Our first stop was Seattle Science Center. While we are not aware of any major changes to the reciprocal museum membership programs, it is possible that information in this postcould be outdated. 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). Allied Members currently include companies and independent contractors; emerging science centers and museums not yet open to the public; foundations; scientific societies; community organizations; North American Federal, state, provincial, tribal, or local government agencies; and more. Enjoy extra benefits during the holidays, free mini-train rides, and access to other free holiday events. How do I know if my primary museum participates in one or both of these programs? You can see the full list of participating museums at https://www.astc.org/membership/find-an-astc-member/passport/. We love science centers, they are educational hands on learning and play areas for kids and adults. The US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will grant free admission to one adult and up to two children free with membership to ASTC. 2. Members save $50 on birthday party packages. If you have a friend that works at one of these museums, they might have a program where they can add people onto their own membership plan for a discount. Click for Privacy Policy / Disclosure Policy. I work at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and all employees automatically get a free ASTC membership. They are located in River Grove, Illinois. Here are links where you can find the lists: Science Museums http://www.astc.org/passport/ So in the one day, we saved money by shopping around and got a better discount for the rest of the year. Cookies are required for this site to operate correctly. We have yet to find a childrens museum we dont like. Please check each institutions website for more information about their operations, including any requirements for advanced reservations. Not far away. 4:00 I actually found out about the two deals I was considering through family and a Facebook-friend. These museums are primarily for younger kids. And that has been our experience too. We hope our little research project has been helpful to those of you sorting through the sometimes confusing world of museum memberships. For $62 we get free admission for our family of 7, to over 1,800 museums for the entire year. Buy Membership. And, at some locations Free parking too. Call us at (773) 947-3161 or email us. Discounted tickets to touring exhibitions. If you dont see your digital cards in your inbox, please check your spam. Free admission or discounts to science museums ASTC science museums (http://www.astc.org). Stay up-to-date with whats new to see and do at Union Station with our weekly e-newsletters. Yes! Nonprofit or public science centers or museums, nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, space theaters, natural history museums, and childrens museums that share an interest in inquiry-based learning and participatory science education. It is an awesome program for anyone that likes to visit museums but especially for people who travel a lot! They are a blast for kids under 10, but even our older kids love them. Yup. Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient. Date, time and usage will be mutually agreed upon with Union Station management; catering and other special requests (i.e., audio-visual) not included. Country/Area We saw some really amazing museums with that pass and passed many a rainy day. Open today Valid state-issued ID may be requested at the time of purchase. We regularly use our reciprocal benefits as they offer ASTC & AZA. There are two restrictions to this rule: The museum must be at least 90 miles AWAY from Pacific Science Center's address. The Cernan Earth and Space Center at Triton College offers free planetarium admission for up to four members of the same family membership to the ASTC. Located in Columbus, Georgia, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center offers a fun day of exploration. BTW-We love the Ecotarium in Worcester, MA. Current Premium Members can pick up their parking passes Exclusions apply and benefits vary. Science centers and museums located within 90 miles* of the science center/museum where the visitor is a member. Thanks again for your feedback! ASTC is our most used reciprocal. 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. Deepen Your Relationship with Union Station. Out and About Mom is a blog providing Connecticut parents with fun and creative ideas for family-friendly outings. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. Pingback: Roadschool's RVer Dictionary - Roadschool % % %, Your email address will not be published. However, it does not include 3-D films, and if you want to watch those, it does cost $5 per person. Its that they are encouraging you to visit other childrens museums when or if you travel. What is the difference between the ACM and the ASTC? Childrens Classes, Playtimes, & Storytimes, Childrens Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, The NEW Playground at Elm Ridge Park in Rocky Hill, The Lutz Childrens Museum (changing from $100/year to $125/year), Kidcity(changing from $100/year to $125/year, although Kidcity will still offer a Kidcity-only membership for $100/year), Imagine Nation (changing from $100/year to $125/year), Childrens Museum of Southeastern Connecticut (changing from $100/year to $125/year). Featuring 400 new state-of-the-art theatre chairs, 4-K digital projection, and crystal clear sound, its the perfect venue to enjoy full-length first run and educational films. Parking passes for Premium members must be picked up at the Box Office during business hours. Sustainer member facility rental includes Haverty Family Yards, Arthur Stilwell, Jarvis Hunt, Innovation Center. Of course, thats not always the easiest thing to do when you have small children! 