Your Monthly News & Updates | |
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Our Mission
To ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world
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Join us for Afternoon Explorations each Thursday and Friday
from 1:30-5PM!
(closed December 21, 22, 28, 29)
• New this year, the popular Harrison Hall of Natural Science and Living History Farm are open Thursday and Friday in addition to the Environmental Science and Sustainability Building.
• 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
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Holly Jolly Science at
Afternoon Explorations
Friday, December 15th
Check out this month’s Special Themed Day, Holly Jolly Science! Join Mrs. Clause and the elves to explore all of the ways science can make this holiday extra jolly.
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Afternoon Explorations will be closed during the Greenville County Schools Winter break, December 20th-January 3rd. We look forward to seeing you on December 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, and 15th prior to break and then welcoming you back for our first Afternoon Explorations in the new year on January 4th. | |
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SUMMER 2024 CAMPS!
We are hard at work planning for next summer’s camps! We expect the camp guide to be online on our website no later than February 1st.
Members only online registration begins Monday, March 4, 7:00am.
Public registration begins Wednesday, March 6, 8:00am.
Upgrade your membership to CREATOR or ORIGINATOR level for access to our special Concierge ONSITE registration days on Monday 2/26 and Tuesday 2/27. Please note that the benefits of these Supporting Membership levels has changed. Creator members may register for up to 6 total camps per family on Concierge registration days. Originator members may register for unlimited camps during the Concierge period. Creator and Originator memberships are good for one year of Concierge camp registration. Upgrade your membership on our website here: https://www.ropermountain.org/pages.asp?titleid=membership.
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Ralph Anderson Pedestrian Bridge Dedication
On November 30th, the Ralph Anderson Pedestrian Bridge was dedicated at the Environmental Science Building. It was named for Former Senator Anderson and commemorates his legacy of bringing people together to benefit others, and in appreciation for his support of public education and service to our community. The plaque can be found at the beginning of the bridge to the Environmental Science Building.
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LIVE DEMO ON FOX CAROLINA
Tune in on Tuesday, December 12th between 10AM and 11AM to see Meg McKnight from Roper Mountain conducting a live Reptile Extravaganza demo!
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Did you make it out to our fun Fall On the Farm event in November?
Among our many farm activities was apple cider pressing. (Thanks Kyle and Brenna!) This delicious drink was very common in the early days of Europeans settling America, as it was often a safer and more desirable choice than water. The hand cranked process hasn’t changed much from hundreds of years of cider making.
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The Living History Farm’s cider press set up includes an apple grinder, which greatly increases the yield of juice. Apples are fed through a hand cranked grinder to crush the fruit into small pieces. The crushed apple pieces are transferred to a cloth bag and placed inside the apple press. As the apples are pressed, juice flows out of the cloth bag and down into a pitcher. One can expect about 2 ½ - 3 gallons of apple cider per bushel of apples.
As you might imagine, many pounds of fairly dry, crushed apples are left from pressing. This byproduct makes great animal food that our chickens really enjoy.
Besides fresh apple cider, hard cider and apple cider vinegar can be made from apple cider that has fermented. Naturally occurring yeast on the apples will convert the sugars in the juice to alcohol. Further fermentation will produce apple cider vinegar. Pioneers used their abundance of apples to make apple cider vinegar to preserve their harvest of various fruits and vegetables that would then sustain them through the seasons.
With all of this apple talk, Johnny Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) may come to mind. Did you know he didn’t just share seeds and plant trees here and there. He cleverly planted many apple orchards, and later made a profit by selling these orchards to pioneer families who needed a place to settle.
Come and join us for our next Afternoon Exploration and be on the lookout for special themed events on Friday afternoons! Hope to see you soon!
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Did you know that Roper Mountain has alien species? These aliens are some plants and animals on the mountain that have been introduced from outside of our natural, native geographical area. Maybe you have seen some of these exotic or alien plants at Roper: English ivy, kudzu, tree-of-heaven, mimosa, and the princess tree. These non- native species are invasive and often spread so prolifically that they crowd out and threaten our native species. Often, these plants have no natural enemies or control and that is why their numbers can grow very quickly.
Kudzu was introduced from China and Japan in the early 1900’s for use in erosion control. This invasive vine can grow 1 foot per day in the spring and 60 feet per year. English Ivy is also an aggressive invader that threatens all vegetation layers. Chinese privet, mimosa and the princess tree were introduced as ornamentals from Asia. The tree-of-heaven was introduced in 1784 from Europe, although originally from Eastern China.
Invasive plants are often a leading threat to our native biodiversity. The best way to stop them is to eliminate them before they spread. Also, don’t be tempted to buy invasive ornamentals, instead plant native species!
By Tim Taylor, Roper Mountain Life Science Specialist
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During this season of giving we want to say a special thanks to the Spartanburg County Foundation and SEW-EURODRIVE for making it possible for high poverty schools in Spartanburg County to attend Roper Mountain. Both partners provided scholarship funds for schools like Carver Middle School and Cannons Elementary, pictured here, to experience two of our newest hands-on STEM labs! Thank you for helping us ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world! | |
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Last chance to renew your membership at the current price before membership rates increase on January 4, 2024. Memberships purchased now will be renewed one year from the current expiration date. Don't miss this opportunity, renew today!
RMSC Membership Renewal
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!
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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.
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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.
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THANK YOU COMMUNITY PARTNERS | | |
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Visionary:
Bosch Community Fund
Community Foundation of Greenville
The Daniel-Mickel Foundation
Dodge Industrial, Inc.
Duke Energy Foundation
Fluor Golf For Greenville
Greenville Water
John I Smith Charities
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Piedmont Arthritis Clinic, PA
ReWa
South Carolina Farm Bureau
Explorer:
BMW Manufacturing
Fluor Foundation
GE
SEW Eurodrive
Voyager:
Tom and Linda Hamilton
South Carolina Charities
Milliken, Inc.
Audacy Communications
Spartanburg Community Foundation
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Adventurer:
AFL Global
AT&T Foundation
Bank of Travelers Rest
Contec, Inc.
Greenville FCU
John R. and M. Margrite Davis Foundation
ScanSource Charitable 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
Ron and Tommie Reece
South Carolina Humanities
Barbara Stone Foundation
ZF North America
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We welcome your feedback. Email Roper Mountain to share your thoughts. | | | | |
