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Program guide 

To view or download our complete program guide for Fall and Winter 2018 click here.


We want all children to benefit from the camps and classes offered at the SD Discovery Center! Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, we may be able to offset the cost of our programs for families in need. No forms to fill out. Simply inquire by contacting Rhea.


Upcoming events

  • Starry Saturday Planetarium Show

    • 22 Sep 2018
    • 26 Jan 2019
    • 8 sessions
    • SD Discovery Center

    Our digital planetarium is open to the public the second and forth Saturday of each month!  Show topics vary depending on the presenter (Greek or Lakota constellations, the moon, deep space objects, etc.).  It’s fun for the whole family. All ages welcome!

    Free with paid admission.  Members free. 


    Show details

  • Meet a Scientists!

    • 18 Oct 2018
    • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
    • SD Discovery Center
    Register

    Meet and learn from real Scientists!

    Join us for an afternoon of science and technology from South Dakota! Our scientists present fun, hands-on activities they have develop as part of a Science Communication Fellowship offered at the SD Discovery Center.

    Recommended ages: 5 and up
    Time: Thursday, October 18, 3:30 – 5:00 PM

    Fee: free with admission
    Show details

  • CuriosiTeens - SD Clam Fossils & Our Environment

    • 18 Oct 2018
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • SD Discovery Center
    • 19
    Register

    Do you like exciting experiments? Meeting scientists? Learning new things? Then you will love CuriosiTeens!  Meet up with other teens who enjoy STEM* too. (*Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) 

    In October, we will explore SD clam fossils and our environment:

    Meet paleontologist Brooke Long, doctoral student at SD School of Mines and Technology to find out what clam fossils found in South Dakota can tell us about the past and the future of our environment.

    Ages: 10 and up 
    Time: Thursday October 18, 5:30 – 7:00 PM 
    Fee:  members: $10, non-members: $12

    Show details

  • Google Mapping

    • 20 Oct 2018
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • South Dakota Discovery Center
    Register

    Put your photos on the map!
    Join us Saturday October 20 for 10AM - 12PM for a tutorial in using Google Maps and Google Tour to create a map of a recent trip or experience. Great for teachers or for a fun, unique way to share your vacation photos. 


    NOTE: THIS IS A CHANGE OF DATE FROM EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENT!

    You will need your own laptop and Google account. Ages 11 and up.


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  • Early Release - Chemistry is Out of this World!

    • 24 Oct 2018
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • SD Discovery Center

    Launch a mini rocket with a chemical reaction and make your way to outer space to explore chemistry out of this world! Visit new planets and find out how you can use chemistry to see if you or other creatures could live on those planets. Join us for an exciting day of chemical challenges and experiments.

    Time: Wednesday, October 24, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

    Location: SD Discovery Center

    Fee: members: $5, non-members: $7

    Large Groups, please call 224-8295 to reserve a visit time


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  • Preschool Fridays: Who lives in a coral reef?

    • 26 Oct 2018
    • 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
    • SD Discovery Center
    • 15
    Register

    Preschool Series:  Exploring a Coral Reef

    Help build an art and science display over four months.  Each session in this series we will investigate a new aspect of a coral reef and create an addition to the display that will help others learn about coral reefs.  Sign up for one, some, or all sessions.

    Science fun for little ones ages 4 - 6.

    Fee per class: members: $10, non-members: $12


    Show details

  • Teaching Phenomenally

    • 29 Oct 2018
    • 29 Apr 2019
    • 6 sessions
    • via Google Meet
    • 5
    Register

    Add hands-on, phenomena driven teaching to your classroom!

    Join us the last Monday of Oct-April (not December) for a two hour professional development about using phenomena in your science teaching that will excite your students and lead them into exploration and discovery.

    Use experiences such as water and surface temperature to draw your students into not just learning about but actually doing science. Connect with South Dakota researchers and bring their research into your classroom. Learn how to find the phenomena in GEMS kits.

    Bonus! Get additional content from National Geographic and learn how to become a National Geographic Certified Educator.

    One credit is for attending all sessions plus completing a practicum of planning, teaching and reflecting on a phenomena based activity by the end of the class. 

    Session Topics:

    • Oct 29 - Introduction to Phenomena and Nat Geo Certified Educator
    • Nov 26 - Water Transparency - . What does water transparency tell us about erosion, geology, geography and human impacts?
    • Jan 28 - Air Pollution and Brain Disease -  How do particulates found in air pollution affect cells and living organisms?
    • Feb 25 - Surface Temperature. What is surface temperature? How does it relate to our climate?
    • Mar 25 - Engineered Bones. How does our body heal bone injuries and how can we help bones repair themselves?
    • Apr 29  - Soil. What is soil? How is it made? Why does it matter to us?
    • By May 20 - 

      Practicum. Prepare, teach, and reflect upon a phenomena based lesson.


