Explorit launches its annual membership drive

Now is an especially exciting time to be a member of Explorit Science Center. Just ask Cindy Tolerton, who visited the center’s new building last week. Her son was so entranced with the Robotix station that he built his own racecar.

He may have been having so much fun that he did not realize he was experimenting with the principles of robotics engineering.

“I have to admit, he built a pretty advanced toy,” said Tolerton who lives in Concord and is looking forward to visiting again soon. She finds the new museum brimming with intriguing exhibits and features that entertain and educate her family.

“My kids play on a traveling soccer team and have frequent games in Davis. Coming to Explorit between or after games is a nice, relaxing activity for them,” she said.

Fortunately, Tolerton purchased a Family Membership so her next visit – and all subsequent ones for the year – are free.

Free visits aren’t the only reason to join. Explorit, which is currently conducting its annual membership drive, also offers the following year-round benefits:

• Free admission to nearly 300 science and technology centers worldwide.
• A discount on Explorit’s popular science classes, which emphasize active learning through experiments, hands-on activities and problem solving. (Winter-break workshops are scheduled in the last two weeks of December; see www.explorit.org for more information.)
• A discount on Explorit’s unique hands-on and minds-on birthday parties
• A discount in Explorit’s new store.
• At-home discovery through articles and try-at-home activities in a special quarterly newsletter for members.
• Invitation to sneak previews and other members-only events.

Families who join or renew before by Dec. 31 can do so at the current rate of $40 – well below the cost of membership at many other science centers. Beginning Jan. 1, family and grandparent memberships will cost $50, the first increase in eight years.

Whether it’s the benefits, the bargain price or the satisfaction of knowing memberships support science literacy in our region, Explorit members are winners all around, according to the center’s staff. And member Cindy Tolerton couldn’t agree more.

“No matter what exhibits (Explorit) has, there is always something on display related to (subjects) the kids are learning about at school,” she said.

You can fill out a membership form at the museum during public hours or obtain a form online by visiting www.explorit.org and clicking on Membership under the heading of Supporting Explorit. For more information, call (530) 756-0191. Those who join or renew by Dec. 31 will be entered in a drawing for prizes.

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The soaring popularity of Suduko puzzles tells us something: People love brain-teasers. Visitors to Explorit will have a chance to tickle, taunt and tease their minds with problem-solving activities and an overview of the anatomy of the brain at the center’s “Brain Busters” Family Exploration program from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 2801 Second St. The program is free with paid admission and is sponsored by Davis Waste Removal.

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How do non-native aquatic plants threaten our water supply? USDA Plant Physiologist Lars Anderson will offer an outline of the dangers of introducing exotic plants and animals to the area at a free lecture at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Davis Branch Library, 314 E. 14th St. His talk, “Invasion of the Delta Snatchers: How Aquatic Exotic Plants Nix Niches,” is part of Explorit Science Center's Cutting Edge of Science Lecture Series.

The demands for water in our region can only be described as staggering. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta provides critically important habitat for hundreds of species as well as water supplies for more than 23 million Californians. Anderson’s lecture will provide the history of non-native species introductions, examine their impacts and propose solutions. This free lecture is sponsored by Novozymes Biotech and hosted by the Davis Branch of the Yolo Public Library.

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Explorit Science Center is open at its new site, 2801 Second St., Davis. Through Dec. 10, you can visit the exhibition “Holes: An Opening Into the Sciences.” 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: www.explorit.org or (530) 756-0191.