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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: November 7, 2003
Author: Vanessa Gregory
Contact: Tom Wickersham

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF SCIENCE: BECOME A MEMBER

Explorit's 2003 membership drive is now underway. Members have the satisfaction of knowing that they're supporting science education, and those who join during the drive also have the chance to win great prizes. This year's prizes range from kid-friendly fare like Round Table pizzas to grown-up fun like four tickets to the Capitol Opera Sacramento.

Each year, hundreds of individuals, families, and businesses join or renew their Explorit membership. The standard Family or Grandparent Memberships are $40. Those who care deeply about science literacy can show their support with a $75 Darwin Circle Membership or a $125 Curie Circle Membership. The higher the level of support, the greater the chance to win.

One lucky new or renewing member will take home the "Sports Package" grand prize: four tickets to a 2004 Sacramento River Cats game complete with souvenirs and an exclusive behind the scenes tour, plus a round of golf and golf cart for two at Wildhorse Golf Club, and a one-month membership at the Davis Athletic Club.

There's also a chance to win a certificate good for one free 2004 Summer Science Class at Explorit. Explorit's Summer Science Classes are so wildly popular that assignments must be done by lottery. The winner of this prize will not only get a free class, but will get to skip the lottery and choose a spot in the class of his or her choice, guaranteed.

As always, Explorit's put together a "Family Fun Package" too: four passes to the California Railroad Museum, four free sundaes at Baskin Robbins, a mini AM/FM air radio from Alphabet Moon Toys & Treasures, and the beloved game of Twister.

These top prizes are just a few of the wonderful items that have been donated by area businesses that support Explorit. Other prizes include: a gift certificate to The Avid Reader, a Power Telescope, Rocknasium gift certificates, two tickets to the Sacramento Ballet, two tickets to the San Francisco ballet, a gift certificate to The Naturalist, four weekly baskets of organic produce from Eatwell Farms, brunch and desert for two at Konditorei Austrian Pastry Café, an ASICS backpack from Fleet Feet Sports, one series of yoga or dance classes for two at the Experimental College, a leather travel journal and $100 travel discount coupon from Davisville Travel, two tickets to the Davis Dance Project, a Chia Pet, and flowers from Strelitzia.

Membership has its advantages year round as well. Members enjoy 15% discounts on birthday parties, 20% discounts on summer classes, free admission to 250 science centers around the world, free admission to Explorit exhibitions for one year, a discount in the Explorit science store, and a subscription to the quarterly newsletter, "Science Centered". Businesses can join in their own special program, the Business Alliance for Science.

To become a member, either stop by Explorit, call Explorit at (530) 756-0191, or visit the website at http://www.explorit.org/about/member_benefits.html. To make sure you're entered in the prize drawing, please join today. The drive ends in December.
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Great programs tomorrow!
From 1:00 to 4:30 tomorrow afternoon, visitors will explore the power of the sun. They can make treats in a solar cooker, prints using solar sensitive paper, and sun dials to mark the passage of time. The workshop is free with paid admission.

Also, beginning at 5:00, members of the Astronomy Club will be presenting a program about the moon and the lunar eclipse. Learn about why we have lunar eclipses and watch the eclipse from the grounds at Explorit.

Both programs will happen rain or shine.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is "Earth Elements: Discovering Natural Resources," which continues through Dec. 7. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.