June 2021
Lab Doors Will Open!

We are beyond thrilled to be opening the Children’s Science Center Lab to the public this June after 15 months of closure due to the pandemic! Thanks to our member families for helping us test our new operating procedures in early June as we prepare to open to the public for weekend timed-entry sessions on June 19 and campers on weekdays starting June 21. We are continuing to offer virtual camps this summer as well as our "Science On The Go" community outreach program across the region.

While our country embraces a greater sense of normal, we are keenly aware that normal is many months away for our core audience: children under 12 and their families and educators. We are doing everything possible to ensure a fun and safe experience for our guests at the Lab and in the community. Our limited capacity operating plan ensures that families and campers will have plenty of room to spread out and enjoy all the great hands-on experiences. You can learn more about our operating protocols and safeguards here. 

Thank you to all of our supporters who have helped us persevere, develop all-new virtual programs and kits, and have made it possible to reopen. We look forward to increasing opportunities and capacity at the Lab as vaccines become available for those of all ages in our community!

Sincerely,




Nene Spivy
Executive Director
Children's Science Center
Summer Camps
Virtual and In-person Options!
The Lab is ready to open!
Members welcomed back
Last weekend, the Lab opened its doors for the first time to members since closing the doors on March 13, 2020, due to Covid-19.

Members pre-registered for one of two timed-entry sessions offered on weekends with a limited capacity of 50 people.

Other changes include a menu of activities in the Tinker Shop with supplies included in kits to pick up and drop off at its counter; the Discovery Zone is now open to all ages, and the Garage will remain closed to the public for virtual programs.

Member benefits include member-only events, 10% off program purchases, and reciprocity to other science centers across the country. If you're interested in becoming a member, please visit childsci.org/membership.
Northern Virginia Science Center's Big Reveal Party!
Brand, rendering and fly-around the building
On May 20, over 600 supporters tuned in for the premiere of Celebrating Science: A Launch the Future Watch Party to see the first public reveal of the name, brand, architectural design, and a fly-through of the Northern Virginia Science Center!

Viewers enjoyed powerful testimony from youth, educators, business, and community leaders as well as special messages from Governor and Mrs. Northam, and Vint Cerf, Father of the Internet and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google. Thank you to everyone who watched! If you missed the premiere, encore presentations are available at launchthefuture.org.
Citizen Science Summer
Join the Children's Science Center for a summer filled with citizen science! Each month you can engage in different Citizen Science projects with games, activities, and more! Follow us on social media for weekly posts. When you come into the Lab, you can participate in some hands-on experiments related to each topic! For more information, visit our website.
Try It At Home
When Milk Becomes Plastic
Did you know that with a few household items you can create a moldable plastic out of milk? It may seem surprising that the liquid we use for dunking cookies, adding to tea, or eating cereal could be used to create sculptures. It’s true! Through the creation of polymers by changing the milk’s pH you can have a new media to try out for arts and crafts, and it only takes a few minutes! 
The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a
non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
We could not continue to share our mission virtually without our community of supporters. Your gifts directly support our mission and programs. THANK YOU!