       


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  • CuriosiTeens - From Pole to Pole

    • 29 Nov 2018
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • SD Discovery Center
    • 19
    Register

    Do you like exciting experiments? Meeting scientists? Learning new things? Then you will love CuriosiTeens!  Meet up with other teens who enjoy STEM* too. (*Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) 

    In November, we will go on a journey from Pole to Pole:

    Follow the journeys of Anne Lewis, National Geographic Grosvenor Fellow and Michelle Hall, PolarTREC educator from the icy poles of the Arctic to the Antarctic and help us design our first Teen Science Cafe program!

    Ages: 10 and up 
    Time: Thursday November 29, 5:30 – 7:00 PM 
    Fee:  members: $10, non-members: $12

    Show details

  • Preschool Fridays: Hey, what's happening to the coral reef?

    • 30 Nov 2018
    • 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
    • SD Discovery Center
    • 15
    Register

    Preschool Series:  Exploring a Coral Reef

    Help build an art and science display over four months.  Each session in this series we will investigate a new aspect of a coral reef and create an addition to the display that will help others learn about coral reefs.  Sign up for one, some, or all sessions.

    Science fun for little ones ages 4 - 6.

    Fee per class: members: $10, non-members: $12


    Show details

  • From Here to the Sea

    • 30 Nov 2018
    • 1 Dec 2018
    • 2 sessions
    • South Dakota Discovery Center
    • 15
    Register

    Join us for this phenomena forward PD themed around our exciting exhibit about the ocean!

    Use phenomena to anchor how we here in the middle of the country are connected to the ocean. We will explore both how we impact the ocean and the ocean impacts us. Learn about water quality, weather and more!

    Along the way engage your students in real world, hands-on science. Stipend provided upon completion of 3 hour online GLOBE training (can be done ahead of time).

    Bonus #1! Get additional content from National Geographic and learn how to become a National Geographic Certified Educator.

    Bonus #2! Get the award winning Project WET Guide 2.0

    Bonus #3! Receive your own copy of the Ocean Currents GEMS guide.

    Show details

  • Preschool Fridays: Relief for the reef.

    • 14 Dec 2018
    • 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
    • SD Discovery Center
    • 15
    Register

    Preschool Series:  Exploring a Coral Reef

    Help build an art and science display over four months.  Each session in this series we will investigate a new aspect of a coral reef and create an addition to the display that will help others learn about coral reefs.  Sign up for one, some, or all sessions.

    Science fun for little ones ages 4 - 6.

    Fee per class: members: $10, non-members: $12


    Show details

  • CuriosiTeens - Dive Deep Dissection

    • 27 Dec 2018
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • SD Discovery Center
    • 20
    Register

    Do you like exciting experiments? Meeting scientists? Learning new things? Then you will love CuriosiTeens!  Meet up with other teens who enjoy STEM* too. (*Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) 

    In December, we will explore a dive deep dissection:

    Join biologist Dr. Rhea Waldman, education director at the SD Discovery Center to explore the snatomy of a squid and look inside this fascinating invertebrate to learn about its peculiar features.

    Ages: 10 and up 
    Time: Thursday December 27, 5:30 – 7:00 PM 
    Fee:  members: $10, non-members: $12

