How to get the most of out your Museum Membership
Do you belong to a local Science Museum? Did you know that with your membership you are often eligible to travel to other Science Museums for FREE or discounted admission in many locations?
When traveling, we are pretty much on the go every minute. But with small children, we have found that we need to have “break” days for them to burn off some energy and to play freely. We have found that Children’s Museums and Science Centers are a perfect place for them to do so. They are interactive, educational, safe and our kids love going to them! The best part: it is a FREE or super low cost activity that we can do when we travel!!! How often can you say that?!? In the past 2 years alone, we have personally visited centers in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Florida, Montana, Ohio, and Tennessee.
We belong to our local children’s science museum here in State College, PA – DISCOVERY SPACE. While we enjoy what it has to offer for us here, we like having the membership even more for the purpose of using it when we travel. Discovery Space is part of a larger organization called the Association of Science – Technology Centers (ASTC). The ASTC offers a Travel Passport Program, which is a reciprocal admission program that offers a travel benefit to members at participating science centers or museums. The Passport Program is a travel benefit that is included in membership at your local participating science center or museum.
Our annual Family Membership at Discovery Space is $125 and includes 2 parents/guardians, household children and an additional caregiver card. We are also given 4 free one-time use passes to take guests to our local center. The Basic Membership starts at $90/year. For our family of 4 with 2 adults/2 children, paying out-of-pocket for one trip to Pittsburgh to visit the Carnegie Science Museum ($19.95/adult; $11.95/child), and The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh ($16/adult; $14/child) would be equivalent to our annual membership.
Visiting ASTC Science Centers and Museums:
The fine print: In order to use your ASTC Travel Passports at other participating museums, you must be at least 90 miles (as the crow flies) from the science center or museum where you are a member and from your residence.
Before you Travel to an ASTC location:
- Make sure the science center or museum you are visiting is part of the Travel Passport Program
- Review that science center or museum’s family admittance policy
- Pack your ID (or other proof of residence)
- Pack your membership card
In addition to the ASTC, there are other organizations that offer similar programs as well. If you have a local membership I any museum, zoo, etc. it is definitely worth checking out to see if they have a Travel Program to use when you are traveling. Here are a few others for your reference:
ACM – Association of Children’s Museums
- 200 museums participate in the network and reciprocate 50% off general admission for up to six (6) people. The card holder must be present for discounted admission
AZA – Association of Zoos & Aquariums
- Members will be required to show proof of zoo or aquarium membership.
- Reciprocity applies to admission to the main facility during normal operating days and hours. Reciprocity may exclude special exhibits or events requiring an additional fee.
- Reciprocity does not limit the number of visits to any particular zoo or aquarium.
- The number of visitors admitted with a family membership may vary depending on the zoo or aquarium visited.
- Zoos and aquariums designated both 100% and 50% depending on location – check the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Chart to confirm discount
NARM – North American Reciprocal Museum Association NARM has over 1,000 arts, cultural, and historical institutions along with botanical gardens, children’s museums, science and technology centers and more that offer their individual NARM qualified members reciprocal benefits.
- Free/member admission during regular museum hours
- Member discounts at museum shops
- Discounts on concert/lecture tickets
- Check the list of participating locations before you leave as there are some restrictions on benefits
If you are anything like me – you love finding a bargain! And being able to take my family to new places that we can enjoy for free or little cost is a win/win in my book!
Suz on the move 