It's hard to belive but the school year is almost over. For some school districts school ends on May 24th. Catawba Science Center is proud to offer another year of fun hands-on educational experiences during the entire summer break. Our science camps are designed for children age of 4 to rising 9th grade.

Over a period of 13 weeks (May 28^th through August 23, 2013), students will be engaged in many thought provoking topics. CSC will immerse children in a variety of activities that will pique their interest in science.

Weekly activites:

What is Energy? Saturdays at 11 am

The Other Energies. Wednesdays at 4pm and Sundays at 2pm

Who's Heating up? Fridays at 4 pm

Catawba Science Center offers a variety of engaging and          educational birthday party packages for children ages 3 to 12. 

Fun, hands-on activities with these exciting science themes Flower Power, Seashore Celebration, Meet the Animals, Science Magic, Dino-Mite and Earth & Sky Spectacular. 

Click here for details about CSC's Birthday Party Packages 

April 2013 Birthdays celebrated at CSC:

Opens Saturday, May 18, 2013 

Catawba Science Center (CSC) is pleased to announce one of their most popular exhibits, Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat, will return to the Science Courtyard on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Once visitors walk through the door of the Science Courtyard, they will be transported to a butterfly friendly environment filled with a variety of aromatic flora and a babbling brook.

Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat offers adults and children the unique opportunity to get an up close look at numerous species of live butterflies. This seasonal butterfly house will feature native North Carolina and semi-tropical varieties of butterflies.

Walking through the lush, vibrantly colorful surroundings, guests will discover an assortment of butterflies including Monarchs, Swallowtails, Buckeyes, Viceroys, Orange Barred Sulphur and Painted Ladies, just to name a few. Visitors will be amazed how delicate and beautiful these insects are, and enjoy the unique opportunity to feed these fluttering works of art

When visiting, guests should stop by the Flutter-By Butterfly Nursery. Once there, they will learn the lifecycle of the butterflies and see future inhabitants of the exhibit. As visitors examine the butterfly chrysalides within the nursery, they will notice the differences in their color, design and texture.

Since this is a living exhibit, no two visits to the Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat will be the same. CSC suggests that butterfly enthusiast should come to the Science Center often and explore this ever changing exhibit before it floats off after Sunday, September 1, 2013.

Planned activities include Butterfly Garden Parties, Lunches with CSC's Lead Naturalist, Bruce Beerbower, seminars on butterfly friendly plants and much, much more.

Admission to the Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat is free to all CSC Members and is included in CSC's general admission.

Catawba Science Center Guild hosted the 27th Annual Italian Dinner & Auction: La Dolce Vita on March 23, 2013 at The Crossing at Hollar Mill. La Dolce Vita was indeed a wonderful celebration of the sweet life! More than $82,000 was raised, with $18,000 of that going to support the Flutter-By Butterfly Habitat.

CSC extends a heart-felt thank you to the 2012-13 CSC Guild for all of your hard work:

Beth Ansley

Meredith Carswell

Amy Chang

Beth Cochrane

Regan Eimer

Crystal Ellis

Michelle Ellis

Christine Getty

Melinda Hager

Krissi Johnson

Kathryn Jones

Ingrid McCluer

Jennifer Meredith

Heather Mills

Julie Norcross

Amy Query

Elizabeth Smith

Blair Tate

Diane Taylor

Lela Thompson

Taylor Young

Join Bruce Beerbower, CSC; Director of Visitor Services and Naturalist (former Federal Swamp Guide) to explore the largest Primeval Wilderness in the Southeastern United States and compare Swamp Ecology to the Coastal Islands of Georgia.  Discover the natural and human history of  these unique areas on foot, in motor boats, and canoes. 

The Okefenokee Swamp covers more than 600 square miles (700,000 + acres) and is home to alligators, black bear, otter, many species of birds, and other wildlife.  "Strange" insectivorous plants, cypress trees, and other unique plants are also found here. 

After exploring the Okefenokee Swamp on foot, motor boats and canoes - the group is bound the Atlantic Coast to discover Sea Turtles and Historic Sites!  Friday night we will stay at the Skidaway Marine Institute (University of Georgia).  On Saturday, we will learn about salt marsh, beach and maritime forests. A final highlight of the expedition will be a trip aboard a Coastal Trawler to dredge with deep water nets and discover the many types of animals that inhabit the saltwater sounds. 

FREE ADMISSION to CSC exhibits & aquaria*

*Free Admission does not apply when members visit CSC as part of an organized group (e.g. when participating in a school field trip to CSC)

DISCOUNT ADMISSION to planetarium and laser shows

DISCOUNT RATES on programs, camps, birthday parties, and Science After Dark

10% OFF purchases in the Science Shop

FREE SUBSCRIPTION to CSC's Imprints in Science e-newsletter

RECIPROCAL ADMISSION to 300+ participating ASTC Travel Passport museums+  

+Other museums' reciprocal admission policies are subject to change without notice. We recommend calling museums prior to visiting to verify reciprocity for CSC Members.

DISCOUNT ADMISSION Night at Hickory Motor Speedway        TBA

TWO FREE nights of Hickory Crawdads baseball  June 15th & Aug 23rd

   1 FREE ticket for each CSC Individual/ Senior/ College Student Member

   4 FREE tickets for CSC Family/ Grandparent/ Supporting Members  

   Get the game details at:  www.HickoryCrawdads.com

Many CSC memberships will expire at the end of May, so be on the look out for CSC Membership Renewal materials in your mail and email.

CSC Members continue to receive many great benefits, like free admission to CSC exhibits and discounted rates on planetarium shows, science camps, Science After Dark, and birthday parties. To remain eligible for these program discounts, your CSC membership must be valid throughout the time you or your family member will participate.

That means renew now to see CSC's current exhibits Conservation Quest and RetroView for free. Members will also get to see Flutter-By Butterfly for free when it opens on May 18, 2013.