    Show details

Past events

28 Sep 2018 CANCELLED Preschool Fridays: What is coral? Is it alive?
27 Sep 2018 CuriosiTeens - Ocean Currents & Microplastic
16 Sep 2018 Teen Science Cafe Youth Leadership Meeting
25 Aug 2018 Maker Day Workshop: Telescopes
6 Aug 2018 Daisy Badge Day: How Robots Move
1 Aug 2018 Made by Teachers for Teachers: Education Portal – Connecting Research to the Classroom
30 Jul 2018 Robotics Camp - Advanced
30 Jul 2018 Robotics Camp - Basic
27 Jul 2018 Mom/Pop and Tot in the Garden
27 Jul 2018 Science Fridays - Thinking cap
26 Jul 2018 Science Thursdays - Thinking cap
25 Jul 2018 Preschool Tracks and Traces - PM
25 Jul 2018 Great Explorations in Math & Science for K-5 Teachers
25 Jul 2018 Preschool Tracks and Traces - AM
23 Jul 2018 Earth and Space Camp - Middle School
23 Jul 2018 Earth and Space Camp - Elementary
21 Jul 2018 Little Wings on the Prairie
20 Jul 2018 Cancelled--Science Fridays - Recipe for a human body
19 Jul 2018 Science Thursdays - Recipe for a human body
18 Jul 2018 Preschool Science Let's Go Camping - PM
18 Jul 2018 Preschool Science Let's Go Camping - AM
16 Jul 2018 Daisy Badge Day: Design a Robot
16 Jul 2018 Cancelled-- Earth and Space Camp - Middle School
16 Jul 2018 CANCELLED: Earth and Space Camp - Elementary
13 Jul 2018 Mom/Pop and Tot in the Garden
13 Jul 2018 Science Fridays - Where have all the flowers gone?
12 Jul 2018 Science Thursdays - Where have all the flowers gone?
11 Jul 2018 CANCELLED: Cowboys Overnight Camp
11 Jul 2018 Preschool All About Owls - PM
11 Jul 2018 Preschool All About Owls - AM
9 Jul 2018 Cowgirls Overnight Camp
9 Jul 2018 Advanced Outdoor Explorer Camp
9 Jul 2018 Junior Outdoor Explorer Camp
29 Jun 2018 Science Fridays - Build-a-Beast- Cancelled
28 Jun 2018 Science Thursdays - Build-a-Beast
27 Jun 2018 Preschool What's Wild? - PM
27 Jun 2018 Preschool What's Wild? - AM
25 Jun 2018 Junior Outdoor Explorer Camp
22 Jun 2018 Mom/Pop and Tot in the Garden
22 Jun 2018 Science Fridays - Diggin' Fossils
21 Jun 2018 Science Thursdays - Diggin' Fossils
20 Jun 2018 Preschool Little Legos - PM
20 Jun 2018 Preschool Little Legos - AM
18 Jun 2018 CANCELLED: Garden to Table Camp - High School
18 Jun 2018 GLOBE in the Field
15 Jun 2018 CANCELLED - Science Fridays - Are we made of stardust?
14 Jun 2018 Science Thursdays - Are we made of stardust?
13 Jun 2018 Preschool Mini chefs - PM
13 Jun 2018 Preschool Mini chefs - AM
12 Jun 2018 Game Design Class
11 Jun 2018 Garden to Table Camp - Middle School
11 Jun 2018 Garden to Table Camp - Elementary
8 Jun 2018 Mom/Pop and Tot in the Garden
8 Jun 2018 Horse Day Camp
7 Jun 2018 Horse Day Camp
6 Jun 2018 Horse Day Camp
4 Jun 2018 Daisy Badge Day: What Robots Do
19 May 2018 Flat Fixing - Maker Space
3 May 2018 Outdoor Journey: Animal Habitats - CANCELED
2 May 2018 Preschool Science 321 Blast Off!
28 Apr 2018 Starry Saturday Planetarium Show
28 Apr 2018 Maker Day: Sewing Buttons and Hems DATE CHANGED!
17 Apr 2018 Jane the Movie
14 Apr 2018 Starry Saturdays Planetarium Show
11 Apr 2018 Outdoor Journey: Archery CANCELED
4 Apr 2018 Preschool Science Wiggly Worms
28 Mar 2018 Bird Festival
24 Mar 2018 Starry Saturdays Planetarium Show
24 Mar 2018 Maker Day: Cooking Eggs with LaMinestra
20 Mar 2018 Game Design Class
10 Mar 2018 Starry Saturdays Planetarium Show
7 Mar 2018 Preschool Science Animal Defenses
1 Mar 2018 Healthy Cooking: Simple Meal
17 Feb 2018 Maker Day: Fly Tying with Fishing Buddy & the Tuesday Tyers
15 Feb 2018 Robin Watch
10 Feb 2018 Starry Saturdays Planetarium Show
7 Feb 2018 Preschool Science Colorful Rainbows!
27 Jan 2018 Starry Saturdays Planetarium Show
24 Jan 2018 Elks Aviation and Technology Day
17 Jan 2018 Meet a Scientist
13 Jan 2018 Starry Saturdays Planetarium Show
11 Jan 2018 Healthy Cooking: Snacks
10 Jan 2018 Preschool Science Our Amazing Bodies
9 Jan 2018 Healthy Cooking: Snacks
31 Dec 2017 Healthy New Year's Eve Party
18 Dec 2017 Big Science at Sanford Lab
17 Nov 2017 Basic GLOBE
20 Oct 2017 Girl Scout Halloween -- Darkness Engineer

PROUD TO BE A
UNITED WAY AGENCY!

Upcoming events

Thank you to the 
Friends of the South Dakota Discovery Center. 
Friends provide on going support so that the
children and families in our community have access to hands-on science learning, now and in the future.

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