Plan a visit to Catawba Science Center, a 35,000 sq. ft. science and technology children’s museum offering rotating hands-on exhibits, salt and freshwater aquarium galleries, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium. Our mission is to change lives and inspire learning through science and wonder! We are dedicated to providing a fun learning environment through relevant science experiences in our many exhibitions and habitats.
Catawba Science Center offers interactive and educational school field trips, engaging summer camps for youth pre-K through rising ninth grade, birthday parties, preschool science programs, homeschool classes, adult science evening programming & more! We strive to provide an inclusive and engaging atmosphere for people of all ages!
Stem Trek
April 20, 2024 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Join us Saturday, April 20th from 10 AM – 2 PM, in the West Building for STEM Trek!
STEM Trek is a FREE family event for all ages! Explore fun STEM careers while participating in hands-on activities provided by local businesses highlighting STEM career options! The event is engaging for children and adults alike!
Find more NC SciFest events happening in April HERE
Spark: A STEM Career Showcase!
April 20, 2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Don't miss this month's SPARK event in the Foothills Collaboratory featuring Corning Optical Communications. SPARK is a STEM career showcase featuring local industries in the Carolina Foothills. Participate in guided activities based on their careers. The LAB can be found at the end of the South entrance hallway across from Velo-City. This program is free with the price of admission
Expedition Reef
April 20, 2024 11:00 am - 11:30 am
26 minutes
Learn the secrets of the “rainforests of the sea” as you embark on an oceanic safari of the world’s most vibrant—and endangered—marine ecosystems. Discover how corals grow, feed, reproduce, and support over 25% of all marine life on Earth—while facing unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing.
Show Begins at 11:00 AM
Solar System Odyssey
April 20, 2024 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
28 minutes
Solar System Odyssey is a character-driven adventure set in the future, in a time when humans have depleted the resources of their home planet. A business tycoon recruits our hero, Jack Larson, on a mission to discover a new home for humans to colonize.
Show Begins at 2:00 PM
Expedition Reef
April 20, 2024 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
26 minutes
Learn the secrets of the “rainforests of the sea” as you embark on an oceanic safari of the world’s most vibrant—and endangered—marine ecosystems. Discover how corals grow, feed, reproduce, and support over 25% of all marine life on Earth—while facing unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing.
Show Begins at 3:00 PM
What a wonderful place to visit! Great environment to learn and the staff is very helpful! Hickory is lucky to have great family education and entertainment.
Fabulous and I don’t often give praise. We took our grandson and were there for hours. He loved it and so did we.
This place was great. We have kids from 8 to 1 and they all had a great time. What I really liked is most of the exhibits are hands on and that really kept them occupied.
Took the kiddos and they loved it. Employees were nice and helpful. If your looking for something to do with the kids give this place a shot.
We love the Science Center! I take my 2 and 4 year old boys weekly to play and enjoy the exhibits. The staff are wonderful and the classes offered are excellent! We are so blessed to have such an amazing resource in our area.