I wish I would have known about this years ago. Cookies are required for this site to operate correctly. Adult (18+) $10. MOSI in Tampa and the Orlando Science Center were both really cool! Our first stop was Seattle Science Center. I had one questionwhen getting in free to other museums, is it a one-time benefit? Venues requesting proof of residence are marked by ( IDs) on the Passport Program participants' list. Becoming a member is a great way to support your local accredited zoo or aquarium. It's one of the many benefits of our membership program! Deepen your relationship with us and ensure Union Station continues to serve Kansas City. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. 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. I was most impressed with the science and nature museums. 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? Below you will find a few examples of the incredible opportunities that await your memberships with ASTC. Admissions, guest passes or discounts granted as a privilege of membership can never be sold to another person or entity. PDF What is the ASTC Travel Passport Program? - discoveryworld.org Kansas Citys Science Center is THE place for inquisitive minds of all ages to experience the amazing world of science with 92,000 sqft of indoor and outdoor hands-on learning and non-stop fun. Contact [emailprotected] for details. Top 12 Attractions Within the ASTC Reciprocal Network However, it does not include 3-D films, and if you want to watch those, it does cost $5 per person. If you wish to attend the Intuitive Planetarium and the National Geographic Theater, it does cost extra. 2. Proof of eligibility required - a valid membership card with ASTC logo. Discover the universe like never before in our 60 foot, clear 360-degree dome featuring twin 4K projection technology, booming surround sound, and new seating and lighting. We paid for our annual membership online to the Baton Rouge zoo in Louisiana for $59. Membership | Explore The Benefits | Maryland Science Center 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. Tips to finding the best zoo and museum memberships for you or your family. a.m. to Childrens Museums http://www.childrensmuseums.org/family-reciprocal-membership.html. Members can buy a small popcorn for only $1. Present a valid military ID at time of purchase; at the museum only. You can apply the value of your current membership and receive a prorated price based on your current expiration date. 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). The museum must be at least 90 miles AWAY from your home address. You can now personalize your membership to the needs of your family. Discounted Membership and Museums for All Access Options. 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. And guess what? When you are traveling full-time or even if you just like to travel a lot it is easy to spend a lot of money on extracurricular activities. Become A Member | Union Station Kansas City Buy Membership. Membership at my museum easily pays for itself in a year. Not long ago. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Of course, thats not always the easiest thing to do when you have small children! Admission is free and we definitely get our moneys worth! AZA Association of Zoos & Aquariums https://www.aza.org/. Please check with the museum that you would like to purchase a membership to and/or the museum that you plan to visit to make sure they are still participating in the reciprocal membership program. 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. 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. a.m. to I also have membership at Children's museum in Indianapolis. If youve been following our blog, you may remember that I recently took Boo to the Providence Childrens Museum. You can have them resent using this link. A day trip for my family of 5 to Field Museum is $65 admission with no extras (special exhibits, 3D movies,etc). 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. All other family members over four will get to pay the youth price. Members can get two adults and their children under seventeen for free. 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. The gift of Membershipto Union Station is guaranteed to please, with great savings to year-round attractions and special touring exhibitions. Parking passes are not valid during event parking. The San Diego Natural History Museum allows two adults and children under eighteen to spend the day exploring. The next year got even better. You will need to provide proof of your residence. 1. You will need to prove where you live because you must be at least ninety miles from your residence to qualify. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This membership costs $125, but during the week of Black Friday, they had a sale and it was only $62! Nonprofit or for-profit organizations that engage the public in science and share ASTCs commitment to diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and equity, but that do not operate science centers or museums. You will have admittance to the Extreme Mount Washington Museum in the Mt. Got any Momsense for us as we consider all this information? The kids are always excited to go to a zoo. Best Reciprocal Museum Memberships for Travelers - The Roaming Home You will need a photo ID and proof of membership. Make sure you look for the acronyms ACM or ASTC or the word reciprocal when checking out the different levels of membership. Membership - Pacific Science Center 9:30 h%yoe],8{dI:wZ33 UEqT2o-ny[T GWY-PV5=wJ]RNJ^*C*-hV1P}yYJMGPZ'IRi,CHPkW,}v=+%FGZG|uW4GS##'47ETC}O}4RF[}]iZ>jHWz?