Saturday, January 11 is COLORFUL PLANET DAY at the Michigan Science Center located within the Cultural Center of Detroit. Thanks to Axalta Coating Systems there will be FREE admission from 10 am - 5pm for people to experience the science center's new exhibit CONSERVE THIS COLORFUL PLANET. Visitors can also check out 220 other hands-on exhibits, live science demonstrations, the Smithsonian Spark!Lab, and a STEM Playground while there. Pre-registration is requested to participate in this free opportunity to receive general admission tickets to the Michigan Science Center.
CONSERVE THIS COLORFUL PLANET aims to inspire people to learn about water conservation in a colorful and engaging way. Through partnering with Ducks Unlimited and Six Rivers Conservancy, the Michigan Science Center provides a colorful exhibit experience with activities that aren't just fun but educational as well. It is a great way to appreciate the colorfulness of our planet.
Parking is available at the Detroit Institute of Arts parking lot or one of the nearby Wayne State University parking structures. There is a fee to park at these locations. Limited metered street parking is also available in the vicinity. Download the Park Detroit App to assist with parking arrangements for downtown visits.
For more information about the Michigan Science Center go to mi-sci.org
Air flight has become an integral aspect of our transportation system. With that in mind, you have to be amazed by the advancements made over the last century that make flying people and freight around the world commonplace. In the overall scope of history, it really hasn't been that long since the Wright brothers visited Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903 to launch the first successful airplane.
For NATIONAL AVIATION DAY, The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, thanks to a sponsorship from Delta Air Lines, is providing FREE admission on Sunday, September 18, 2019. The museum which is home to a variety of original and reproduced aircraft highlighting advancements in flight during the early to mid-20th Century is open from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is located in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan (also hometown of Ford Motor Company's world headquarters) at 20900 Oakwood Blvd. While there, visitors can also explore the temporary Star Trek exhibit that is at the museum for a limited time engagement at no additional charge.
Admission to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation is normally $25 (Adults), $22 (Seniors) and $18 (Children) so NATIONAL AVIATION DAY is a good opportunity to really save some money when it comes to having a family outing there. Please note free admission does not apply to the attached Greenfield Village which will be charged to visitors on NATIONAL AVIATION DAY. Ticket prices for Greenfield Village are $28 (Adults), $25.25 (Seniors) and $21 (Children).
If you want to pay extra to visit Greenfield Village, there will be special activities revolving around the Wright Brothers as well as special access to their rarely seen private offices which normally are off limits to the public. Henry Ford purchased Orville and Wilbur Wright's bicycle shop (where they designed and manufactured the plane they flew in Kitty Hawk) and the home which they lived in their entire lives. These two buildings were transported from Dayton, Ohio to Greenfield Village in 1938 to be maintained and restored for future generations to appreciate. Historians will be stationed at both buildings on National Aviation Day to discuss the Wilbur brothers contributions to the development of airplanes and provide insight into these historic sites that have been relocated to Greenfield Village.
For those who just want to stick to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, there is still a lot to see for National Aviation Day. The entire museum is open to explore for FREE. You won't want to miss the Heroes of the Sky gallery, especially if you are visiting on National Aviation Day. There are more than a dozen planes to see!
View a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer. Take a look at the 1909 Bleriot XI which was the first aircraft to cross the English Channel. Check out a 1926 Fokker Trimotor which was the first plane to fly to the North Pole. Following his success with the Model T, Henry Ford designed a plane meant to be sold to the masses, the 1926 Ford Flivver, which never took off with consumers and Charles Lindbergh called the worst plane he ever flew is also on display.
There is also a replica of Lindbergh's Spirt of St. Louis aircraft that he flew the first trans-Atlantic solo flight in and a display honoring aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. See an actual barnstormer plane that toured the country in the 1920s delighting crowds with death defying aerobatics. There are also a number of passenger planes to view including a Northwest Airlines DC-3 which was the first commercial aircraft to make a profit by solely carrying passengers to destinations. The DC-3 opened the door to the commercial air travel we know today.
Fly over to The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation to take advantage of FREE admission for National Aviation Day courtesy of Delta Air Lines. For more information, head over to thehenryford.org
The Michigan Science Center's brand new Toyota Engineering Theater (TET) will be hosting the world debut of an exclusively produced version of the National Geographic film, Extreme Weather 4D over the Memorial Day Weekend. And guess what? You can see it for FREE!
Thanks to the support of Toyota Motor North America, the science center (MiSci) is providing free general admission throughout the holiday weekend and complimentary viewings of the film. Pre-registration for is required. Patrons can select the day they would like to attend and register at the following link -
mi-sci.secure.force.com/ticket
Extreme Weather 4D brings audiences face to face with Mother Nature at her most dangerous
moments.
Traveling to Alaska's melting glaciers, filmmakers capture the action
as massive chunks of ice shear off into the frigid water with explosive
force. In the Midwest, cameras roll as storm chasers risk their lives to
capture data as deadly tornadoes race toward
them. And, in drought-ravaged California, filmmakers embed themselves
with courageous first responders fighting to contain raging wildfires.
"Extreme Weather 4D is the perfect film to experience in 4D and we are delighted for the
Michigan Science Center to host the world premiere,” remarked John
Wickstrom, National Geographic Director of Film Distribution
It is exciting to launch
Extreme Weather 4D in the state of the art Toyota Engineering Theater with all of its amazing
effects. Audiences will be completely immersed in the film, experiencing the adventure with all senses.”
The TET is designed to inspire the next
generation
of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning. The
theater delivers a unique four-dimensional experience
that engages multiple senses. It houses a state-of-the-art HD
projection system with 3D viewing capabilities and enhanced space and
lighting for a more immersive experience, and, the
TET is the only theater in Michigan to incorporate “spark” effects without heat, smoke or pyro techniques.
