Jellybot: Soft, Aquatic, Bio-inspired Engineering (Ages: 12-15)
Alicia Houk is the founder and gardener of the Wild Garden Alliance. She has a master’s degree in pollination ecology and has been designing and installing native pollinator and bird gardens for public spaces for the past nine years. She has been teaching in the environmental science field for over a decade with her recent seven-week Wild Garden Workshop focused on ecology and ecological gardening. www.wildgardenalliance.org
In the gardening world we are hearing more and more about gardening with native plants. Why are native plants important and what role can our gardens play in supporting local ecology? Highlighting beautiful plants and amazing creature stories, Alicia’s talk will explore the beauty and science underpinning ecological gardening as well as the potential for each gardener to make a difference at home and as part of a larger cultural shift toward long-term conservation of nature.
Take a journey into the cosmos inside our inflatable StarLab Planetarium! Enjoy a guided tour of the night sky with a Montshire educator. Tickets are available for $3 at the front desk.
Also offered at 11:30am and 12pm.
Tickets to StarLab, the Montshire’s inflatable portable planetarium, will be available for purchase at the Front Desk. In this immersive experience, you will learn about stars, constellations, and planets! Limited spaces available for timed sessions. First come, first served, $3 extra per person with admission or membership (no advanced sales).
Please note that StarLab takes place in a dark, enclosed space, with seating on the floor. The program lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Join the search!
Waldo is hiding at 32 businesses in Hanover and Norwich this July, 2024!
Pick up a passport at the Museum, or at the Norwich Bookstore, or Still North Books. Collect stamps or signatures for every Waldo you find and join other seekers for a party and grand prize drawing on August 4th, we’ll have a Waldo party at the Norwich Square for the drawing.
Also good to know:
• Players who complete any bonus hunt will receive one additional raffle entry per hunt
• Players who complete all 3 bonus hunts will get a coupon for a free Waldo Strawberry Milk from Still North and a free grab bag prize from Norwich.
• To kick off/promote the festivities, Waldo and Wenda will be marching in the Hanover Fourth of July parade.
Sensory Friendly Hours are a time for families to enjoy a quieter and less-crowded visit to the Montshire.
During these hours, the Montshire will offer:
- Limited participation of up to 70 people
- Reduced sound from select exhibits
- Quiet respite space with sensory support supplies
- Visitor social narrative and visual planner
Pre-registration is appreciated but not required.
Norwich, Vermont — The Montshire Museum of Science is excited to present Ocean Bound, an immersive exhibition on watersheds and watershed health.
In Ocean Bound, visitors of all ages will learn about the interconnectedness of watersheds, how water in our local watershed is truly “ocean bound,” and how our actions here have significant impacts downstream.
Ocean Bound will be on display from June 1 through September 8, 2024.
Why This Exhibition Matters Now
A watershed is a geographic catch basin of interconnected streams, wetlands and rivers that eventually drain to the ocean. No matter where you are, you are in a watershed. Watersheds are increasingly important indicators of planetary health, and are studied by scientists who research Earth’s ecosystem and climate change.
In Ocean Bound, visitors learn how their actions can help protect watersheds by adopting daily behaviors in their everyday lives. This exhibition is particularly relevant for us in the Upper Valley, as we are part of the larger and ecologically significant Connecticut River Watershed, which stretches from northern New Hampshire to the ocean through the Long Island Sound.
By highlighting key links between earth science, the biological sciences and engineering, Ocean Bound helps visitors understand not only the science behind watersheds, but also how science is a critical part of creating long-term solutions to protect vital freshwater and oceanic resources regionally, nationally, and globally. A critical aspect of this exhibition is that it invites museum visitors to become ambassadors for healthy watersheds and take positive action to steward Earth’s land and water.
With a full mile of riverfront shoreline as part of its campus, much of the Montshire’s commitment to advancing environmental education and climate leadership is influenced by our location along the Connecticut River.
