🎥 Watch: Total Lunar Eclipse, North Museum Astronomer Answers Questions
March 13, 2025. Cole Penkunas, resident astronomer at North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster Pennsylvania, explains what you can expect from this week's total lunar eclipse on WGAL8. What did he have to say about the Blood Worm Moon in March, 2025?
North Museum's Planetarium has live shows every month! View the Calendar to see the next available Nigh Sky Tour.
Fall Fest Benefits Millport Conservancy and the Run
North Museum’s Fall Fest at Millport Conservancy
Benefits Lititz Run and Trail restoration
Family event Saturday, November 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(LITITZ, WARWICK TOWNSHIP)—Families are invited to explore Millport Conservancy’s natural wonders on Saturday, November 9, as the North Museum of Nature and Science and Millport Conservancy present Fall Fest. This fifth annual collaboration between two local non-profits is a fundraising event to support Millport Conservancy’s efforts to restore the Lititz Run stream through soil erosion control, wetlands restoration, and stream management and the North Museum’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programming. The Conservancy’s 75-acre refuge for native wildlife and plant species includes Lititz Run, where preservation efforts have resulted in healthy, wild reproduction of both rainbow and brown trout, which can be found year-round in its waters.
Located at 737 E. Millport Road, the family-friendly event is filled with activities for children of all ages:
-Archeological Treasure Dig Pit
-Atomic Selfie Station
-Live Reptile Petting Zoo
-Nature Walks and Crafts
-Face and Pumpkin Painting
-Environmental Science and Sustainability Activities for STEM Sisters
-Bird Club Activities
-Veterans’ Recognition
-Food Truck by Gourmet Julie's Way
-Tasting Room for 21+ by Compass Mill Tap House, Meduseld Meadery, Stoll and Wolfe
-Distillery, Vine Bar, and more!
“Millport Conservancy relies on the generosity of donors to help us protect and preserve the land, the water resources and our heritage.” said Lynn Wohlsen Myers, Executive Director of Millport Conservancy and the daughter of the Conservancy’s founding couple. “Through the success of fundraising efforts like Fall Fest, the Conservancy will continue to be a treasured resource of educational and recreational experiences for students and the public.”
“Having partnered together successfully for the last five years, the North Museum is thrilled to hold Fall Fest at Millport once again in our joint effort to raise funds for the restoration of Lititz Run Creek." said Andrea Rush, North Museum CEO. "Our enduring alliance fortifies the missions of both organizations and accelerates our collective impact on the community."
In honor of Veteran’s Day, all Veterans, Active Service Members and First Responders will be admitted free of charge.
Fall Fest 2024 sponsors include Listrak, Marysia & Salvatore Dina, The Sheaffer Family, Univest, American Crane, Richard Clark, Ph.D. & Sepi Yalda, Ph.D., First National Bank, Gibbel Kraybill & Hess, LLP, Land Studies, Landis Homes, Sauder’s Eggs, Tiger’s Eye, Dr. DiComo & Family and Walters Services, Inc.
Registration Open for North Museum Science & Engineering Fair
Registration Opens for North Museum’s Science & Engineering Fair
Lebanon County school teachers and students invited to join 73-year-old competition!
(LANCASTER)—Registration for participation in the North Museum’s Science and Engineering Fair (NMSEF) is now open for Lebanon County teachers and adult sponsors. For the first time in its 73 years, the Science and Engineering Fair, presented by the Arconic Foundation, is open to Lebanon County school students in addition to the students of Lancaster County’s 20 schools, resulting in a forecasted record-setting number of competitors. All student registrations are free of charge and open to students in grades 6 through 12 from public, private, charter, online, parochial, and home schools. The competition will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Millersville University.
Teachers and students in grades 6 through 12 are encouraged to note these submission deadlines: Now through October 21, 2024, teachers may confirm their intent to participate. Students may submit their registration form from October 1 through October 21, 2024. Teachers/adult sponsors are advised to directly assist students as they complete the registration form. North Museum will also offer support to all educators wishing to assist students in finding a project, developing a research plan, and supporting student research.
