The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a membership organization of science engagement institutionsespecially science and technology centers and museums in North America and around the world that provide opportunities for lifelong learning about science and technology; connect science, technology, and society; engage diverse communities; and partner to tackle global and local challenges. Sounds like you picked a great membership for your family. Plus, your membership is tax-deductible and, with it, you become part of our historic family of supporters helping ensure our place in the community for the next 100+ years! Please enable cookies in your browser. She takes us and other visitors to Durham there to see the exhibits and for a break from the summer heat. The Kentucky Science Center in Louisville is free admission too. To provide a better user experience, EAA uses cookies. Exclusions apply and benefits vary. We love science centers, they are educational hands on learning and play areas for kids and adults. If you use Bank of America they do "museums on us" allowing their card holders one free ticket per card during the first weekend of every month (http://museums.bankofamerica.com) there's over 150 participating museums all over the US! North American Reciprocal Museum Association is a great program too. These museums are primarily for younger kids. Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable. Childrens Museums http://www.childrensmuseums.org/family-reciprocal-membership.html. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Union Station members receive FREE General or Discounted Admission to 300+ Science Museums Worldwide (including museums in Kansas and Missouri) through the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Program. Thanks so much, Molly! I got screwed a second time over by not being able to get free admission to Museum of Science and Industry (also Chicago) because it was within 90 miles of the museum that I was a member of. (Any U.S. State or Territory)AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFederated States of MicronesiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarshall IslandsMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPalauPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirgin IslandsVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming, Keyword Search by name, institution, or city (not required), 2020 Association of Science and Technology CentersSite map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. And to make matters even more confusing, there are going to be some significant changes to one of the major reciprocal programs, the Association of Childrens Museums, going into effect on April 1st, 2013. To redeem your guest passes, please call membership at 816-460-2231 or visit the box office on Level B during business hours. Admission benefits at more than 300 different science centers and museums through the ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) Passport Program Supporting Memberships: Supporting Memberships help to create world-class exhibits and STEM educational programs. CALL THE MUSEUM BEFORE YOU VISIT TO CONFIRM YOUR TRAVEL PASSPORT PROGRAM BENEFITS. It includes over 300 organizations in more than 40 states across the country. To review EAA's data privacy policy or adjust your privacy settings please visit: Click here to upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge. Members can get two adults and their children under seventeen for free. I felt terrible after hyping it up we had to turn around and get back in the car because paying full price wasnt an option for us. Children under six are always free. While your idea sounds good, one of the conditions is that you cannot get free admission to participating museums within 90 miles from your home address. ACM Associations of Childrens Museums https://www.childrensmuseums.org/. The Maryland Science Center welcomes members from participating ASTC Passport Program institutions. Featuring 400 new state-of-the-art theatre chairs, 4-K digital projection, and crystal clear sound, its the perfect venue to enjoy full-length first run and educational films. Science City Summer Camp is wildly popular and fills to capacity each year! It didnt include the zoo membership, but we can always get online and buy from Baton Rouge again, or we can do some more research and possibly find another one that will save us more money. Taking advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program is easy. Venues requesting proof of residence are marked by ( IDs) on the Passport Program participants' list. Sometimes its a good price and other times well use our other memberships instead. Thanks for being your awesome selves. The 12-month membership would begin when your recipient redeems the voucher. Actually The Children's Museum isn't part of ASTC. To check if a museum participates in the ASTC Passport Program, click HERE. Youth (5-17) $5. You can have them resent using this link. Parking passes for Premium members must be picked up at the Box Office during business hours. Museum of Science & Industry As someone who lives in Canada and travels to the US frequently with my young children this has been a god send the last few years. My family has enjoyed membership at the Boston museum of Science for several years now. Experience the regions biggest screen (five stories high and 80 feet wide)! SmithsonianFree admission into more than 50 Smithsonian Affiliate museums and educational organizations. It is unfortunate that there is that 90-mile restriction. h%yoe],8{dI:wZ33 UEqT2o-ny[T GWY-PV5=wJ]RNJ^*C*-hV1P}yYJMGPZ'IRi,CHPkW,}v=+%FGZG|uW4GS##'47ETC}O}4RF[}]iZ>jHWz?