The Exhibition Experience
In Ocean Bound, visitors embark on an exciting journey through watersheds through a series of immersive and interactive exhibit experiences. Visitors have the opportunity to guide water droplets safely through a hazardous maze, make it rain in a 3D watershed model, divert dangerous pollutants from a storm drain, and balance your own freshwater consumption with what’s needed in nature.
A key feature of the exhibition is a life-sized submersible which visitors can “pilot” from mountain stream to ocean, discovering rich aquatic life and habitats along the way via eye-popping HD underwater footage. Visitors will learn good personal habits that help sustain healthy environments, protect freshwater resources and oceans, and preserve the species that depend on clean water for survival, including our own.
Beneath the Surface: Special Presentations Celebrating the Opening of Ocean Bound, Saturday, June 8th
Ocean Bound was developed by the Sciencenter (Ithaca, NY) with an Environmental Literacy Grant from NOAA from 2009-2012, in a project spearheaded by the Montshire’s current Executive Director, Lara Litchfield-Kimber.
At 2pm, she and award-winning cinematographer, David O. Brown, who collected and curated custom underwater footage for the exhibition, will share behind-the-scenes reflections on the “Making of the Ocean Bound Exhibition”.
At 3pm, Mr. Brown will host a presentation on his professional career as an underwater cinematographer that bridges art and environmental science. Visitors will be introduced to Mr. Brown’s dive gear and specialized camera equipment.
Ocean Bound was developed by the Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and is generously sponsored in part by GEOKON, Mascoma Bank, Adimab LLC, Chroma Technology Corporation, Bio X Cell, and LCS Controls, Inc.
About The Montshire Museum of Science
Recently named “Best Museum” in the 2023 Valley News Reader’s Choice Awards, the Montshire Museum of Science’s mission is to forge and empower a community of lifelong learners through engagement with science.
Located in beautiful Norwich, VT, the Montshire Museum of Science is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Daily admission is $20 for adults and $17 for children ages 2-17. The Museum is free for members and children under the age of two. Memberships are available. Visit montshire.org or call 802-649-2200 for more information.
The Montshire Museum of Science is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is supported by admission, membership, grants, and charitable contributions.
Media Contact:
Honor Hingston-Cox
Public and Media Relations Manager
Phone: 802 649 2200 x256
Email address: honor.hingston-cox@montshire.org
This summer the Montshire Museum of Science is excited to present Ocean Bound. This exhibition is especially relevant for us in the Upper Valley, as we are part of the larger and ecologically significant Connecticut River Watershed, which stretches from northern New Hampshire to the Long Island Sound.
Through this immersive, hands-on exhibition, museum visitors will embark on a journey through watersheds to see how their actions on land impact the Earth’s ecosystem. Join us!
Open June 1 through September 8.
Ocean Bound was developed by the Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Generously sponsored by:
Adimab LLC
Chroma Technology Corporation
Bio X Cell
LCS Controls, Inc.
2pm: Making of the Ocean Bound Exhibition
Montshire Executive Director Lara Litchfield-Kimber spearheaded the development of the Ocean Bound exhibition. To collect and curate the custom underwater footage used in Ocean Bound, she turned to renowned cinematographer, David O. Brown. Together they will share behind-the-scenes reflections on the “Making of the Ocean Bound Exhibition”.
3pm: “My Life as an Underwater Cinematographer”
Mr. Brown will also host a presentation on his professional career as an underwater cinematographer that bridges art and environmental science. Visitors will then be introduced to Mr. Brown’s dive gear and specialized camera equipment.
Free with museum admission or membership.
Read more about Mr Brown’s work HERE.
Join us after hours for our annual Member Night! Not a member? Read about our membership options HERE.
The Museum Store will be open, and we’ll have hands-on activities to go with our featured summer exhibition, Ocean Bound.
Stay for dinner with Munchie Rollz (cash or venmo), and cool off with the Kona Ice Truck (cash, credit card, tap to pay).