__~EG?3?/;37? Its a fabulous place and we had a great time. 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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. When you consider the amount youd like to gift, you can personalize the membership to the needs of the family. It includes science centers and museums, as well as nature centers, aquariums, planetariums, zoos, botanical gardens, and natural history and children's museums. Located in Columbus, Georgia, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center offers a fun day of exploration. These days, most museums list all the details of their membership on their website. Levels and Prices; Membership FAQs . and MORE! Free admission to 300+ museums and science centers worldwide through the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Travel Passport Program *. At our first stop we had already saved money. The unauthorized use of images of Union Station for commercial purposes could falsely suggest endorsement and therefore is prohibited. Thanks for being your awesome selves. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. Access Memberships - Pacific Science Center What the heck is a reciprocal program anyway? You will need to bring your ID and your membership card with you to get into the attraction for free. Special programs and events are excluded. I was surprised how many where close to my hometown too! We purchase our membership through The Boston Childrens center on our yearly Boston trek. 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). Preserving Union Station and her stories. Questions/Comments. We also have reciprocity at many childrens museums (e.g., Providence, Stepping Stone, etc. I actually have never looked into the AZA benefits. 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 MSI belongs to the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), a global organization of science centers and museums. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, this incredible museum will allow two adults and up to three children from the same household to enjoy a day of exploring. Free admission or discounts to science museums ASTC science museums (http://www.astc.org). It means that I paid for 3 tickets to the museum when I could have gotten in for FREE! What is the difference between the ACM and the ASTC? Example ASTC Travel Passport science centers and museums: The Best Museum and Zoo Memberships for Roadschooling Families Bryanna has been full time RVing with her husband and 4 kids since May 2014. For details, phone our Membership Office. One point for clarification: the Connecticut Science Center is an ASTC member; however, the center doesnt participate in the Passport Program. Thanks for your recommendations! I work at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and all employees automatically get a free ASTC membership. Members can visit hundreds of museums around the world for free or at discounted rates! I got screwed a second time over by not being able to get free admission to Museum of Science and Industry (also Chicago) because it was within 90 miles of the museum that I was a member of. Invitation to USKC Giving Society, including Signature Events. Country/Area We can add one other "family" member to our plan for like $10 or something, I think. Our Core membership grants free general admission for one year, 50% off Museum parking, 10% off purchases at the Caf and Museum Shop, access to members-only hours and participation in the ASTC Passport Program. Especially if you have kids! To redeem your guest passes, please call membership at 816-460-2231 or visit the box office on Level B during business hours. Our family drives from the Chicago area all the way to southern California, and the come back through Phoenix/Tucson. Benefits | Maryland Science Center + $14 per additional child. Thats right. All who currently serve or have served in the U.S. Military receive a $3 discount on Museum Admission and a 10% discount on Dual through Family Plus memberships. It includes over 300 organizations in more than 40 states across the country. Senior (65+) $9. Here I am writing a blog filled with insider tips for getting out with your kids, and I made a doozy of a mistake! A very good place to start.. Core Level - The Essentials. [CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/97/1032023597.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-9fl4orvz7")); // ]]> There is also a less expensive option to purchase a membership without the ACM (Childrens Musuems) included in it. My family has enjoyed membership at the Boston museum of Science for several years now. Membership MOSAC * Facility must be located at least 90 miles or more from both the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and your home address. If you arent close to Ohio I dont think it will impact you much. Hope this helps! Government owned museums are mostly free, but some charge if the museum is fairly new and was expensive to build. These memberships, priced at $250 and $500, deepen the relationship with our members by upgrading them to donors. General Admission Includes admission to the aquarium, museum and zoo GSC Members: Free Adults (ages 14 - 64): $19.50 Seniors (ages 65+): $18.50 Children (ages 3 - 13): $17.50 Children 2 and Under: Free Want free admission for a year? Now, as Julie Andrews playing Frulein Mariafamously sang inThe Sound of Music, Lets start at the very beginning. Member Tickets: Only $18 per member nonmembers pay up to $45 per person! hb```) eaq4CaE?X\````h `*mb)H( f2 En62.ozc~~`NaA&N4#-KyAD A+ ***Business member facility rental includes Grand Plaza, Science City, Extreme Screen, Haverty Family Yards, Arthur Stilwell, Jarvis Hunt, Innovation Center. 