Excellent attendance for Frogs exhibition, spring break week and special events
ROCHESTER, NY—The Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) has had a lot to celebrate since the beginning of this year. Several of the RMSC’s most recent special events featured sold-out crowds while attendance for its latest traveling Frogs exhibition, Maple Sugaring event and spring break week reached its highest points in years.
“We are excited to have engaged the curiosity of community members of all ages so they are visiting in large numbers and participating in our dynamic set of offerings,” said Kate Bennett, president, RMSC. “We will continue our strategy of creating and communicating immersive experiences, rich with authenticity and science exploration, which inspire.”
Attendance and other successes are detailed below by event:
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors
Total attendance during the Frogs: A Chorus of Colors exhibition, which was at RMSC October 16–April 10, was 79,071. More than 10,200 of the total attendance for Frogs were students visiting in groups. In addition, the RMSC trained more than 40 teachers in preparation for their school visits. The RMSC developed a multi-tiered educational program aligned with the third grade expeditionary learning module, as frog themes are part of the third grade curriculum. RMSC trained teachers on frogs and how to study them from different viewpoints—environment, culture, etc. Secondly, teachers brought their classes to the RMSC on a field study experience. As a capstone, teachers and students will be visiting the Cumming Nature Center later this spring where they’ll collect data on native frog populations, listen to calling frogs, and understand the important role that frogs have in the ecosystem.
Mess-tival – Spring Break Week
Total attendance during the Mess-tival: Gross Science spring break week event, which was March 25–April 3, was 10,157—a nearly 30 percent increase compared to total attendance during the Light-a-Palooza spring break week event last year.
Maple Sugaring
Total attendance during Maple Sugaring at Cumming Nature Center, which took place during two weekends, was 1,810. At this year’s event, more than 6,600 pancakes and 40 gallons of maple syrup were consumed.
In addition, RMSC has successfully increased student engagement at the Cumming Nature Center by a factor of three.
Strasenburgh Planetarium Shows
The Strasenburgh Planetarium has quadrupled the weekend presentations of The Sky Tonight, a concise laser-guided tour of current stars, constellations and planets, and audiences are seeking it out. The Planetarium has been engaging adult learners on Wednesday afternoons for a new series of astronomy programs.
RMSC Uncorked & On Tap
Total attendance during the second annual RMSC Uncorked & On Tap 21-and-older fundraising event, which took place on Friday, April 8, featured a sold-out crowd of 500 guests. The event highlighted more than 40 food and drink vendors, many from local or regional areas.
RMSC After Dark: Totally 80s
Total attendance during the ninth RMSC After Dark event, Totally 80s, which took place on Saturday, February 6, featured a capacity crowd of 500 guests. The last five RMSC After Dark 21-and-older events were sold out as well, with 700 guests at the indoor/outdoor Lights Out event last summer. The next event, Makers Masquerade, takes place on Friday, May 13.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
