Your Monthly News & Updates | | |
Our Mission
To ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world.
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SUMMER ADVENTURE
Now until July 26th you can visit Roper Mountain Tuesday-Saturday between 10AM-4PM with the last entry at 3:00pm. While you’re here you can encounter our traveling exhibit “Wild Kratts: Creature Powers!”, feed the butterflies in our Butterfly Encounter, visit the outdoor dinosaur trails including the multiple play areas, discover the Living History Farm, pet a stingray in the Marine Lab, and so much more!
| | Summer Adventure and Starry Nights will be closed on July 4th. We look forward to having you join us as Summer Adventure on Saturday, July 5th. Starry Nights returns on July 11th. | | |
FRIDAY STARRY NIGHTS
Fueled by Fluor
| | Members: If you are unable to attend your scheduled showtime, please contact us at 864-355-0805 by 2:00pm Friday so your reserved seats can be made available to other patrons. | | |
“LASER DAYS” RETURN!
Our ever-popular “Laser Days of Summer” return! The last two Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in July will be our annual Laser Days of Summer hosted in the Hooper Planetarium. Come see some of your favorite bands and artists set to vibrant laser images! This year we have some returning favorites, such as Pink Floyd, Queen, The Beatles, and Taylor Swift (with a BRAND NEW playlist!). We’ve also added some new sounds – Seattle Sound, Grateful Dead, and Laser Classic Hits. You won’t want miss these shows! For the schedule, tickets, and frequently asked questions, check out our website!
Details and Tickets
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Unearthing Greenville’s Ancient Past
During the final two weeks of June, archaeologists from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology joined forces with Roper Mountain staff to explore the ancient history hidden beneath our feet. This initial investigation builds on two years of research and artifact collection by our team, resulting in hundreds of items ranging from broken and partially formed stone points to tools and flakes. Preliminary findings suggest that Roper Mountain was once a quarry site and workshop used by nomadic peoples of the Middle Archaic Period—dating as far back as 6000 BC—as they crafted spear points, arrowheads, and tools for hunting and survival. While we await the full report to determine the next steps, one thing is certain: Roper Mountain has a much deeper story to tell. Long before it was a center for science education, it was Greenville’s Original Makerspace.
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STEM DAYS OF SUMMER
Joining us for Summer Adventure? Be sure to check out STEM Days of Summer while you’re here. Each Friday, we’ll be joined by Community Partners to showcase various STEM activities encouraging visitors to learn more about what they do each day.
| | ROPER MOUNTAIN ANNIVERSARY | | |
The Growth of the Science Center Accelerates
After the successful opening of Roper Mountain Science Center in May 1985 with the dedication of the Living History Farm, momentum continued to build. Over the next three years, The Mountain evolved into the dynamic educational destination it was always intended to be.
With generous funding from the Symmes Foundation and the Charles Daniel Foundation, two major additions took shape: the Symmes Hall of Science and the Daniel Observatory. The Observatory officially opened in September 1987, marking the culmination of a decade of planning. At the dedication, Captain Richard Anawalt, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory, described the event as a “giant step for the scientific future of Greenville, South Carolina, and the nation.” Since then, thousands of visitors have gazed through the 26-inch refractor telescope—one of the largest in the Southeast—sparking wonder and inspiring future astronomers.
| | Daniel Observatory Dedication (September 1987) | Daniel Observatory Dedication (September 1987) | | |
During the first week in June we had some special guests on the mountain: the SC State winners of the NASA Plant the Moon Challenge!
Due to bus conflicts, these Southside High School students weren’t able to attend their official awards ceremony at Brookwood Gardens in Murrell’s Inlet, so they and their instructional coach, Faith DiAngelis, spent the afternoon celebrating with us!
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These standouts from Southside experienced a special planetarium show just for them, as well as our butterfly encounter and the Marine lab in Harrison Hall.
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This special visit was made possible thanks to the generous supporters of our Guiding Star program. More information about the Guiding Star Program and how you can support can be found here
Guiding Star Program
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Do You Know that our amazing Natural Science Specialist Tim Taylor is retiring after 25 great years of serving the students and community! He has ignited the curiosity of tens of thousands of children who visit the Mountain and has been a source of southeastern naturalist knowledge to visitors of all ages.
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Joining the team in 2000, some of his favorite memories include the Eco-Detectives lesson, opening the Ecology lab, and overseeing many Eagle scout projects.
Join us in wishing Tim Taylor congratulations on a fantastic career and happy retirement!
Signing off: Tim Taylor, Roper Mountain Natural Science Specialist
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Meet one of our amazing Summer Adventure volunteers- Fatemah Qazi! Fatemah has been volunteering since last summer and has earned over 240 service hours! She is a shining light at Roper Mountain and loves sharing her passion for nature and animals with the guests that come to visit. Her favorite place to volunteer is Nature Exchange, where we have lovingly given her the nickname, "Nature Exchange Queen". Next time you're in, make sure you look for her and thank her for the passion, energy, and knowledge that she shares with us every time she volunteers. We are so grateful for Fatemah and all of the other volunteers that help bring the Roper Mountain magic to each and every guest that visits us this summer! We are only half way through the summer and volunteers have already donated over 2,500 service hours.
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This month we welcome Arthrex as a new Community Partner. With a plant in Anderson County, Arthrex is a global medical device company and leader in new product development and medical education in orthopedics. Their support will make onsite field trips available free of charge to high poverty schools in Anderson County.
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BOSCH has supported Roper Mountain for several years, providing funds for the large tank in the Environmental Science building and the Axolotl display in Harrison Hall. Earlier this year, they provided funds for the updated Ice Age Giants murals in Harrison Hall.
Thank you, Arthrex and BOSCH, for your support, which helps us fulfill our mission to ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world.
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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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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!
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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.
| | THANK YOU COMMUNITY PARTNERS | | |
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Visionary:
BOSCH Community Fund
The Daniel-Mickel Foundation
Dodge Industrial, Inc.
Fluor Foundation
Fluor Golf for Greenville
Greenville Water
Lockheed Martin Corporation
ReWa
Explorer:
BMW Manufacturing
GE Vernova
SEW-EURODRIVE
Voyager:
Arthrex Charitable Foundation
Audacy Communications
Greenville Federal Credit Union
Jeff Lawson
Milliken & Company
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Adventurer:
ABB
AFL Global
Bannon Foundation
Brian Cauthen
Moons Drug Store
ScanSource Charitable Foundation
The Timken Company
Upcountry Fiber Foundation
Vulcan Materials Company
Innovator:
Broad River Electric Charities
Fairway Subaru
Greenville Master Gardeners
Bonnie Jilek
Carla Rivero-Olson and Eric Olson
Piedmont Natural Gas
Publix Super Market Charities
| | We welcome your feedback. Email Roper Mountain to share your thoughts. | | | | |