The inclusion of Lebanon County students marks the NMSEF’s expansion to a regional fair, joining Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg’s Capital Area events as Pennsylvania’s four regional science and engineering fairs. As one of six fairs in Pennsylvania affiliated with the world’s largest pre-college competition, the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the NMSEF’s top two students’ projects from the senior division earn a place at the ISEF to compete with 1500 of their peers from around the world. The North Museum pays for registration, fees, travel and accommodations for its two Champions. Lebanon County has no similar competitive science and engineering event.
“The North Museum is thrilled by the generosity of the Arconic Foundation, and their ongoing commitment to supporting access to STEM education opportunities for students in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties,” says Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. “We continue to be grateful for the financial support we receive from the many sponsors of the NMSEF, as well as the outstanding contributions from our judges, volunteers, and participating teachers and students.”
Presenting sponsor Arconic Foundation’s $50,000 grant will have a crucial impact on central PA’s student scientists. Businesses interested in sponsorships may contact Scott Downs, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. Community volunteers are also needed to assist at the event and may contact sciencefair@northmuseum.org.
North Museum’s resident astronomer, Cole Penkunas, commented,
“As a former Warwick High School student, the NMSEF was the pinnacle of my STEM education each year. The competition was formidable and prepared me for the demands of thesis fulfillment at The Pennsylvania State University, where I focused my research on very massive stars, particularly luminous blue variables, Wolf-Rayet stars, and their possible link. I’m excited to see what the young scientists in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties will bring to the competition this year!”
GSK Science in the Summer–Record Success
Students became “Space Scientists” during GSK’s Science in the Summer™ at North Museum in collaboration with the Franklin Institute.
The program, in its 38th year, has reached an estimated 23,400 nationwide!
The North Museum congratulates 902 area students, ranging from Pre-K through grade 12, who completed GSK's (GlaxoSmithKline's) Science in the Summer™ program this past summer, presented by the North Museum of Nature & Science. The number of attendees was a new record this year, increasing the impact of this already popular seasonal program. This summer's theme was "Be a Space Scientist," and it offered students the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of real scientists and engineers, engaging in exciting hands-on activities that brought the world of space exploration to life. Students discovered different career paths, from Astrobiologist to Spacesuit Designer, and developed their scientific thinking skills in a fun and interactive way.
The program was made possible by a generous grant of $20,000 from GSK, with curriculum developed by the Franklin Institute.
We would also like to thank our outstanding community partners for working with our team on successful outreach and implementation:
- The Mix at Arbor Place
- Project Purpose
- Lebanon County Library
- Janus School
- Boys & Girls Club
- North Museum
A combination of trained educators, made up North Museum staff members and volunteers from our partner organizations, presented 27 programs over the summer.
The North Museum, GSK, and the Franklin Institute are longtime collaborators on the Science in the Summer program, which primarily targets students in grades 2 through 6, with an emphasis on reaching those from underserved communities and lower income households.
Through its success at the museum, Science in the Summer programming was adapted and modified to be inclusive for students in Pre-K and grade 1, as well as those in middle school and high school.
"Thanks to GSK and the Franklin Institute we were able to reach over 900 students this summer,” says Kate Wilson, Senior Manager, Visitor & Volunteer Services. “This free program offers a hands-on look at various STEM careers which many students did not even know existed! Now they might want to pursue those paths in the future. This is an opportunity some of the members of our community would not normally have access to due to financial and other constraints. We look forward to offering this program each year, and can't wait for 2025!"
As a leader in STEM education and advocacy, the North Museum is proud to present GSK's Science in the Summer™ program to the community for many years, and is deeply grateful to GSK for their ongoing commitment to enriching the community through the utilization of and access to quality STEM education programs, and the exceptional curriculum provided by the Franklin Institute.
The theme for GSK's 2025 Science in the Summer™ program will emphasize Health Sciences.
