Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. If your primary museum is a member of one or both of these organizations, it means your museum membership may qualify for reciprocal benefits (i.e. 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. And guess what? However, we too have run into difficulties at the Childrens Museum in West Hartford in their honoring reciprocity or made it very difficult holding up the line on multiple occasions. Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) This program gives members free admission to a huge collection of science centers. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. EXCLUSIONS 1. What's the cheapest membership on the list? Of course, thats not always the easiest thing to do when you have small children! 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. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Preferred browsers: Google Chrome, FireFox, or Microsoft Edge. Sustainer member facility rental includes Haverty Family Yards, Arthur Stilwell, Jarvis Hunt, Innovation Center. Also, you can like us onFacebookandTwitterto keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites. Advance ticketing - no service fees. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Becoming a member is a great way to support your local accredited zoo or aquarium. Got any Momsense for us as we consider all this information? Yes! 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. Thanks for your recommendations! Hi Mandy, ASTC had=s attractions in all fifty states and some other . The ASTC logo is in the top right corner. Discounted tickets to touring exhibitions. Not long ago. Copyright Out and About Mom 2011 - 2021. Guests must present proof of current ASTC museum membership and a valid photo ID to receive . Members receive free admission to Science City year-round. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. With all the ASTC offers, you will want to learn more about the places you can enjoy with your children. SmithsonianFree admission into more than 50 Smithsonian Affiliate museums and educational organizations. Well, I have a confession to make. The Indiana State Museum is though. You can save the digital card to your Apple Wallet or Google pay, take a screenshot and save it to your phone, or print out the email. Again these are only 50% off, so with a family of 7, the price can still add up. Memberships have been simplified to Solo and Dual, with the option to add children and grandchildren to the Dual membership. You can get free admission when you travel outside of your local area to other institutes participating in the program. Enter your name and email and get our latest blog post straight to your inbox it's FREE! We use the heck out of our AZA and ACM memberships to stretch our legs on those long drives. a.m. to For answers to your Membership questions please call, Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm: Membership Office Email: members@mdsci.org . I believe North America as a whole has a reciprocal agreement with many big zoo's and aquariums. Ask around- ask family, friends, co-workers, call your museum or zoo of interest and search online. Valid state-issued ID may be requested at the time of purchase. We heard about a reciprocal to Kern County museum in California. We hope our little research project has been helpful to those of you sorting through the sometimes confusing world of museum memberships. We paid $109 for the day, but then we could get into other zoos for free or half price for the rest of the year. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. We sincerely appreciate your membership donation to Union Station. These days, most museums list all the details of their membership on their website. Its a fabulous place and we had a great time. Thanks for this posting about reciprocal programs. This site uses different types of cookies. Sign up with your email address to receive our latest outing ideas and updates. For more information on the ASTCs reciprocal program (called the Passport Program), click. 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. 1. If youve been following our blog, you may remember that I recently took Boo to the Providence Childrens Museum. Thats a wonderful idea! Thanks again for your help in putting it together , You should also include the springfield museums which includes both associations as well. 0 Free visits to Science City, Planetarium. With a large family, things can add up quickly so we are selective about our purchases. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Members save $50 on birthday party packages. These are our passions. Click for Privacy Policy / Disclosure Policy. LACMA-ArtMuseums Free admission to 24 art museums nationwide. I just found this post on researching the ASTC and ACM programs. To check if a museum participates in the ASTC Passport Program, click HERE. Members can also receive dollar-off access to see the OMNIMAX theater and special exhibits that are there. Members also can get up to 10% off purchases from Star Store except for autographed books. My family has enjoyed membership at the Boston museum of Science for several years now. We always have plenty of free choices of museums and zoos to visit locally and when traveling with this choice. 