Commemorate Earth Day at the Michigan Science Center (MiSci) during their “Make Way
for Earth Day” celebration! The event features a special Science Parade
at Noon throughout
MiSci as well as other interactive Earth Day activities and programs
that introduce children of all ages to the fields of Earth science, and
allow them to get hands-on with Earth science concepts.
Plus thanks
to support from Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of
liquid and powder coating, guests who dress as their favorite STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering
or Math) professional or wear green will receive FREE general admission on Saturday, April 22, 2017 from 10 am - 6pm.
MiSci is located at 5020 John R Street in downtown Detroit, Michigan. CLICK HERE for directions and parking information.
**A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free**
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Parks Service which manages 59 National Parks as well as numerous historical sites and wilderness preservation areas spread out across the United States and its territories. This centennial milestone presents a nice occasion for making a family road trip to explore what our national parks system has to offer. While our family won't be able to travel to any of the major parks managed by The National Park Service this year, we are planning on visiting a few locations that are in our own backyard including trips to southeastern Michigan's River Raisin National Battlefield Park, which we've never been to before, and northern Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, which we regularly make an effort to stop by each summer. Whether you are planning a week long family vacation to Yellowstone National Park or a short weekend outing to a local historical site or conservation area managed by the National Park Service, National Geographic KiDS has published several books that are meant to amuse and educate children during these types of trips. My son is particularly excited about taking the National Geographic KiDS Junior Ranger Activity Book along with us on our upcoming adventures within the national park system.
To plan your own National Parks adventure visit findyourpark.com and by entering your zip code can find a variety of locations to visit that are within a road trip distance from your home. A good week to consider taking a road trip is coming up soon in NATIONAL PARK WEEK (April 16 - 21, 2016) when admission is FREE to all of the 127 properties managed by the National Parks System that have a daily admission fee. Other entrance fee free days taking place in 2016 include August 25 - 18 (celebrating the National Park Service's birthday), September 24 (National Public Lands Day), and November 11th (Veterans Day).
When making a visit to one of these parks with children, make sure to bring along National Geographic KiDS' great line of National Parks books which include the Junior Ranger Activity Book I mentioned above, as well as Funny Fill-In: My National Parks Adventure, Buddy Bison's Yellowstone Adventure, and the Centennial Edition National Parks Guide U.S.A.
Buddy Bison's Yellowstone Adventure created by National Geographic KiDS in partnership with the National Park Trust (a non-profit land conservancy dedicated to preserving America's scenic wonders and wild spaces in association with the National Park Service) is a perfect book to read to young children to introduce them to our National Parks. It tells the story of two children who visit Yellowstone National Park with their Aunt Rosa who is a park ranger. When Elena and Christoper get separated from their aunt and become lost, a bison named Buddy (who also happens to be the mascot for the National Park Trust) gives them a tour of Yellowstone while leading them to safety. The book meshes together incredible real life photography of Yellowstone National Park with cartoon characters to tell its story which is sure to delight preschoolers and early readers. It's charming tale is sprinkled with interesting tidbits about the park, weird-but-true facts about animals and fun trivia. Recommended for kids 4 to 8 years old.
Funny Fill-In: My National Parks Adventure will keep a child occupied during a trip with amusing word games associated with elements of the national park system. Recommended for children ages 8 - 12.
Junior Ranger Activity Bookis packed full of games, trivia, jokes, fun facts and other interesting aspects for kids that will both educate them about the country's 59 National Parks and entertain them at the same time. Meant for kids 8 to 12 years old, this 160 page activity book is inspired by the National Park Service's outdoor-based Junior Ranger Program.
National Parks Guide U.S.A. provides an overview of America's national parks full of maps, color photographs, and fun tips for visits to specific National Parks. This 176 page book is recommend for children 8 - 12 years old though this 40 year old dad found it very interesting and informative to peruse. From Acadia to Zion this book provides a great road map for exploring the properties managed by the National Park Service. My kids particularly liked the suggestions for animal sightings and other activities to do during specific visits to a variety of park locations across the United States.
So are you planning a visit to a National Park this year? Which park is your favorite to visit or is there one you haven't visited yet but really want to?
A Geek Daddy is a member of the National Geographic Kids Insider
blogger program. Insiders get a behind-the-scenes look at National
Geographic’s
resources, activities, content and projects for kids and families. They
also review copies of books, magazines and toys, and are
offered interviews with authors, explorers and editors. I do not receive
any financial compensation for my participation as a National
Geographic Kids Insider.
I remember the excitement of being a kid and my parents taking me on an afternoon adventure to the "big city" to explore the science center. Hate to say it but I haven't taken that same trip to Detroit with my own kids even though it was such a memorable moment of my own childhood. Most adults who grew up in southeastern Michigan paid a visit to the science center in Detroit either as a family outing or on a school field trip at some point as a child. If you are a parent like me who has been negligent in sharing that same experience with your own kids this upcoming weekend is a chance to rectify that. Saturday, March 12, 2016 is FREE ADMISSION Day at the Michigan Science Center courtesy of the Ford Motor Company Fund.
From 10 am - 6pm general admission to the Michigan Science Center located at 5020 John R. Street in Detroit is at no charge to the public. Experience 250+ hands-on exhibits that explore heath, physical science, space, and engineering plus view live stage shows, lab activities and more. Additionally there is a Planetarium experience, IMAX Dome Theatre movie presentations, and a special exhibit called Toytopia that are available to enjoy for an additional cost. Visit mi-sci.org for more information about the science center's programs and theater times.
