Immerse yourself in the incredible world of science. Follow your curiosity from the depths of the oceans to the edge of the universe. Push the limits of your imagination to create never-before-seen inventions. All at the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center.
Explore all that's going on around the Science Museum & Strasenburgh Planetarium this week!
Your RMSC membership offers a fun-filled year of exploration of our world and beyond. Connect with your own curiosity and enjoy the amazed expressions of your friends and family. Tinker with hands-on exhibits, view awe-inspiring films and spectacular explosions, and participate in science experiments. Join today — admission to the RMSC Museum is free to members. You can come as often as you like, whether it’s just for an hour or the whole day.
Membership generally pays for itself
in as few as two visits!
Already a member?
Register for our upcoming events.
Breakfast (for Dinner!) with Santa Under the Stars
Friday, December 20 Celebrate this holiday season with a truly unique and exciting experience at the Strasenburgh Planetarium!..
Snowed In: Winter Break Science Days
Throughout December Try your hand at experiments in engineering, chemistry and more!..
Star Wars Episode IX Celebration
December 7 & 8 | 11am-3pm Join us in a galaxy not so far far away at the RMSC on December 7th & 8th to celebrate the upcoming release of Star Wars Episode IX!..
Global Soundscapes: Mission to Record the Earth
Weekends & Break Weeks Take an interactive sound safari to explore the health of our planet with your ears...
Cumming Nature Center Forest School
Forest School recognizes the intrinsic relationship between children and nature. Our mission is to provide children with the space to nurture this relationship through unstructured play, curiosity-driven exploratory learning, hands-on projects and outdoor skills development, all within a physically safe and emotionally supportive environment. Through forest school, students learn to be resilient, self-reliant and confidently inquisitive. Find Forest School registration information below.
Sign up for the 2019-2020 full year.
With nature as our classroom, guide and companion our daily activities are based on fostering three things: purposeful work, observation, and exploration. Purposeful work may consist of carving sticks, sawing wood, gathering acorns, building a shelter, building and cooking on a fire, creating natural art–the list is endless!
We take time to observe the little ways the world changes, even in the course of a week. Outdoor play allows the children to honor the strong developmental need to jump, twist, tug, pull, balance, roll, run, climb, dig, sort, build, weave and create. This play also develops fine and gross motor skills, executive function, spatial awareness, balance, coordination, kindness, and empathy. Children work together, using their strong imaginations and ideas to sort out all types of social situations.
Each day is spent entirely outdoors in all types of weather. In order to fully immerse ourselves in the environment, it is essential that children come prepared for the day’s weather and with the understanding that it is ok to get dirty! Comfort and proper clothing are of utmost importance.
Cumming Nature Center is a dynamic, 900-acre environmental education facility that celebrates the unique landscape and culture of the Finger Lakes region through experiential learning opportunities and thoughtful exhibits. Educational programming at CNC explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. These programs are designed to inspire innovative and creative thinking among participants and provide them with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to take action in the face of local, regional and global challenges.
It is critical that families review the parent handbook before registering a child for forest school. The handbook provides detailed information about forest school's core values and guiding principles, along with logistical details regarding food, clothing, weather closures, registration and more. Please take time to read through the handbook, and feel free to reach out to our staff with any questions at 585.374.6160.
Forest School is for ages 4 to 12 and all class days run from 10am–3:30pm.
Register online below or call 585.374.6160.
| Full Year | Bi-Semester | |
| 1st Child | $950 | $525 |
| 2nd Child | $925 | $500 |
| 3rd Child | $900 | $475 |
Fall: Wednesdays, September 11 through December 20 (except November 27)
Spring: Wednesdays, January 8 through June 10 (except February 19)
Fall: Fridays, September 13 through December 20 (except November 29)
Spring: Fridays, January 10 through June 12 (except February 21 and April 10)
All applications must be submitted by midnight on August 1, 2019 to take place in the Lottery
This program is students grade 3-5.
| Fees | |
| Full Year | $400 |
| Fall 2019 | $173 |
| Spring 2020 | $227 |
Full Year: Sept 9, 2019- June 8, 2020
Fall Semester: Sept 9, 2019 – Dec 16, 2019
Spring Semester: Jan 6, 2020 – June 8, 2020
Outside Afterschool Program Open House | Thursday, August 22 | 6:30pm
Join us at the Cumming Nature Center on Thursday, August 22nd to find out more information about our program.
For ages infant to 4 years old | Fridays, September 13–December 20 | 10:15am - 12:15pm
Forest School recognizes the intrinsic relationship between children and nature. Toddler Forest School provides parents and together with their child, from infancy to four year old, with natural space to nurture their relationship through unstructured play, curiosity-driven learning, hands-on projects and basic outdoor skills development. The toddler program prepares students and their families for the adventures awaiting in the longer day of regular forest school.
Instructors invite participating families to observe the small miracles occurring around us every day. Outdoor play allows the children to honor their strong developmental need to jump, twist, tug, pull, balance, roll, run, climb, dig, sort, build, weave and create. This play also develops fine and gross motor skills, executive function, spatial awareness, balance, coordination, kindness, and empathy. Forest school teaches students to be resilient, self-reliant and confidently inquisitive.
Non-Member $235
Member $225
Save $15 per child when registering multiple children.
Parent or guardian must attend with child.
..