Free-admission days make for a special week at Explorit Science Center

With general admission of just $4, Explorit Science Center offers good value every day of every month. But next week brings some especially good value: three days with free admission.

• Sunday: In celebration of National College Savings Month, the ScholarShare College Savings Plan is sponsoring "ScholarShare Free Day" at Explorit, offering free admission to all visitors. Visiting hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. ScholarShare is California's official 529 college savings plan. The tax-advantaged program is a simple and smart way to save, plus it’s easy to set up and flexible to use.  Representatives from ScholarShare will be on hand to provide information about the program.  For more information, visit www.scholarshare.com.

• Friday, Sept. 25:  Free Admission Friday for everyone. Visiting hours are 2 - 5 p.m. The Kelly Foundation recently awarded Explorit with a $10,000 grant to sponsor a Free Admission Friday on the fourth Friday of every month through June 2010.

• Saturday, Sept. 26:  Smithsonian Magazine Free Admission Day.  Entrance will be free to everyone presenting a Museum Day Admission Card, available at  www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visiting hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This is the first time Explorit is a featured museum in this Smithsonian program.

Explorit also offers free admission on the first weekend of every month for people with Bank of America credit and debit cards. More information about the bank’s nationwide "Museums on Us" program can be found at http://museums.bankofamerica.com/.

“This is a tough economy for families,” said Lou Ziskind, Explorit executive director. “We recognize it, and our sponsors recognize it. These free admission days will allow folks to visit regardless of their budget.

“The special days fit nicely with Explorit’s long-held interest in reaching out to economically challenged communities,” he continued. “For instance, our Development Department works very hard to find sponsors for school programs, so that we can go into low-income communities and give some schoolchildren their first exposure to hands-on science. It’s invaluable.”

Explorit is also pleased to be able to provide families with information about saving for college, Ziskind said.

“One of our goals is to get students enthusiastic enough about science that they want to pursue it beyond high school,” he said. “Our region needs future employees who know how to think like scientists to solve challenges that lie ahead.”

ScholarShare wants to help all Californians fulfill the dream of a college education for their children.

“Explorit does a great job of making learning fun and showing students the importance of science,” said State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, chair of the ScholarShare Investment Board. “Getting kids excited about school helps motivate them to pursue a lifetime of learning. That’s important in the global economy since it’s proven that a college degree paves the way to better jobs, higher earnings and increased opportunities. I encourage all parents and families to visit the Explorit Science Center and use College Savings Month to develop a plan to pay for their children’s higher education expenses.”
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Visitors on the Free Admission Days will be able to explore an exhibition set to open on Saturday, Sept. 19. Titled “Communication! Coming in Loud and Clear,” it features exhibits on how plants, animals and people communicate.

“You can expect a blast from the past with an exhibit of phones, computers and other electronic items that have become dinosaurs,” says Megan Contreras, program director. “It’s fascinating to look at the technology that is changing the way we connect.”

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Explorit Science Center is at 2801 Second St., Davis. New visiting hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission is $4 general, free for ages 3 and under. For more information: (530) 756-0191 or http://www.explorit.org.