__~EG?3?/;37? When you join your local ASTC science center, you'll get free entrance to your local science center for 1 year, and free or reduced (usually 50%) admission to around 300 other members of ASTC's reciprocity program, called the ASTC Travel Passport Program. The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a membership organization of science engagement institutionsespecially science and technology centers and museums in North America and around the world that provide opportunities for lifelong learning about science and technology; connect science, technology, and society; engage diverse If we bought our membership from the Living Desert zoo that we were visiting it would have cost us $130 for the year and all other zoos would be half off, none would have been free. (Any Country/Area)United StatesAustraliaBelgiumBermudaCanadaChinaColombiaCzech RepublicFinlandGermanyIndiaIsraelItalyJapanKenyaKuwaitMalaysiaMauritiusMexicoPanamaPhilippinesPolandPortugalSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandTaiwanThailandTrinidad And TobagoTurkeyUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom, U.S. State (if applicable) The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Museums that offer this are required to charge a minimum of $125/family for an annual membership. You can see the full list of participating museums at https://www.astc.org/membership/find-an-astc-member/passport/. a.m. to How do I know if my primary museum participates in one or both of these programs? ASTC Association of Science Technology Centers https://www.astc.org/, NARM-NorthAmericanReciprocalMuseum One of the largest reciprocal membership programs in the world with members in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, El Salvador and Mexico! 2020 Association of Science and Technology CentersSite map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. The two major member organizations that offer these reciprocal programs are the Association of Childrens Museums (ACM) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). For details, phone our Membership Office. If you are a member of a science center or museum participating in the ASTC Passport Program, you are eligible for benefits such as free general admission when you travel outside of your local area. PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2013. The price we would have paid to get into the science center for 1 day was $140. Deepen Your Relationship with Union Station. Field All-Access Pass and admission to four more top Chicago attractions at a 50% discount Chicago CityPASS $114 Out-of-State Adult Basic admission plus a 3D movie and all ticketed exhibitions All-Access Pass $42 Out-of-State Adult Basic admission plus a 3D movie or one of four ticketed exhibitions Discovery Pass $36 Out-of-State Adult Sci-Store purchases - 10% off. Required fields are marked *, 2023 Roadschool All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy. I was surprised how many where close to my hometown too! Check out Hipcamp and come stay with us! }{?Fo~.a/>{_|'??vM Please note that AZA does not offer memberships to the public that provide discounts to any zoos or aquariums. Sometimes we pay just a couple dollars per person and other times we opt out and use one of our free reciprocals. Buy Membership. The gift of Membershipto Union Station is guaranteed to please, with great savings to year-round attractions and special touring exhibitions. With all the ASTC offers, you will want to learn more about the places you can enjoy with your children. ASTC does not administer museum membership cards. I got blindsided by that 90-mile rule when I tried to use my Stepping Stones membership at the Childrens Museum in West Hartford! I havent used an ASTC membership, but we have an ACM and an AZA membership, and they are fantastic for those of us that take LONG road trips. Paid for family admission at the Museum of Science and Industry last time we were in Chicago. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Preferred browsers: Google Chrome, FireFox, or Microsoft Edge. Thank you for your feedback, Molly. Military Discount Active, Reserve, and Retired Military - $2.00 off per person in the immediate family with proper ID. I had one questionwhen getting in free to other museums, is it a one-time benefit? The intention is to display ads that are relevant and engaging for the individual user and thereby more valuable for publishers and third party advertisers. Our family has found a great way to avoid the agrivation of the 90 mile rule that works for us. http://www.childrensmuseums.org/family-reciprocal-membership.html, 21 Fun Things To Do In Port St Joe Florida, 17+ Fun Things To Do In Philadelphia With Kids [Plus 1 day Itinerary], Best Hikes In Canyonlands National Park [Maps Included], Crazy Family Adventure One Year of Full-Time Family Travel - Crazy Family Adventure, Crazy Family Adventure 10 things we learned from 365 days of living and traveling in an RV - Crazy Family Adventure. If you have older kids that may be the better option for you. IF you have more than six members in your family, regular rates apply for the rest of the group. Members save 10% at Union Station Restaurants and Retail Stores, including: Escape Room, Museum of Illusions, Harvey's, Parisi Coffee, Pierpont's, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory & the Science City Store. The fine print - both conditions have to be true: The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your "home" museum that you are a member of. ASTC had=s attractions in all fifty states and some other countries, including Mexico and Canada. ASTC had=s attractions in all fifty states and some other . Membership Visit an ASTC Passport Program venue today! For now, Costco is not raising the fee for members of its warehouse club, CFO Richard . Whoa, you have to pay to go into your museums? One point for clarification: the Connecticut Science Center is an ASTC member; however, the center doesnt participate in the Passport Program. ASTC- Association of Science-Technology Centers, Roadschool's RVer Dictionary - Roadschool % % %. When you consider the amount youd like to gift, you can personalize the membership to the needs of the family. We always go to the free ones is we are nearby and we check the rates if they are half off. We are so glad to hear that the post is helpful! Members can buy a small popcorn for only $1. This one offers reciprocal benefits for ASTC, ACM, NARM, and Time Travelers. (Free access with MOS membership)! 9:30 While we are not aware of any major changes to the reciprocal museum membership programs, it is possible that information in this postcould be outdated. We purchased ours through Boonshoft childrens museum in Ohio http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org. Learn about Science Center and Museum Member Benefits. Providing unique experiences designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity since 1933. All memberships include discounted admission to over 300 science centers and museums across the United States and around the world through the Association of Science and Technology Center's (ASTC) Travel Passport Program. The two major member organizations that offer these reciprocal programs are the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC). These programs are completely separate, although many museums in our state belong to both organizations. What the heck is a reciprocal program anyway? Gift memberships are sold as gift cards. Its always a good idea to call the membership office if you have any doubts about which membership levels include reciprocity. The ASTC logo is in the top right corner. At the end of the day, it wasnt such a travesty. All other family members over four will get to pay the youth price. Whats the point of having a reciprical membership if you cant use it anywhere near enough to go to? To sign up for an Access Membership, visit us in-person or call (206) 443-2844. Members can gain free access to the exhibit gallery for up to four people. Do you know what that means? This essentially means that if you have two ASTC-participating museums in your city and you belong to one of them, you cannot go to the other one for free. Membership at Space Center Houston is intended for noncommercial use by individuals. Of course, Mandy and I are not experts on the subject, so its always wise to consult a museum directly if youre looking for specific information on membership or reciprocity. You can apply the value of your current membership and receive a prorated price based on your current expiration date. Located in Oakland, California, this wonderful space and science center will awe your family while you learn and explore space for the day. You were my first inspiration to this fulltime lifestyle and I still come back to your site for info all the time! You will need a photo ID and proof of membership. There are some museums and zoos that are listed as discounted admission, like the Philadelphia Zoo and are clearly identified on the MOS website. AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums https://www.aza.org/. 2 World-class Traveling Exhibit Guest Passes, including Auschwitz. Date, time and usage will be mutually agreed upon with Union Station management; catering and other special requests (i.e., audio-visual) not included. MSI members at all levels enjoy 50 percent off admission at the following museums in Illinois and Wisconsin: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (Chicago): (773) 755-5100 Milwaukee Public Museum (Milwaukee, Wis.): (414) 278-2700 Contact us Can't find your answer online? All other family members over four will get to pay the youth price. The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your home address. Good news! Your membership is tax-deductible and, with it, you remain part of our historic family of supporters helping ensure our place in the community for years to come. %%EOF We sincerely appreciate your membership donation to Union Station. by PassPro | Nov 23, 2021 | Reciprocal Programs. I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. and MORE! You will also qualify for a 10% discount at the gift shop for museum purchases. The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your "home" museum that you are a member of. You can always search for reciprocal memberships and find even more, but these are some of the most popular. from If you wish to attend the Intuitive Planetarium and the National Geographic Theater, it does cost extra. Copyright Out and About Mom 2011 - 2021. There are many different reciprocal memberships and they all work about the same, but each have their own set of rules. USA. If youve never been to a childrens museum and you have kids, you need to check one out. The prices vary greatly so we always check ahead of time. I