Please note our hours have changed! The RMSC’s Museum & Strasenburgh Planetarium are open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  
For Planetarium showtimes please see our show schedule and for Museum hours and to plan your visit, please see our admissions page.

Scouting at the Rochester Museum & Science Center

Scouting at the Rochester Museum & Science Center

Scout programming at the Rochester Museum & Science Center provides scouts with hands-on experiments and activities centered on the Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts of America badge requirements and the museum’s mission to broaden the community’s understanding of science and technology. Experience instructor-led classroom activities and experiments and museum exhibit exploration. Join us with your Den, Pack, or Troop here at the RMSC!

 

Schedule an Experience

To schedule, call 585.697.1942. Pre-registration is required. There is NO day-of registration. Non-refundable payment in full is required upon registration.

Program Minimum: 8 scouts (Can be a combination of scouts from different groups OR from the same troop. Minimum must be met by two weeks prior to program date, or it will be subject to cancellation)

Program Maximum: 15 scouts

How to Register

  • Individual scouts may register for the program of their choice and programs may be made up of scouts for a combination of different troops to meet the group minimum.
  • Programs can also be reserved for an entire troop or part of a troop.
  • Scouting programs are either half-day (typically 10-2) or full-day (typically 9-4 on Saturdays & 10-5 on Sundays)

Cancellations & Refunds

  • All programs that have not met the minimum group size of 8 scouts two weeks prior to the program date will be subject to cancellation. 
  • Non-refundable payment in full is required upon registration. 
  • In cases of inclement weather or another situation that interrupts the safe operation of the RMSC and mandates the closure of our campus, you will be notified as soon as any closure is confirmed. Credits for future programs will be issued accordingly.  

 

Costs

Daisy, Bear, Webelos, Brownies, and Junior Programs

$20 per scout

Merit Badge, Cadette, and Senior Programs

$35 per scout

Troop leaders or chaperones attending as required by program ratios (with a max group size of 15 this will be 2 adults) are free to all scout day programs. Extra adults/chaperones will not be permitted to stay in the classroom.

 

Information for Scout Leaders

Scout program times are prompt! Please ensure that you and your scouts are at RMSC or Cumming Nature Center 15 minutes prior to the program start for check-in. 

Scouts should follow the scout to adult ratio required by their scouting organization. Space in the classroom is limited, so be mindful of the number of adults that will stay in the classroom. Parents are more than welcome to explore the museum and enjoy the café. 

Explore Boy Scout and BSA Programs

Cub Scouts: Bear

Robotics

Discover the world of robotics! Explore a robot’s function in the workplace. Learn about animatronics and investigate the similarities and differences between robots and humans. Try your hand at building and programming a robot. (Participants will be using Lego NXT Model robot kits)

Super Science

Become a scientist for the day! Create static electricity and learn why things sink or float. Try your hand at mixing colors and make a sun catcher to bring home.

Cub Scouts: Webelos

Engineer

Design, build, and test! This program explores all aspects of engineering. Learn about the different types of engineers and the jobs they perform. Practice the engineer design process as you try your hand at different challenges. Get hands-on in our Inventor Center exhibit.

Earth Rocks

Step back in time as you explore the Earth’s geology. Learn about how the Earth was formed, discover its rocks, minerals, and fossils, and explore fascinating Earth events like volcanoes and geysers. Take a look at our extensive geological collection and discover Rochester’s geology as you experience our Expedition Earth exhibit.

Adventures in Science

Explore the many different fields in science including astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering with hands-on activities and projects. Delve deeper into the areas you are interested in. Create an experiment using the Scientific Method and experience our Museum’s interactive exhibits.

Into the Woods

This program takes place at Cumming Nature Center. Take a hike to discover local plants and animals and learn how they make up an ecosystem. Learn how to determine a tree's age and create your own “Tree Ring of Life.” Explore all that the Nature Center has to offer both inside and out! (Program will run rain or shine, so come dressed for the weather.)

Into the Wild

This program takes place at the Cumming Nature Center. Nature is all around us. Take a hike to discover local animals, learn about wetlands and other ecosystems, and make a mini terrarium. Explore all that the Nature Center has to offer both inside and out! (Program will run rain or shine, so come dressed for the weather.)

Scouts BSA: Merit Badges

Sustainability

What can you do to “go green”? Learn all about sustainable practices being used today with water, food, energy, and everyday items that can help preserve the Earth’s natural beauty. Discuss the controversial side of the sustainability conversation, while you get hands-on with some sustainable practices. Explore our interactive exhibits and have the option of creating your own rain barrel (Barrel pre-order required upon registration).

*Please note prerequisites are required for this class. Download the Sustainability Merit Badge prerequisite information here and input the results of your projects here.

    • Saturday, November 14, 2020 | 9am - 4pm

REGISTER TODAY

    • Sunday, March 28, 2021 | 10am - 5pm

REGISTER TODAY

Nuclear Science

Discover the wonders of nuclear science. Learn about radiation and its harmful effects on humans, wildlife, and the environment. Explore the benefits of nuclear science and how nuclear energy is produced. Experience energy concepts hands-on with the Museum’s Energy Trail.

    • Saturday, December 5, 2020 | 9am - 4pm

REGISTER TODAY

    • Sunday, January 31, 2021 | 10am - 5pm

REGISTER TODAY

 

Robotics

Discover the world of robotics! Explore a robot’s function in the workplace. Learn about animatronics and investigate the similarities and differences between robots and humans. Try your hand at building and programming a robot. (Participants will be using Lego NXT Model robot kits)

    • Saturday, January 16, 2021 | 9am - 4pm  

REGISTER TODAY

    • Sunday, March 21, 2021 | 10am - 5pm

REGISTER TODAY

 

Geology

Become a geologist! Learn about how the Earth was formed, discover its rocks, minerals, and fossils, and explore fascinating Earth events like volcanoes and geysers. Take a look at our extensive geological collection and discover Rochester’s geology as you experience our Expedition Earth exhibit.