While at Member Night, make sure you enter your name in our special Summer Raffle, with the winner drawn at 7pm!
Enjoy a fun and interactive learning experience in a comfortable and welcoming environment. This is a time for families to enjoy a less-crowded visit and may be appealing to individuals who have sensory processing differences. Admission is free. There will be reduced lights and sounds from select exhibits, a quiet respite space, sensory kits to borrow with noise-cancelling headphones and other supplies, and a sensory map.
Register here! (Registration not required. Walk-ins accepted.)
Light and Sound create waves we can see and hear. In this series students will investigate sound waves and vibrations through invention, play, discovery, and lots of testing. Light will be manipulated and redirected with shadows and mirrors, and we will witness the separation of color in light around us.
Light and Sound create waves we can see and hear. In this series students will investigate sound waves and vibrations through invention, play, discovery, and lots of testing. Light will be manipulated and redirected with shadows and mirrors, and we will witness the separation of color in light around us.
Light and Sound create waves we can see and hear. In this series students will investigate sound waves and vibrations through invention, play, discovery, and lots of testing. Light will be manipulated and redirected with shadows and mirrors, and we will witness the separation of color in light around us.
Thursdays: April 11, April 18, April 25
Ages 6-8: 10:30am - 12pm
Ages 9-11: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Register HERE
Join us on March 9th for Astronomy Day, our annual celebration of all things celestial. This year includes programming for children, adults, and families including astronomical arts and crafts, hands-on space demonstrations, and lightning talks featuring graduate students from the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Dartmouth College. There will be opportunities throughout the day to meet face-to-face with astronomers to learn more about them and their research. We also welcome back the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People, who will share stellar stories, followed by an indigenous art activity.
The vernal equinox signals that spring is returning to the Northern hemisphere, but what does that really mean? And why does it matter? In this series we’ll use our planetarium to explore the celestial movements that signal the changing seasons, and make observations about the ways our forests and waters respond.
Hop like a frog and hunt for insects. Learn about the complete metamorphosis of frogs with educator Kelly Wieman for this Month’s Nature Adventure.
Moose are the largest animals in Vermont, and yet they are extremely elusive. We will read Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root and stomp like this massive animal with educator Kelly Weiman.
Hop in the snow like a Snowshoe Hare. We will play a game and read The Mitten by Jan Brett with educator Kelly Wieman.
Enjoy a fun and interactive learning experience in a comfortable and welcoming environment. This is a time for families to enjoy a less-crowded visit and may be appealing to individuals who have sensory processing differences. Admission is free. There will be reduced lights and sounds from select exhibits, a quiet respite space, sensory kits to borrow with noise-cancelling headphones and other supplies, and a sensory map.
Register here! (Registration not required. Walk-ins accepted.)
Join the Montshire with friends and family on Saturday, February 10, 2024 as we celebrate the Lunar New Year with special hands-on activities!
Activities to include making paper lanterns and kites.
Free with Museum Admission. 10am-5pm.
Sign up your 1st-through-4th grader, for only one day, or multiple days, to explore science and engineering while meeting friends, exploring the museum and playing outside!
An account on CampSite must be created first in order to register for the February Vacation Camp.
Once you create your CampSite account, you can then register your child for February Vacation Camp.
To get started, use one of the links below:
To create a new CampSite account, click here
To login to an existing CampSite account, click here
(If you don’t know if you have a CampSite account already, use the new CampSite account link!)
Sign up your 1st-through-4th grader, for only one day, or multiple days, to explore science and engineering while meeting friends, exploring the museum and playing outside!
Each day offers a new theme to explore: 9am - 3pm daily.
$75/day for members | $85/day for non-members.
Monday: Rollways (SOLD OUT)
Tuesday: Electricity & Magnetism (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday: Space (SOLD OUT)
Thursday: Insects (Limited Availability)
Friday: Shelters–above and below the snow (SOLD OUT)
Join us at the Science Discovery Lab for daily drop-in programs offered at 11am or 3pm for hands-on science.