If your organization has an interest in participating in GSK's 2025 Science in the Summer™ program, presented by the North Museum, please contact Kate Wilson, Senior Manager, Visitor & Volunteer Services at 717-358-4116, kwilson@northmuseum.org.
Dr. Nitin Tanna competed at the Lancaster County Science Fair as a 7th grader; now, he's a judge
"When Dr. Nitin Tanna and his family moved to Lancaster in 1972, Tanna was a fourth grader, and his primary concerns were developing his English speaking skills and adjusting to the unfamiliar environment he could come to call home. Tanna and his family moved to Lancaster as Ugandan refugees; he spoke Swahili and Gujrati. But Tanna did much more than improve his English in those first few years in America. By the end of seventh grade, he’d have a second place award from the Lancaster County Science Fair and a blossoming passion for scientific inquiry...."
Read this article by Olivia Schlinkman at lancasteronline.comÂ
Lancaster County Bird Club Announces Strategic Partnership with North Museum of Nature and Science
LANCASTER COUNTY BIRD CLUB ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE
Partnership will expand educational offerings on wild birds in Southcentral Pennsylvania
Feb 1, 2024. LANCASTER, Pa. — Lancaster County Bird Club (LCBC) has formed a strategic partnership with the North Museum of Nature and Science to enhance ornithological educational and outreach in Southcentral Pennsylvania with particular emphasis on finding ways to share the science of ornithology and the hobby of birding with residents of Southcentral Pennsylvania and help develop an understanding of wild birds and the conservation issues they face with today’s youth.
“Lancaster County Bird Club is proud to have a nearly 90-year history that has established us as one of the preeminent ornithological organizations not just in our area but the nation,” said Ted Nichols II, LCBC president. “Our ability to fulfill our mission is enhanced through building and strengthening partnerships with organizations in our area with similar missions. Strengthening our partnership with the North Museum – that goes back to their founding in 1953 – is a win-win for both of us when it comes to working together to explore ways to showcase the joys of birding and finding ways to inspire today’s youth – and all those that call Southcentral Pennsylvania home – by our feathered friends.”
As part of the partnership approved by the LCBC Board of Directors in December 2023, LCBC will now hold their September through March programs at the museum on the second Thursday of each of those month’s starting at 7 p.m. The programs are free and open to the public and feature a speaker on a topic related to the science of ornithology and the hobby of birding.
The organizations will also look at ways to collaborate on enhancing existing educational offerings related to wild birds and their conservation as well as expanding birding-related offerings to particularly target youth through engaging a variety of different youth-focused organizations. The partnership will also open ways for both entities to collaborate on birding-related offerings at Millport Conservancy where the museum recently took over oversight and support roles at and will utilize as a permanent outdoor classroom space. The two organizations will also explore ways to work together to see that the museum’s world-class ornithological collection – with most specimens dating back to the 1800s – will continue to inspire for generations to come.
The Lancaster County Bird Club has a long history of involvement and association with the museum resulting from the club’s early ties to Franklin & Marshall College and ornithologists and staff at the college that would be key to the museum’s founding. Lancaster County Bird Club remains one of the longest-supporting financial contributors of the museum supporting the museum’s natural history program and world-class ornithological collection since its founding.
Lancaster County Bird Club has been dedicated to securing the cultivation of public sentiment in the preservation of Lancaster County’s native bird life since being founded in December of 1937. The club is a non-profit membership organization with a mission focused on bird observation, bird conservation, bird education and promoting the recording and dissemination of bird observations. The club contains more than 350 members and fulfills its mission through building partnerships and a variety of robust offerings such as field trips, lectures, programs, scholarships and more. More information on the club is available at www.lancasterbirdclub.org.
