Catawba Science Center
Students will enjoy visiting the Catawba Science Center, a hands-on museum, where learning is fun!
Preview your trip on the web: Catawba Science Center
Learn more
- American Field Guide A collection of online videos that explore many aspects of America's wilderness from animals to earth and space to public policy.
- Earth Today: A Digital View of our Dynamic Planet On online exhibit that briefly covers such topics as Earth's atmosphere, geosphere, earthquakes, and global cloud cover.
- The Physics Classroom A physics tutorial for introductory physics which uses easy-to-understand language and graphs for beginning physics students.
- Lesson plan: It's a crash test, Dummy This lesson begins with an Internet exploration of how air bags in cars were developed to solve a very practical problem: saving lives in automobile accidents. It also examines some of the safety issues surrounding air bags.
Related pages
- Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center: Offers a selection of informative, interactive and experientially-based programs in outdoor and environmental education.
- KidSenses Children's InterACTIVE Museum: The interactive exhibits at this children’s museum spark the imagination and kids have fun as they play and learn.
- Horizons Unlimited: This wonderful education center and museum provides hands-on programs for students in the areas of history and the physical and biological sciences.
Related topics
- Learn more about Catawba County, North Carolina, amphibians, animals, biology, earth science, earthquakes, ecosystems, geology, habitats, light sound, meteorology, natural history, physics, plants, plate tectonics, reptiles, science, tornadoes, volcanoes, and weather.
Legal
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Catawba Science Center is a hands-on science and technology museum located in the Arts & Science Center on the SALT Block in downtown Hickory. Three-levels of exhibit areas include an outdoor science courtyard, Energy Avenue, Preschool ExploreIt, EarthWatch Center, and the Naturalist Center, which houses a number of live animals ranging from a Pink-toed Tarantula to a baby alligator named “Swampie.” Catawba Science Center features traveling and blockbuster exhibits throughout the year. For a current exhibit schedule, visit their Temporary Exhibit section. CSC also offers homeschool classes and an annual Summer Fun science camp program for children age 4 to 12.
The hours of operation are Tuesday - Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 1 PM to 4 PM. Exhibits are closed to the public on Mondays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for youth (3 to 18), $3 for seniors (62 and over) and free for children under 3. Admission is free for CSC members. Call (828) 322-8169 for more information.
Professional development offerings
The Center provides professional development to K-12 science teachers and homeschool parents through several different sessions, each offered once a year for one year. The goal of the Center’s workshops is to increase teacher comfort with the process of science inquiry.
- Workshops typically serve fewer than 20 educators per session.
- Content is tailored to the needs of the requesting school system. Offerings are based on theory, classroom strategies and subject matter content.
- Sessions offered are a combination of lecture and processing activities with time to process the learning with other participants.
- Follow-up activities include an optional evaluation of the professional development session.
- If materials are provided there is sometimes a materials charge on top of session fees.
