Sci-Quest plans Earth Day celebration

The new home will be at 9076 Madison Boulevard in the Madison Village Shopping Center, adjacent to Old Time Pottery. The 36,000 square foot building is well suited to be rapidly transformed into Sci-Quest’s new facility.

HUNTSVILLE – Sci-Quest Hands-On Science Center will let the sun shine in and give Mother Nature a little respect on Earth Day.

Special activities are planned for Earth Day on April 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“Visitors will explore how to protect the planet through various hands-on activities and demonstrations,” Sci-Quest marketing manager Jennifer Deermer said. Earth Day activities will be included with general admission.

“Stations will be set-up around Sci-Quest for visitors to discover ways to protect the Earth. During the day, visitors can learn about solar power, create recycled arts and crafts and build a solar oven for making and eating s’mores” chocolate treats, Deermer said.

The Roaming Dome planetarium will have special presentations of the movie “Earth’s Wilde Ride” all day. The Roaming Dome is a 12.5-foot inflatable dome that features digital presentations and movies. The exhibit travels to local schools and other facilities for remote shows.

“Earth’s Wild Ride” features a grandfather telling stories about Earth to his grandchildren while they observe a solar eclipse from their moon colony. He describes Earth as “the amazing planet where he grew up,” Deermer said.

“They learn about eclipses, the Ice Age, Earth’s water cycle, and the differences between the earth and moon. The exciting visual imagery also contains a roller-coaster ride through canyons of raging rivers and flowing lava,” she said.

Roaming Dome shows are about 30 minutes long. Other shows are “Force Five” about extreme weather, “Saturn, the Ring World,” “Secret of the Cardboard Rocket,” “Molecularium: Riding Snowflakes” and “The Night Sky.”

Sci-Quest’s current address is 102-D Wynn Drive in Huntsville. Sci-Quest will move to Madison Boulevard later this year.

General admission rates are $9 for adults; $8.50, senior citizens; and $8, children. Sci-Quest members are admitted free.

Normal hours of operation at Sci-Quest are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 256-837-0606 or visit sci-quest.org.