was most impressed with the science and nature museums. Hipcamp. ), but not Boston Childrens. EAA members can present the EAA Membership card to enjoy nearly 400 museum and science centers worldwide free of charge, thanks to a partnership with the Association of Science-Technology Centers and its ASTC Travel Passport Program. Memberships have been simplified to Solo and Dual, with the option to add children and grandchildren to the Dual membership. Union Station is a member of ASTC. ASTC- Association of Science and Technology Centers Founded in 1973, ASTC has approximately 650 members in nearly 50 countries. You will have admittance to the Extreme Mount Washington Museum in the Mt. Dont have time to check back in? Read here for the family zoo and science museum membership we bought. Thanks again for your feedback! They are located in River Grove, Illinois. Most Science Museums participate so its a great way to entertain the kids cheaply while on the road. When we first started traveling we bought a membership online to the Montana Natural History Center. You may also get $tickets to the Omnisphere theater for $3 for adults and $2 for children. ACM-AssociationofChildrensMuseumsHalf price admission to over 200 childrens museums. We loved the Evergreen Aviation Museum outside of Portland, Oregon and the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Can You Use a National Parks Pass at State Parks, Save Thousands on Your Next Family Road Trip with Reciprocal Programs. Government owned museums are mostly free, but some charge if the museum is fairly new and was expensive to build. But it got me thinking. I actually found out about the two deals I was considering through family and a Facebook-friend. Pingback: Roadschool's RVer Dictionary - Roadschool % % %, Your email address will not be published. This site uses cookies. Yes! Our entire family of 7 got in free. Google advertising cookie used for user tracking and ad targeting purposes. Certified Teacher Discounts The 12-month membership would begin when your recipient redeems the voucher. Be a part of this go-to resource and sign up now! The San Diego Natural History Museum allows two adults and children under eighteen to spend the day exploring. Members of ASTC Travel Passport Program institutions may receive free general admission for up to two adults and three children (17 and under). Costco says the time to raise membership prices is 'about now,' but it won't just yet: 'We'll let you know'. The Mount Washington Observatory located in Conway, New Hampshire, will allow two adults and up to four children six and over into the observatory for free. The kids could spend days playing at these museums. Members of these organizations can receive a variety of exclusive benefits and privileges, such as free admission, gift shop discounts, and more. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. p.m. Open tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 2023 Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Association of Science-Technology Centers. If you dont see your digital cards in your inbox, please check your spam. Included for up to 2 adults and 6 youth (ages 3-17) in the same household plus 2 named caregivers (nannies, grandparents, etc.) Click for Privacy Policy / Disclosure Policy. Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium first visit for free and additional tickets for only $4. Copyright Union Station. Looking for a museum to visit with your kids? TimeTravelers-HistoricalMuseums Reciprocal membership network for historical museums, sites, and societies throughout the United States. Give the gift of membership in the form of a gift voucher by clicking here. All Rights Reserved 2023. If anyone can comment with more information about other area museums, that would be great! 1. You can learn more about your local zoo or aquarium's membership program on their website or by contacting them directly. For answers to your Membership questions please call, Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm: Membership Office Email: members@mdsci.org . Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Example ASTC Travel Passport science centers and museums: Pacific Science Center offers two membership programs for low-income families, foster youth, and youth experiencing homelessness. This site uses different types of cookies. To learn more read, below. NARM has over 1,000 arts, cultural, and historical institutions along with botanical gardens, childrens museums, science and technology centers. Current Premium Members can pick up their parking passes at the Ticketing Office during business hours. Apply now. So I can't buy a local membership. We got our ACM membership in San Diego, which was one of the more expensive childrens museums, but we were just learning and we still got our moneys worth. Located in Columbus, Georgia, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center offers a fun day of exploration. Core 2. endstream endobj startxref ASTC is our most used reciprocal. JavaScript is required to operate this site. Some are free and some are 50% off. All who currently serve or have served in the U.S. Military receive a $3 discount on Museum Admission and a 10% discount on Dual through Family Plus memberships. Google Universal Analytics short-time unique user tracking identifier. If someone like mesomeone who spends a good chunk of her free and waking hours researching and writing about things to do with kidscould make this mistake, then I am probably not alone.