On Durham Community days, Durham County residents get in free with current proof of residence. We offer these special visitation days 21 times every year.

We give students and teachers from Durham Public Schools free admission on field trips to the Museum throughout the year

Our partnership with Durham reaches beyond our campus: we partner with Durham Public Schools to create a range of afterschool, online, and offsite educational programs for their students

We believe that it’s never to early to introduce children to nature play and science discovery, so kids under three can visit the Museum for free!

We provide sensory-friendly events throughout the year to make sure the Museum can be a welcoming place for everyone. Through a special partnership with UNC TEACCH Autism Program, the Museum also offers resources designed for guests on the autism spectrum, their families, and caregivers.

During the closure of schools due to COVID-19, we had to reimagine our traditional forms of science engagement with Durham students and teachers. The result: “Real Science: Field Trip Fridays,” 37 fun and entertaining virtual field trips around the region to learn about research and science happening at government, corporate, university, and nonprofit research centers.

Our Ignite Learning program, now in its 14th year, addresses the opportunity gap by providing full membership benefits to thousands of families from communities traditionally underrepresented in STEM.  Last year, the Museum provided these memberships to more than 1,000 Durham households.

To study the impact of climate change in Durham and the region, Museum researchers are working with colleagues with the City of Raleigh, Durham County, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Museum of Life and Science, Activate Good, NC State Climate Office, NOAA, the National Weather Service to map urban heat islands and real-world impacts on our community.

Our Sparks Afterschool Program, powered by BioCryst, gathers local students in grades six through eight from Durham’s Brogden Middle School for mentorship and STEM educational enrichment at the Museum. A team of BioCryst employees volunteer alongside Museum staff as trained mentors, engaging students in STEM-based activities focused on hands-on, problem-based learning, collaboration, and critical thinking. The program provides participants with consistent mentorship and ongoing adult engagement during their middle-school years.