A new activity is offered every morning - you may get to experiment with electricity, build a parachute, or explore the fossil collection in the morning or examine skulls, test a paper rocket, or meet a live insect up close.
In the afternoon we’ll be featuring River Play. Explore rivers and watersheds with our summer exhibition Ocean Bound. Then get even more hands-on at the Science Discovery Lab as we make our own tabletop models of rivers and watch them form and change with time.
Please note that Igloo Build is CANCELLED due to inadequate snowpack!
Upon the advice of our Igloo expert, Dr. Norbert Yankielun, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Igloo Build.
According to NOAA, we are experiencing a warmer than normal winter season. Despite the appearance of ideal snow currently on the ground, this season has produced infrequent and insufficient snowfalls. Additionally, the multiple freeze/thaw cycles have caused the ice crystals to metamorphose, and the rain has saturated the snow, causing the snow to lose much of its strength. This causes the snow to become difficult and unsafe to cut and stack into igloos.
But wait! If you still want a snow-based experience, come to the Montshire for SNOW SCULPTURES!
We will have large blocks of snow ready for you to carve into animals, cars, mushrooms, buildings, or whatever you can imagine. We will have some tools available, but you are also invited to bring your own tools like trowels and buckets.
Schedule of the day:
10:30 AM– 3:00 PM - Snow Sculptures Open
Build your own Bee House for solitary bees after reading Am I Even a Bee by Felicity Muth.
After learning about colors and feelings in the book Color Monster by Anna Llenas we will explore mixing colors using science tools.
Relax surrounded by the aquariums in “Life in Local Waters” after we read the book Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris and create our own patterned paper fish to take home.
After reading the book Blackout by John Rocco, families will have the chance to experiment with batteries and circuits to make lights turn on and motors run.
After reading the book The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins, you can build your own contraption to test in the museum’s wind tube.
This program has been canceled. Please join us for another TogetherTime Tales at a later date.
Experiment with shadow puppets after getting inspired by the book Moonbear’s Shadow by Frank Asch.
Enjoy playing and experimenting with bubbles after reading Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin.
Build and test ramps after reading Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee.
Look at fossils and chomp like a Dino after reading We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins.
Blast off in a space ship after the story Small World by Ishta Mercurio and Jen Corace then create your own rocket and see how high it can fly.
Make and test your own parachute after reading Parachute by Danny Parker and Matt Ottley.
Explore human anatomy after reading More Parts by Tedd Arnold
Make a fence for your tiny robot bug after learning about robots inspired by animals in Robo-motion by Linda Zajac.
After reading The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld we will create our own block structures in the “Big Blue Blocks” exhibit.
Test your balancing skills after ready Balance the Birds by Susie Ghahremani.
We will read Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young and then testing our sense of touch with unexpected objects.
Experiment with making a gravity-powered toy car after reading Mo Willem’s book Let’s Go for a Drive.
Explore how simple shapes can be rearranged to make endless combinations after reading Windblown by Edouard Manceau.
The book One Frozen Lake by Deborah Jo Larson is a beautiful introduction to ice fishing - we’ll practice extracting our own fish from ice afterward!
Enjoy a fun and interactive learning experience in a comfortable and welcoming environment. This is a time for families to enjoy a less-crowded visit and may be appealing to individuals who have sensory processing differences. Admission is free. There will be reduced lights and sounds from select exhibits, a quiet respite space, sensory kits to borrow with noise-cancelling headphones and other supplies, and a sensory map.
Register here! (Registration not required. Walk-ins accepted.)
A new activity every day - you may get to examine skulls, test a paper rocket, or meet a live insect up close!
A new activity every morning - you may get to experiment with electricity, build a parachute or explore the fossil collection.
A new activity every day - you may get to examine skulls, test a paper rocket, or meet a live insect up close!
A new activity every day - you may get to examine skulls, test a paper rocket, or meet a live insect up close!
A new activity every morning - you may get to experiment with electricity, build a parachute or explore the fossil collection.