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. They wouldnt be much of a benefit if you stay in one place, but they have provided us with a way to go to so many different places and it only costs us the gas to get there. Thats right. Government owned museums are mostly free, but some charge if the museum is fairly new and was expensive to build. A Union Station membership includes: Free admission to Science City for 12 months; Discounted tickets to exhibits; ASTC Travel Passport Program with discounted admission to 300+ museums 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. What is the difference between the ACM and the ASTC? Cookies are required for this site to operate correctly. MOSI in Tampa and the Orlando Science Center were both really cool! This membership costs $125, but during the week of Black Friday, they had a sale and it was only $62! BTW, the Ecotarium is on our list of places we really want to visit. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Apply now. Find Participating Museums . Within CT, we have free access to: Beardsley Zoo, Discovery Museum, West Hartford Childrens Museum (with a hassle), Stepping Stones (require ID), Lutz Museum, and I cant remember the others, but those are the ones we use regularly). Your email address will not be published. We regularly use our reciprocal benefits as they offer ASTC & AZA. 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. Core memberships are 100% tax deductible. Costco says the time to raise membership prices is 'about now,' but it won't just yet: 'We'll let you know'. Stacey Hi! 109 0 obj <> endobj **Free or discounted admission to ASTC Passport . We use it all the time. We love science centers, they are educational hands on learning and play areas for kids and adults. 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. Show your EAA membership card at the admissions area of the museum you are visiting* to gain access to their facilities for free.**. Heres a quick breakdown for some of the most popular museums in and around Connecticut: 4. CALL THE MUSEUM BEFORE YOU VISIT TO CONFIRM YOUR TRAVEL PASSPORT PROGRAM BENEFITS. PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2013. Present a valid military ID at time of purchase; at the museum only. AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums https://www.aza.org/. Our family drives from the Chicago area all the way to southern California, and the come back through Phoenix/Tucson. 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. 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. Special programs and events are excluded. For a reduced rate of $5.00 each as long as one person is listed on the membership card. When she visits us in MA, we use the Durham pass to go to the Museum of Science in Boston. Dont have time to check back in? As an MSI member, you may take advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program that allows you to visit museums across the U.S. and around the world for free or discounted admission. Please check each institutions website for more information about their operations, including any requirements for advanced reservations. Gift memberships are sold as gift cards. You can always search for reciprocal memberships and find even more, but these are some of the most popular. Thanks again for your feedback! How to Sign up for Reciprocal Museum Memberships? When we first started traveling we bought a membership online to the Montana Natural History Center. 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. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Google Universal Analytics long-time unique user tracking identifier. 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. Here are links where you can find the lists: Science Museums http://www.astc.org/passport/ Yes! Thanks so much for your feedback. Required fields are marked *, 2023 Roadschool All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy. The gift of Membershipto Union Station is guaranteed to please, with great savings to year-round attractions and special touring exhibitions. Patrons receive all the benefits of membership for up to 6, plus: ***Business member facility rental includes Grand Plaza, Science City, Extreme Screen, Haverty Family Yards, Arthur Stilwell, Jarvis Hunt, Innovation Center. We can send you specific announcements based on your topic selections below. Its always a good idea to call the membership office if you have any doubts about which membership levels include reciprocity. Ive written it off our list. Thanks for de-mystifying the ACM reciprocal membership changes for everyone I know its going to be a bumpy ride come April 1st, but this post will surely help folks understand the changes. To order Baltimore Orioles tickets, click this link and enter promo code: mdsciencecenter. I dont mind supporting the Providence Childrens Museum. Reciprocal admission is only available in person at the Perot Museum Box Office on the date of visit. There are many fantastic attractions within the Association of Science-Technology Centers or ASTC network. 3. Invitation to USKC Giving Society, including Signature Events. My small-town zoo points it out as an added benefit to draw us wanderers. 