3. Military Discount Active, Reserve, and Retired Military - $2.00 off per person in the immediate family with proper ID. http://www.childrensmuseums.org/family-reciprocal-membership.html, 21 Fun Things To Do In Port St Joe Florida, 17+ Fun Things To Do In Philadelphia With Kids [Plus 1 day Itinerary], Best Hikes In Canyonlands National Park [Maps Included], Crazy Family Adventure One Year of Full-Time Family Travel - Crazy Family Adventure, Crazy Family Adventure 10 things we learned from 365 days of living and traveling in an RV - Crazy Family Adventure. 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. It means that I paid for 3 tickets to the museum when I could have gotten in for FREE! You may also get $tickets to the Omnisphere theater for $3 for adults and $2 for children. You can apply the value of your current membership and receive a prorated price based on your current expiration date. Below you will find a few examples of the incredible opportunities that await your memberships with ASTC. Core Level - The Essentials. Help transform lives through the power of science and science education. Aside from that one museum, we typically plan trips with the intention of visiting museums and its always added value to our trips making wonderful memories. Hipcamp. We heard about a reciprocal to Kern County museum in California. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Youll be receiving your membership cards via email. There are some museums and zoos that are listed as discounted admission, like the Philadelphia Zoo and are clearly identified on the MOS website. This means that by purchasing such a membership to your primary museum, you may also qualify for free or reduced admission to numerous other museums across the state and around the country. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages. Childrens Museums http://www.childrensmuseums.org/family-reciprocal-membership.html. Be a part of this go-to resource and sign up now! Free admission, discounts at museum shops, discounts on concert/lecture tickets. ASTC- Association of Science-Technology Centers, Roadschool's RVer Dictionary - Roadschool % % %. The kids are always excited to go to a zoo. I was most impressed with the science and nature museums. Memberships have been simplified to Solo and Dual, with the option to add children and grandchildren to the Dual membership. The San Diego Natural History Museum allows two adults and children under eighteen to spend the day exploring. Parking passes are not valid during event parking. (Any Country/Area)United StatesAustraliaBelgiumBermudaCanadaChinaColombiaCzech RepublicFinlandGermanyIndiaIsraelItalyJapanKenyaKuwaitMalaysiaMauritiusMexicoPanamaPhilippinesPolandPortugalSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandTaiwanThailandTrinidad And TobagoTurkeyUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom, U.S. State (if applicable) The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. ASTC- Association of Science and Technology Centers Founded in 1973, ASTC has approximately 650 members in nearly 50 countries. I also have membership at Children's museum in Indianapolis. Guaranteed to inspire and excite everyone in the family! Government owned museums are mostly free, but some charge if the museum is fairly new and was expensive to build. Guests must present proof of current ASTC museum membership and a valid photo ID to receive . %%EOF What's the cheapest membership on the list? The fine print - both conditions have to be true: The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your "home" museum that you are a member of. For a reduced rate of $5.00 each as long as one person is listed on the membership card. My family has enjoyed membership at the Boston museum of Science for several years now. 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. 109 0 obj <> endobj As such, they each have different rules when it comes to reciprocity. Regnier Extreme Screen theatre popcorn for only $1. I actually have never looked into the AZA benefits. Admission benefits at more than 300 different science centers and museums through the ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) Passport Program Supporting Memberships: Supporting Memberships help to create world-class exhibits and STEM educational programs. Core memberships are 100% tax deductible. This site uses different types of cookies. I made the mistake several years ago when I (living in Indianapolis) bought a Field Museum (Chicago) membership. (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. 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. As a 501(c)3, Union Station relies on multiple revenue sources, including YOUR tax-deductible membership. This was a great savings. MSI belongs to the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), a global organization of science centers and museums. To check if a museum participates in the ACM Reciprocal Program, click HERE. ACM-AssociationofChildrensMuseumsHalf price admission to over 200 childrens museums. We did the same thing. Taking advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program is easy. Please be sure to check each museums website for the most current information. Preferred browsers: Google Chrome, FireFox, or Microsoft Edge. 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. Thanks! https://tickets.unionstation.org/resend. 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. New! 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. Looking for a place to camp? Membership at Space Center Houston is intended for noncommercial use by individuals. Our favorite way to save money while traveling is through reciprocal memberships. We can send you specific announcements based on your topic selections below. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This has been one of our best purchases. * Facility must be located at least 90 miles or more from both the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and your home address. We were so lucky to learn about the awesome reciprocal museum membership that you can buy. https://www.astc.org/find-a-science-center, https://www.astc.org/membership/find-an-astc-member/passport/, 2 World-class Traveling Exhibit Guest Passes, 4 World-class Traveling Exhibit Guest Passes, 16 World-class Traveling Exhibit Guest Passes, Exclusive Invite to Behind the Scenes Tour of USKC, Exclusive Invite to Annual CEO Meet and Greet, Members-only invitations for exclusive offerings and events, Free admission to Science City for 12 months, ASTC Travel Passport Program with discounted admission to 300+ museums. Tax-deductible membership gifts and Annual Fund donations are non-refundable. Not far away. Roger Williams Park Zoo in RI is a favorite as is the Ecotarium in Worcester. 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. Special programs and events are excluded. All other family members over four will get to pay the youth price. Membership at my museum easily pays for itself in a year. Ive written it off our list. Reserve Tickets. The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your "home" museum that you are a member of. Some are free and some are 50% off. 9:30 Want to keep up with all our Out and About Mom adventures? Field All-Access Pass and admission to four more top Chicago attractions at a 50% discount Chicago CityPASS $114 Out-of-State Adult Basic admission plus a 3D movie and all ticketed exhibitions All-Access Pass $42 Out-of-State Adult Basic admission plus a 3D movie or one of four ticketed exhibitions Discovery Pass $36 Out-of-State Adult For all other types of cookies we need your permission. Tips to finding the best zoo and museum memberships for you or your family. I could not get free admission to the Indiana State Museum because it was within 90 miles of my home address. 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. Sustainers receive all the benefits of membership for up to 8 plus: Our Corporate Program offers various levels of engagement to fit your company. 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 Example ASTC Travel Passport science centers and museums: The museum must be at least 90 miles AWAY from your home address. You will need a photo ID and proof of membership. It's one of the many benefits of our membership program! EAA is now hiring seasonal grounds crew employees! Included for up to 2 adults and 6 youth (ages 3-17) in the same household plus 2 named caregivers (nannies, grandparents, etc.) AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums https://www.aza.org/. You were my first inspiration to this fulltime lifestyle and I still come back to your site for info all the time! This one offers reciprocal benefits for ASTC, ACM, NARM, and Time Travelers. Members receive their first visit for free and additional tickets for only $4. And guess what? But it got me thinking. Your email address will not be published. Make sure you look for the acronyms ACM or ASTC or the word reciprocal when checking out the different levels of membership. It includes over 300 organizations in more than 40 states across the country. ASTC does not administer museum membership cards. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. TimeTravelers-HistoricalMuseums Reciprocal membership network for historical museums, sites, and societies throughout the United States. Thanks for sharing your experience. 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 Becoming a member is a great way to support your local accredited zoo or aquarium. These are the cornerstones of our mission. 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? The website cannot function properly without these cookies. 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. Birthdays at Science City are a blast of epic fun! Memberships have been simplified to Solo and Dual, with the option to add children and grandchildren to the Dual membership. Dont have time to check back in? hb```) eaq4CaE?X\````h `*mb)H( f2 En62.ozc~~`NaA&N4#-KyAD A+ I just found this post on researching the ASTC and ACM programs. Taking advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program is easy. Looking for a museum to visit with your kids? 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. Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Those with an AZA pass will receive free or half-price admission to a large number of zoos and aquariums across the country. However, you can only go to their general, and traveling exhibits are and the public simulators. We purchase our membership through The Boston Childrens center on our yearly Boston trek. If anyone can comment with more information about other area museums, that would be great! The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your home address. M|_ww/go?A>0wwBo}G_?_g}H~?7|xq;z/zo;ZZ z/?__c~}~7?=yg>?|` z;T~9{[rvqkZyn]*tgY8RgQCwh_IS:Rmk:#kI[iA. The Mount Washington Observatory located in Conway, New Hampshire, will allow two adults and up to four children six and over into the observatory for free. For details, phone our Membership Office. Got any Momsense for us as we consider all this information? Click on each one to go to their website and check out the participating museums, centers and zoos and read about any special rules. AZA-AssociationofZoosandAquariums Free or half priced admission into nearly 100 different zoos and aquariums. 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. The price we would have paid to get into the science center for 1 day was $140.