A new activity every morning - you may get to experiment with electricity, build a parachute or explore the fossil collection.
We’ll spend this series investigating indoor natural history collections along with outdoor tracking explorations as we search for and learn about the clues New England wildlife leaves behind (and yes, we’re talking scat, too!). This is a wonderful chance to start getting to know the winter wildlife in our woods, meadows, and rivers.
Thursdays, February 8, 15, 22
Ages 6 - 8. 10:30AM - 12:00PM
Ages 9 - 11. 1:30PM - 3PM (SOLD OUT)
NORWICH, VT - The Montshire Museum of Science will host two climate cafés for parents on December 2, 2023 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Climate cafés are facilitated small-group gatherings where participants are provided with a safe space to share their thoughts and emotions around the threat posed by climate change. These two events will uniquely focus on the mental health of parents, who are faced with the challenge of raising their children in the shadow of an uncertain and changing climate.
The climate cafés will be co-facilitated by Vermont resident Elizabeth Bechard, Senior Policy Analyst of Moms Clean Air Force and author of Parenting in a Changing Climate: Tools for Cultivating Resilience, Taking Action, and Practicing Hope in the Face of Climate Change, and Maria Finnegan, Director of Communications for New Hampshire Children’s Trust.
“As we grapple with what it means to raise children in a changing climate, creating community spaces for parents to connect with others who care matters more than ever,” states Ms. Bechard. “Climate change increasingly threatens every aspect of our well-being, and for parents, it can be acutely painful to wonder what the world will be like for our children in the future.”
The Montshire Museum of Science recognizes it has an important role to play in our region as a community convener, bringing people together to talk about critical issues at the intersection of science and society. “Climate change is real, it is here, and it is already affecting families in our area,” shares Lara Litchfield-Kimber, Executive Director of the Montshire. “Gatherings like these climate cafés will go a long way toward empowering our community by helping people create connections and by inspiring collective action.”
The plan for piloting parent-focused climate cafés developed as an initiative of CHICKS (Climate and Health Initiative for Children in Kearsarge & Sunapee), a community-engaged and cross-sector program of the nonprofit New Hampshire Healthcare Workers for Climate Action. CHICKS is currently implementing a program to increase awareness of the impact of climate on health in K-5 children and their caregivers at four Boys & Girls Club sites in the Kearsarge region. Their collaborators include the Center for Advancing Rural Health Equity at Dartmouth Health and Colby-Sawyer College. Additional climate cafés are being planned for 2024.
Pre-registration is required, as space is limited in each climate café session. Free on-site childcare is available. Participating families receive free museum admission for the day. The Montshire Museum of Science is located at 1 Montshire Road in Norwich, VT.
To register, visit: https://mms.formstack.com/forms/climatecafes.
About The Montshire Museum of Science
Recently named “Best Museum” in the 2023 Valley News Reader’s Choice Awards, the Montshire Museum forges and empowers lifelong learners through engagement with science.
Located in beautiful Norwich, VT, the Montshire Museum of Science is open seven days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Daily admission is $20 for adults and $17 for children ages 2-17. The Museum is free for members and children under the age of two. Memberships are available. Visit montshire.org or call 802-649-2200 for more information.
The Montshire Museum of Science is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is supported by admission, membership, grants, and charitable contributions.
Media Contact:
Lara Litchfield-Kimber, Executive Director
Phone: 802.649.2200 x224
Email address: lara.litchfield-kimber@montshire.org
The museum will be closed on Sunday, December 31, 2023 for the Montshire’s New Year’s celebration.
An early New Year’s Eve party just for families. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for New Year’s at Noon!
Enjoy themed activity stations around the museum and experience a festive, New Year’s celebration, Montshire style!
Registration now CLOSED! SOLD OUT!
This event is made possible with support from Simple Energy and The Lyme Timber Company.
Climate Cafés are facilitated small-group gatherings for parents of young children to share thoughts and emotions on the impact of climate change on parenting and their children’s health.