MEDIA NOTE: Media are invited to attend a kick-off event featuring members from both organizations on Feb. 8 starting at 7 p.m. at the North Museum of Nature and Science, 400 College Ave., Lancaster. Remarks on possibilities created by the new partnership will be given by leadership from both organizations and attendees will have an opportunity to peruse the museum’s ornithological collection and hear from F&M Professor Dan Ardia on how the collection continues to be used for research today. Please RSVP to lancastercountybirdclub@gmail.com prior to the event if you plan to attend.
🎧 Listen: The Spark Interview-Dinosaurs Among Us exhibit makes U.S. premier at North Museum in Lancaster
Dinosaurs Among Us exhibit makes U.S. premier at North Museum in Lancaster
Airdate: Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Scott LaMar/WITF
Listen to this episode of The Spark below.
So many people are fascinated with dinosaurs and it’s not just kids.
There’s a new exhibit at the North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster that just opened last Saturday that is sure to draw those people from far and wide who want to learn and see more.
It’s called Dinosaurs Among Us and the North Museum is the only museum in the U.S. selected by the American Museum of Natural History to host the exhibition.
North Museum’s Cosmic Bash celebrates PA’s natural history at event to support STEM education
North Museum’s Cosmic Bash celebrates PA’s natural history at event to support STEM education
Saturday, May 20 at The North Museum of Nature and Science
(LANCASTER)—Celebrating Pennsylvania’s rich resources of natural history, the North Museum invites supporters of STEM education, science, and nature to its 8th annual Cosmic Bash. The signature fundraiser will be held on Saturday, May 20, at the North Museum of Nature and Science, where guests will be entertained both in the museum and on the lawn of the Franklin & Marshall College campus.
Event design sponsor ATOMIC, which is known for its over-the-top spectacles created for world-class award shows and corporate events, will lend its creativity to showcasing some of the North Museum’s 350,000+ collection objects and lighting up the night in harmony with the event’s natural surroundings. “This year’s theme, Pennsylvania’s Natural History, will provide the visual backdrops that traditionally dazzle and delight our guests,” said Andrea Rush, North Museum’s CEO. “The North Museum hosts such a diverse collection of artifacts that help to tell the story of our state using minerals, gems, fossils, plants and wildlife.”
The Cosmic Bash benefits free and reduced-cost STEM education programs for children in Lancaster County and central Pennsylvania, and includes a silent auction, tapas-style dinner under an outdoor tent, and live auction of treasured items and experiences.
Event sponsorships are available by phone at 717-358-7188 or by contacting Scott Downs at sdowns@northmuseum.org. Beginning at $2500 for a table of eight, sponsors for the Cosmic Bash will enjoy prominent recognition and numerous corporate benefits. Single tickets for the Cosmic Bash also available and are $150, available online here or at 717-358-3941.
Sponsors include National Novelty Brush Company, ATOMIC, First National Bank, Anne and David Lloyd, Metzger Family Foundation, Dr. Clark McSparren, Alegre Events, Argires Marotti Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster, Marysia and Salvatore Dina, EnerSys, Franklin & Marshall College, Bernadette and Eugene Gardner, Lancaster County Motors, Lancaster Country Day School, High Companies, Rhoades Energy Corporation and Trout CPA.
The North Museum reaches over 1 million households through its education initiatives in the Museum, in the community, and at home. Programs include at-home learning activity packs, free field trips and after-school programs, an annual Science and Engineering Fair for middle and high school students, and many other educational programs designed to create access to free and reduced-cost STEM learning opportunities and strengthen the foundation of youth in the Lancaster community and beyond.
Now in its 70th year, the North Museum of Nature and Science is committed to its mission to enable knowledge of nature and science by inspiring individuals, engaging communities, and connecting organizations.
🎥 Watch: ABC27news story, Family Fun Festival Hosted by North Museum & Millport Conservancy
Cosmic Bash Family Fun Festival Hosted by North Museum & Millport Conservancy
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🎥 Watch: FOX43 Story, Helping Students Learn During Pandemic
How a Lancaster County museum is helping students learn and providing relief to families during the pandemic
FOX43.com
Dec 21, 2020.