December 2022 🌲

Gratitude for ‘22 2022 got off to a bumpy start with Omicron, yet the year is finishing strong! We are thankful to have returned to a full schedule of programming with the Children’s Science Center Lab, thanks to the many supporters who helped us persevere through the pandemic and make our mission possible now. As we are back to waitlists for Lab and community programs, we are more eager than ever to open doors to Northern Virginia Science Center and fulfill the vision for full-scale, world-class science center for the region.  Our public and private partners have enabled great progress toward the vision in 2022. Over the past year, our architecture and exhibit team completed the design of the facility and exhibits, a culmination of over two years of detailed design work and many years of community input. The Launch the Future campaign now has Title Partners for four of the five galleries, as well as many more Founding Partners and Element Partners.   In the new year, the team will begin the next phase, including working drawings and permitting, key preparation steps for construction. 2023 will also be a pivotal year for securing the remaining funds needed for full build-out and long-term financial sustainability. While the work of building and funding is not done, 2022 has brought us ever closer to the finish line! To keep up with the latest information about the project, please visit novasci.org.

Sincerely, Nene Spivy Executive Director

Monthly Mission Moments

Latina SciGirls Lab Exploration December 9 That's a wrap on another 8 week session of Latina SciGirls, a program that aims to reduce barriers for young Latina girls by giving them the opportunity to explore STEM with hands-on activities and Latina STEM professionals.

Member Only Holiday Sweater Party December 10 Members enjoyed an exclusive hour at the Lab with bonus wintry activities, a sneak peek for future experiments and hot chocolate! If you are interested in attending exclusive events, purchase a membership today!

Last Call! Kids Night Out- Winter Workshop Friday, December 16 • 6-8 pm We have a few spots left to sign up for this Friday's Kids' Night Out! Bring your creativity as you wire a winter greeting card that lights up, create fluffy snowman slime, and tinker some new inventions. This is a kids-only drop-off event. Bring a friend or sibling and double the fun! Purchase Tickets!

Winter Break Timed Entries! December 17 through January 2 10am & 2pm The Winter Wonder Lab is now open! Enjoy wintry fun without the frostbite. Included in all timed entries this month, go on an adventurous Arctic Animal Expedition, create festive Snowy Slime, and build a cozy Winter Creature Corner. As a bonus, this year in addition to weekends, the Lab will be open every day during Winter Break! Christmas Eve, 10am only Christmas, Lab Closed New Year's Day, 2pm only

Purchase Tickets!

New Year's Eve Around the World! December 31 • 10am • 1pm • 3:30pm  It's the New Year somewhere! Celebrate the New Year at a kid-friendly time. Ring in 2023 STEM style with kid-engineered noise makers, DIY hats, celebration slime, and a ball drop! This popular event will have three timed entries! Register now to ensure a spot! Purchase Tickets!

Need Last-minute Gift Ideas? Gift a Family Membership to the Lab! Purchase a Children’s Science Center Lab Family Membership! Starting at just $160 for a family of 4, a Lab membership includes unlimited admission during Timed Entries, discounts on Camps and other programming, priority registration for our most popular programs, and more! Looking for other gifts for your young scientist? Check out our STEM Gift Guide! Purchase a Gift Membership!

Try It At Home! Polar Bear Glove Animals are able to live in different climates because of different adaptations. Adaptation is either a behavioral or physical feature that helps an animal to survive. Learn more about adaptations in this activity with just a few kitchen ingredients. Try It At Home!

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Children's Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and STEM programs traveling to schools and other community venues across the region.

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