These events will be co-facilitated by Elizabeth Bechard and Maria Finnegan. Ms. Bechard is a Senior Policy Analyst for Moms Clean Air Force, where she leads the organization’s work on climate change and mental health. She is author of Parenting in a Changing Climate: Tools for Cultivating Resilience, Taking Action, and Practicing Hope in the Face of Climate Change. Ms. Finnegan is the Director of Communications for the New Hampshire Children’s Trust. After a career in media and development at NPR, ABC, ESPN, and more, she came home to the Granite State and found her true calling in building a grassroots climate movement focused on the physical and mental health of children and parents.
Pre-registration is required as space will be limited in each session. Free on-site childcare is available. Participating families will also receive free museum admission for the day.
Climate Cafés are made possible through a collaboration with the NH Healthcare Workers for Climate Action and the Dartmouth Center for Advancing Rural Health Equity (CARHE) at Dartmouth Health.
Register Here
Climate Cafés are facilitated small-group gatherings for parents of young children to share thoughts and emotions on the impact of climate change on parenting and their children’s health.
These events will be co-facilitated by Elizabeth Bechard and Maria Finnegan. Ms. Bechard is a Senior Policy Analyst for Moms Clean Air Force, where she leads the organization’s work on climate change and mental health. She is author of Parenting in a Changing Climate: Tools for Cultivating Resilience, Taking Action, and Practicing Hope in the Face of Climate Change. Ms. Finnegan is the Director of Communications for the New Hampshire Children’s Trust. After a career in media and development at NPR, ABC, ESPN, and more, she came home to the Granite State and found her true calling in building a grassroots climate movement focused on the physical and mental health of children and parents.
Pre-registration is required as space will be limited in each session. Free on-site childcare is available. Participating families will also receive free museum admission for the day.
Climate Cafés are made possible through a collaboration with the NH Healthcare Workers for Climate Action and the Dartmouth Center for Advancing Rural Health Equity (CARHE) at Dartmouth Health.
Register Here
Extended savings in the Museum Store on November 26, December 3, 10, and 17.
Get ready to get your hands dirty! We’ll be engineering solutions to different problems and then building both guided and free choice projects. We’ll focus on building structures and incorporating electrical systems using motors and LEDs. We will be using a handful of different tools including power drills and soldering irons to bring your creations to life. No experience necessary!
Wait, what is snow? In this program we’ll explore the many, fascinating ways snow reaches the earth in so many different forms, and just what it does when it gets here! We’ll experiment with changes of state, snowflake shape and ice formation, occupants of the subnivean zone and animal adaptations, as well as plenty of snow art and snow fun.
Get ready to get your hands dirty! We’ll be engineering solutions to different problems and then building both guided and free choice projects. We’ll focus on building structures and incorporating electrical systems using motors and LEDs. We will be using a handful of different tools including power drills and soldering irons to bring your creations to life. No experience necessary!
This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Tuesday, January 9, 16, 23
Wait, what is snow? In this program we’ll explore the many, fascinating ways snow reaches the earth in so many different forms, and just what it does when it gets here! We’ll experiment with changes of state, snowflake shape and ice formation, occupants of the subnivean zone and animal adaptations, as well as plenty of snow art and snow fun.
Register here! This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursday, January 11, 18 and 25.
For 9–11 year olds.
Wait, what is snow? In this program we’ll explore the many, fascinating ways snow reaches the earth in so many different forms, and just what it does when it gets here! We’ll experiment with changes of state, snowflake shape and ice formation, occupants of the subnivean zone and animal adaptations, as well as plenty of snow art and snow fun.
Register here! This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursday, January 11, 18 and 25.
For 6–8 year olds.
This workship has three sessions and will meet on Thursdays, November 30, December 7 and 14.
For 9–11 year olds.
This workshop has three sessions and will meet on Thursdays, November 30, December 7 and 14.
For 6–8 year olds.