2020 Association of Science and Technology CentersSite map | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy. Hi Mandy, Zoos often have reciprocal locations too. They are a blast for kids under 10, but even our older kids love them. My small-town zoo points it out as an added benefit to draw us wanderers. Hi Adrienne! Within a couple of visits, your experiences will have been paid in full. Reciprocal admission through this program is an . Sustainers receive all the benefits of membership for up to 8 plus: Our Corporate Program offers various levels of engagement to fit your company. Western NC Nature Center has reasonably priced dual memberships: https://wildwnc.org/membership, $69 for 2 adults and up to 4 children (age 3-17) 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). RMSC Membership - Roper Mountain Memberships - Indiana State Museum 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. ASTC- Association of Science-Technology Centers This membership gets you into about 300 science centers and museums for free. They will tell you it will not work within 90 miles of the museum you purchased from. Enter your name and email and get our latest blog post straight to your inbox it's FREE! Entry through Members' Only ticket lines via our Harborside Entrance. To check if a museum participates in the ASTC Passport Program, click HERE. The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your home address. So in the one day, we saved money by shopping around and got a better discount for the rest of the year. Members save 10% at Union Station Restaurants and Retail Stores, including: Escape Room, Museum of Illusions, Harvey's, Parisi Coffee, Pierpont's, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory & the Science City Store. 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. Thanks for sharing your experience. %PDF-1.5 % %%EOF I actually found out about the two deals I was considering through family and a Facebook-friend. The Kentucky Science Center in Louisville is free admission too. Google Universal Analytics short-time unique user tracking identifier. 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. Please note that AZA does not offer memberships to the public that provide discounts to any zoos or aquariums. This link has a list of all the participating museums and science centers. I feel dumb now. 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. This site uses different types of cookies. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. Free admission, discounts at museum shops, discounts on concert/lecture tickets. 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. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. Stay up-to-date with whats new to see and do at Union Station with our weekly e-newsletters. Great question! Thanks for the clarification! Exclusions apply and benefits vary. This has been one of our best purchases. Memberships have been simplified to Solo and Dual, with the option to add children and grandchildren to the Dual membership. For all other types of cookies we need your permission. Give thegiftof education, entertainment, and discovery. Thats a wonderful idea! hbbd```b``v5 i74[fkHLYzgEk`@1H2vD,DA ." l k&;20P?k d (Free access with MOS membership)! Check out Hipcamp and come stay with us! Additionally, membership rates for individual museums may have increased since this post was published. by PassPro | Nov 23, 2021 | Reciprocal Programs. ASTC currently has two types of institutional membership, as described in the associations bylaws. This one offers reciprocal benefits for ASTC, ACM, NARM, and Time Travelers. Of course, Mandy and I are not experts on the subject, so its always wise to consult a museum directly if youre looking for specific information on membership or reciprocity. Not far away. 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. Google Universal Analytics long-time unique user tracking identifier. Located in Hickory, North Carolina, the Catawba Science Center is an excellent place to explore the day with your family. It depends on the museum and who runs it. Memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable. 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. It is unfortunate that there is that 90-mile restriction. Read here for the family zoo and science museum membership we bought. And we also got Boonshoft. Give the gift of membership in the form of a gift voucher by clicking here. Its not that they are encouraging you TO travel. 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. Yes! Before traveling we had no idea about these reciprocals. 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 Parking passes for Premium members must be picked up at the Box Office during business hours. 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. The EAA website is currently undergoing maintenance. EXCLUSIONS 1. This got us an ASTC membership. I am sure there are LOTS of folks who have run into the same issue. The ASTC logo is in the top right corner. (Any Country/Area)United StatesAustraliaBelgiumBermudaCanadaChinaColombiaCzech RepublicFinlandGermanyIndiaIsraelItalyJapanKenyaKuwaitMalaysiaMauritiusMexicoPanamaPhilippinesPolandPortugalSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth KoreaSpainSwitzerlandTaiwanThailandTrinidad And TobagoTurkeyUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom, U.S. State (if applicable) 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. 