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! (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. ASTC- Association of Science-Technology Centers This membership gets you into about 300 science centers and museums for free. Thanks for sharing your experience. Admission is free and we definitely get our moneys worth! If your organization is passionate about increasing understanding ofand engagement withscience and technology among all people, ASTC is the community for you and your team members. Family Plus Membership $140. One point for clarification: the Connecticut Science Center is an ASTC member; however, the center doesnt participate in the Passport Program. What the heck is a reciprocal program anyway? Discounts from a variety of organizations such as the Baltimore Orioles and Stroller Strides. To check if a museum participates in the ACM Reciprocal Program, click HERE. Stay up-to-date with whats new to see and do at Union Station with our weekly e-newsletters. Sometimes its a good price and other times well use our other memberships instead. We purchase our membership through The Boston Childrens center on our yearly Boston trek. Pingback: Roadschool's RVer Dictionary - Roadschool % % %, Your email address will not be published. Please enable cookies in your browser. Many are privately owned by non-profit groups, so they have to charge admission in order to pay the bills. We were so lucky to learn about the awesome reciprocal museum membership that you can buy. Check out Hipcamp and come stay with us! I actually found out about the two deals I was considering through family and a Facebook-friend. Analytics cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously. Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium first visit for free and additional tickets for only $4. We purchased ours through Boonshoft childrens museum in Ohio http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org. Looking for a place to camp? Exclusive discounts on: Franklin Institute parking garage - $5 off. Check out this great list of the Best Museums For Kids In The US all of these may not be on the reciprocal program as it is always changing so be sure to check the website before you go. 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. Youth (5-17) $5. Levels and Prices; Membership FAQs . The museum must be at least 90 miles AWAY from your home address. endstream endobj 110 0 obj <>/Metadata 10 0 R/Pages 107 0 R/StructTreeRoot 20 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 111 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 107 0 R/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 112 0 obj <>stream So glad to hear that the reciprocal program has been useful for your family. The San Diego Natural History Museum allows two adults and children under eighteen to spend the day exploring. If youve never been to a childrens museum and you have kids, you need to check one out. You can apply the value of your current membership and receive a prorated price based on your current expiration date. A Pacific Science Center membership allows you to visit any ASTC museum for free. To sign up for an Access Membership, visit us in-person or call (206) 443-2844. As a 501(c)3, Union Station relies on multiple revenue sources, including YOUR tax-deductible membership. Union Station is a member of ASTC. With your membership to ASTC, you can get free general admission for up to two adults members and their children under the age of eighteen who live in the same home. Military. Here are the important details: Association of Childrens Museums (These guidelines will go into effect April 1st, 2013). Date, time and usage will be mutually agreed upon with Union Station management; catering and other special requests (i.e., audio-visual) not included. 9:30 What we have learned from our research and from talking to various museum directors is that you can get in free (or for the reduced rate) multiple times, with no limit. 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). Zoos often have reciprocal locations too. Below you will find a few examples of the incredible opportunities that await your memberships with ASTC. Premium members receive guest passes to our traveling exhibitions, Science City, and Planetarium. Hope this helps! Add-on to Dual: $25 per grandparent/nanny up to 1. So in the one day, we saved money by shopping around and got a better discount for the rest of the year. However, if there is a specific museum you are interested in visiting, it never hurts to call ahead just to make sure there are no restrictions (some museums may have special times of day or certain days of the week when only card-holding museum members can visit, etc.). It allows free parking with a valid membership and six free tickets to a Discovery Room session or a planetarium show. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. and MORE! This link has a list of all the participating museums and science centers. Within a couple of visits, your experiences will have been paid in full. Proof of eligibility required - a valid membership card with ASTC logo. 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. Members of ASTC Travel Passport Program institutions may receive free general admission for up to two adults and three children (17 and under). Participation in and the benefits of reciprocity programs can change at any time, so please keep these tips in mind: MSI members at all levels enjoy 50 percent off admission at the following museums: Can't find your answer online? Be a part of this go-to resource and sign up now! 