  • Sunday, February 28, 2021 | 9am - 4pm

REGISTER TODAY

 

Soil & Water Conservation

Conservation is not just for those whose work focuses on environmental issues, it’s everyone’s responsibility to learn more about conservation practices and what they can do today to help protect and maintain our natural resources. Get hands-on with soil, erosion, water pollution, and alternative energy sources. Explore museum exhibits and view an Enviroscape demonstration.

 

Inventing

Learn about the inventing process and inventions you use every day. Become an inventor as you complete the RMSC’s Inventor Center challenge and see if you can improve your invention. Learn about an inventor that works here at the RMSC!

    • Sunday, December 6, 2020 | 10am - 5pm

REGISTER TODAY

    • Saturday, February 6, 2021 | 9am - 4pm

REGISTER TODAY

Explore Girl Scout Programs

Girl Scouts: Daisies

Robotics

Complete all three Daisy Robotics badges in one session!  Learn what robots do, how robots move, and design your own robot in this hands-on class.

 

Space Science Explorer

Explore the sun, moon, and stars as we look up to the sky and learn about what we see.

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program.  Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $8 per person(subject to availability).

 

Girl Scouts: Brownies

Home Scientist

Get into some kitchen chemistry! Learn about chemical reactions that you can do with everyday household items. Try hands-on activities, explore the museum’s interactive exhibits, and enjoy a Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Social.

 

Hiker

This program takes place at the Cumming Nature Center. Head out on the trail! Learn about how to prepare for your hike, to spot trail signs, what to wear and pack, and the do’s and don’ts of hiking safely. Check out all that the Nature Center has to offer both inside and out! (Program will run rain or shine, so please dress for the weather.)

 

Inventor

Design, build, test! Discover the building blocks of becoming an inventor. Learn the design process and test your skills as you complete a design challenge. Get hands-on in our Inventor Center.

 

Outdoor Art Creator

This program takes place at the Cumming Nature Center. Use your five senses to explore nature and practice your art skills. Go on a nature detective walk and make a leaf rubbing. Brush up your painting skills to make a landscape painting.

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

 

Bugs

This program takes place at the Cumming Nature Center. What’s the difference between a spider and an insect? Become a junior entomologist and explore a bug’s life through the museum’s collection of creepy crawly critters. Learn all about what makes a bug a bug, where they live and what they eat.

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

 

Outdoor Adventurer

Have an outdoor adventure at Cumming Nature Center!  Go for a hike, play a game and learn a new outdoor skill while learning about the environment around you.

 

Programming Robots

Experiment with simple machines and robot senses.  Learn about programs and algorithms in order to code your own robot.

 

Designing Robots

Learn the steps of the Engineering Design process while you make your own bug-bot.

 

Space Science Adventurer

Make a mini-planetarium and a pocket solar system as you learn about space and the night sky.

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program.  Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $8 per person(subject to availability).

 

Girl Scouts: Juniors

Detective

Become a super sleuth! Discover what it takes to be a detective and learn the skills and techniques used in the field to solve crimes. Test your memory and try your hand at fingerprinting. Solve a mini museum mystery!

 

Flowers

This program takes place at the Cumming Nature Center. Learn all about flowers as you dissect a flower and go on a flower identification hike at the Cumming Nature Center. Make your own flower bookmark to take home!

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

 

Outdoor Art Explorer

Get inspired by nature at the Cumming Nature Center.  Explore and how and nature interact as you create art inspired by the outdoors and even make your own terrarium to bring home.

 

Programming Robots

Get to know how robots work, program a Mars Rover and try your hand at coding your own robot.

 

Designing Robots

Learn about the future of robotics and sse the Engineering Design Process to create a prototype of a robot to solve a problem. 

 

Space Science Investigator

Learn about our Solar System and explore the Strasenburgh Planetarium as you become a Space Science Investigator.  Make a star wheel to take home and a scale model of the Solar System. 

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program.  Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $8 per person(subject to availability).

Girl Scouts: Cadettes

Special Agent

Become a special agent and explore the world of forensics. Practice your observation skills and try out fingerprinting. Be a forensic biologist and extract DNA. Make some blood and see how it spatters! Test out your skills at being a sketch artist.

 

Trees

This program takes place at the Cumming Nature Center. Learn about the importance of trees and go on a tree identification walk. Check out the Maple Sugaring house at the Cumming Nature Center and try a tree treat. Become a citizen scientist and help our trees!

Program will run rain or shine—come dressed for the weather!

 

Outdoor Art Apprentice

Go outside and see how art is inspired by nature at the Cumming Nature Center.  Make your own seed paper and learn about nature sounds. 

Girl Scouts: Seniors

Sky

Visit the Strasenburgh Planetarium to learn about our night sky and constellations. View the stars through our telescope and learn about the layers of the atmosphere. Experiment with air pollution and launch a rocket!

A Planetarium show is not included in this badge program.  Add a planetarium show to your visit for an additional $8 per person(subject to availability).

In the Community

Explore these resources for additional scout volunteer opportunities in your community.

Be an H20 Hero in Your Neighborhood

Image Gallery

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://rmsc.org/science-museum/scout-info#sigProIdd4206a5478

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