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. Hi Ladies! 1. Out and About Mom is a blog providing Connecticut parents with fun and creative ideas for family-friendly outings. Looking for a place to camp? We continued learning and the following year when the memberships were up for renewal we bought a membership from Dayton Society of Natural History, also called Boonshoft, for $145 and this membership gave us all three of the reciprocals. NARM has over 1,000 arts, cultural, and historical institutions along with botanical gardens, childrens museums, science and technology centers. 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. These are only a few of the dozens of participating attractions you can get free or reduced admission to with an ASTC membership. You can also learn more by visiting the ACMs website or the ASTCs website. Members receive free admission to Science City year-round. 9:30 This one offers reciprocal benefits for ASTC, ACM, NARM, and Time Travelers. When we first started traveling we bought a membership online to the Montana Natural History Center. How to buy the best zoo or museum membership plan. 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. IF you have more than six members in your family, regular rates apply for the rest of the group. 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). Whats the point of having a reciprical membership if you cant use it anywhere near enough to go to? Union Station including Science City and all of our vital offerings is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, with an operating budget that is sustained through donations. They also do not follow the 90 mile rule for most other participating museums in Massachusetts so we have found we can enjoy our pass at almost all of the places we love throughout our neighboring states, but mostly right here in Connecticut. So it never hurts to call ahead to see if your membership will be accepted. 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. 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. 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. Patrons receive all the benefits of membership for up to 6, plus: We hope our little research project has been helpful to those of you sorting through the sometimes confusing world of museum memberships. Google advertising cookie used for user tracking and ad targeting purposes. Special Offers | The Museum of Flight Members also can get up to 10% off purchases from Star Store except for autographed books. 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! There are two restrictions to this rule: The museum must be at least 90 miles AWAY from Pacific Science Center's address. When the recipient is ready to redeem your gift, they can go online and pick the membership that best suits their family. Be a part of this go-to resource and sign up now! 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. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. When visiting a partner museum, just show your digital card for your membership to be honored. The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. Discounted tickets to touring exhibitions. Show your EAA membership card at the admissions area of the museum you are visiting* to gain access to their facilities for free.**. The Best Money Saving Reciprocal Memberships | Fulltime Families COSI - Promotions & Discounts ASTC Association of Science Technology Centers https://www.astc.org/, NARM-NorthAmericanReciprocalMuseum One of the largest reciprocal membership programs in the world with members in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, El Salvador and Mexico! BTW, the Ecotarium is on our list of places we really want to visit. Taking advantage of the ASTC Travel Passport Program is easy. ASTC had=s attractions in all fifty states and some other countries, including Mexico and Canada. It allows free parking with a valid membership and six free tickets to a Discovery Room session or a planetarium show. Guaranteed to inspire and excite everyone in the family! These are only a few of the dozens of participating attractions you can get free or reduced admission to with an ASTC membership. Costco says the time to raise membership prices is 'about now,' but it won't just yet: 'We'll let you know'. How do I know if my primary museum participates in one or both of these programs? We are so lucky to have so many great museums in our state. Heres a quick breakdown for some of the most popular museums in and around Connecticut: 4. Reserve Tickets. The museum you are visiting has to be more than 90 miles from your home address. Guests must present proof of current ASTC museum membership and a valid photo ID to receive . As a 501(c)3, Union Station relies on multiple revenue sources, including YOUR tax-deductible membership. It is basically a big play area for kids, usually with different themed play areas. Youll be receiving your membership cards via email. For $62 we get free admission for our family of 7, to over 1,800 museums for the entire year. Birthdays at Science City are a blast of epic fun! Dont have time to check back in? We have yet to find a childrens museum we dont like. For now, Costco is not raising the fee for members of its warehouse club, CFO Richard .