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. Taking advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program is easy. The name of the ASTC reciprocal program is the Passport Program, which makes me think they are encouraging people to travel by offering reciprocity. Member Tickets: Only $18 per member nonmembers pay up to $45 per person! Especially if you have kids! p.m. And although youll want to check out municipal websites or call local Parks & Rec departments to double check on the status of those destinations before heading out, you can use our popular Big List of Connecticut Playgrounds to discover the more than 50 playgrounds []. Enjoy extra benefits during the holidays, free mini-train rides, and access to other free holiday events. Chicago, To learn more read, below. It is an awesome program for anyone that likes to visit museums but especially for people who travel a lot! With our membership we get: Free admission or discounts to science museums - ASTC science museums ( http://www.astc.org) Discounts at zoos and aquariums -AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums ( https://www.aza.org ), Half price at Children's Museums - ACM Association of Children's Museums ( http://www.childrensmuseums.org) When you consider the amount youd like to gift, you can personalize the membership to the needs of the family. For example, if you have a membership to the Lutz Childrens Museum (both a ACM and a ASTC member), you can still get into the Providence Childrens Museum and the Boston Childrens Museum for FREE since those museums also offer reciprocity through both programs. The current annual price of the Montana membership is $60. Not far away. Discounts at zoos and aquariums -AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums (https://www.aza.org), Half price at Childrens Museums ACM Association of Childrens Museums (http://www.childrensmuseums.org). ** Any special display areas with an additional charge in the museum you are visiting are excluded. Here I am writing a blog filled with insider tips for getting out with your kids, and I made a doozy of a mistake! ASTCs Commitment to Diversity, Accessibility, Inclusion, and Equity, ASTC Fellow Award for Outstanding Contribution, 2020 PIT Community Innovation Fellowship Program, Community Science Dialogue & Deliberation Fellowship Program, Thriving Earth Exchange Community Science Fellows Program, Accessibility Toolkit for Museum Digital Engagement, Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education, Sparks for Science, Community, and Equity, CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute), Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies (COVES), Informal STEM Learning (ISL) Professional Framework, International Science Center and Science Museum Day, Diversity and Leadership Development Fellows Program, Dialogue & Deliberation Fellowship Program, Thriving Earth Exchange Fellowship Program, Public Interest Technology Community Innovation Fellowship Program, Learn about Science Center and Museum Member Benefits. Free admission, discounts at museum shops, discounts on concert/lecture tickets. The spirit of a Union Station membership is for the benefits to be used by the family members listed on the membership. So when Mandy suggested that we should put together a post outlining the basics of the two major reciprocal programs, the Association of Childrens Museums (ACM) and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), I jumped at the chance to educate myself right alongside our readers. Members can visit hundreds of museums around the world for free or at discounted rates! 60637 Core Level - The Essentials. 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. You do have to renew your membership each year, but it pays for itself in no time. If you have older kids that may be the better option for you. }{?Fo~.a/>{_|'??vM Youll be receiving your membership cards via email. 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). Included for up to 2 adults and 6 youth (ages 3-17) in the same household plus 2 named caregivers (nannies, grandparents, etc.) You will also qualify for a 10% discount at the gift shop for museum purchases. And that has been our experience too. Copyright Union Station. Its not that they are encouraging you TO travel. They did not require residency, are part of both programs and are more than 90 miles away. 4:00 Our membership (premium level) also includes 2hrs of fee parking, bonus tickets to Omni, Planetarium and guest passes (more tickets for Premium level vs Basic level). The Natural History Museum of Los Angelos County will allow two adults and up to four children admittance and includes the La Brea Tar Pits and the museum. 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 Museums that offer this are required to charge a minimum of $125/family for an annual membership. 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. Playgrounds are slowly starting to open up again. ACM-Association of Childrens Museums 200+museums offer 50% discount up to 6 people/family membership. Many museums, especially childrens museums, offer membership levels that include reciprocity with other museums. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. We also have reciprocity at many childrens museums (e.g., Providence, Stepping Stone, etc. It depends on the museum and who runs it. ACM Associations of Childrens Museums https://www.childrensmuseums.org/. 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. free or reduced admission to other museums that are also members of these organizations).