for the creation of a groundbreaking science center on Roper Mountain took root in 1973, emerging from discussions at a the Greenville Soil and Water Conservation District commission meeting. Little did the attendees know that this idea would blossom into the vibrant Roper Mountain Science Center, a testament to the harmonious collaboration between nature, education, and community.
During the early 1970s, the Greenville Soil and Water Conservation District joined hands with the Greenville County School District to sign a cooperative agreement aimed at creating a groundbreaking environmental education center on Roper Mountain? In 1971, the school district purchased the land from South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism (SCPRT) for $5 after the premature closure of the Piedmont Exhibition Park that was built on the site to celebrate the South Carolina Tricentennial the year before. The school district’s vision was to create an educational facility modeled after the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta that would include a planetarium, observatory, classrooms, exhibits, and a horticultural center – a comprehensive facility designed to inspire and educate.
As the vision gained momentum, the Greenville Soil and Water Conservation District played an important role as a valuable partner in helping make the dream come true when, in 1985, Roper Mountain Science Center officially opened, a sprawling 62-acre facility dedicated to inspiring the natural curiosity and wonder of all learners.
The journey from concept to reality was paved with collaboration, and the Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District played a pivotal role as a steadfast partner, providing the funds for the installation of the first entrance sign. Through the years, GCSWCD has continued to provide invaluable support and expertise. Their contributions have spanned a spectrum of environmental endeavors, including pond construction, addressing erosion concerns, managing stormwater, and aiding in the development of lessons and creation of educational tools, such as rainfall simulators.
To delve deeper into the roots of Roper Mountain, visitors are invited to explore the early history of the science center at the Orientation Interactive Map located within the Environmental Science Center during Afternoon Explorations, available on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 5:00 pm. This interactive journey not only showcases the rich history but also highlights the ongoing commitment to environmental education and conservation that defines Roper Mountain Science Center.
| |
This month’s donor spotlight features two of our Community Partners with a long history of partnership with Roper Mountain. The support of longtime donors like Fluor and GE make it possible for us to fulfill our mission to ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world. | |
|
Thanks to the support of Fluor Corporation, we have been able to fund a number of new initiatives at Roper Mountain, including this new set of 7th grade chemistry labs in the Symmes Hall of Science. Here, students from Northwood Middle School are applying materials science and environmental engineering skills to solve a practical problem. These new labs would not be possible without their support. Thank you, Fluor, for your continued support of Roper Mountain.
| |
|
General Electric has a long history of support at Roper Mountain. Their support has made it possible for us to create new learning labs in the Symmes Hall of Science to meet the new standards adopted by the State in 2021. In this lab, students from Camperdown Academy are learning the “need for speed” through various challenges that test their understanding of physical science and engineering concepts. Thank you, General Electric, for the many ways you support our work.
| |
|
Members receive 10% off all t-shirt and hat purchases. Mention that you are a member to receive your discount.
PLUS earn an additional 25 points each time you wear your t-shirt to Nature Exchange!
| |
|
Spark Good
Walmart recently launched Walmart Spark Good Round Up where customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the change to their favorite charity. We would love for you to choose Roper Mountain Science Center as your charity to receive these donations every time you shop on Walmart.com. Just select us from the drop down menu when you checkout!
| |
|
Give Back to Roper Mountain
We appreciate your consideration in making a donation to support our mission to help lay the foundation for future successes for school and public programming.
Make a gift to Roper Mountain today.
| |
THANK YOU COMMUNITY PARTNERS | | |
|
Visionary:
BOSCH Community Fund
The Daniel-Mickel Foundation
Dodge Industrial, Inc.
Duke Energy Foundation
Fluor Foundation
Fluor Golf For Greenville
Greenville Water
John I Smith Charities
Lockheed Martin Corporation
ReWa
South Carolina Farm Bureau
Explorer:
BMW Manufacturing
GE
SEW Eurodrive
Voyager:
Audacy Communications
Rose Ball Committee
Tom and Linda Hamilton
Milliken, Inc.
South Carolina Charities
Spartanburg Community Foundation
| |  |
|
Adventurer:
AFL Global
Bank of Travelers Rest
Brian Cauthen
Contec, Inc.
Greenville FCU
John R. and M. Margrite Davis Foundation
Hal and Minor Shaw
Ryobi Power Tools
TD Charitable Foundation
Innovator:
DC Blox
Greenville Master Gardeners
Les and Kay Knight
Piedmont Natural Gas
Publix Super Market Charities
ScanSource Charitable Foundation
South Carolina Humanities
Barbara Stone Foundation
ZF North America
| |
We welcome your feedback. Email Roper Mountain to share your thoughts. | | | | |
