FALL 2025

Help make science unforgettable for every child who walks through our front doors—give here!

This fall, bring your students to the Reading Science Center for a field trip they’ll never forget. Reserve your visit for September–December 2025 and bring your class for just $10 per student! 

DURING A 2-HOUR VISIT, CLASSES WILL:

Our field trips make science come alive, reinforcing classroom concepts through experimentation, exploration, and excitement. Availability is limited—reserve early to lock in your preferred date!

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We’d love to help you plan your visit! If you’re considering bringing a group of curious kids to explore science with us our team is happy to assist with scheduling and details. Email us at info@rdgsci.org or give us a call at (484) 878-2112. We are excited to bring science to life for your group!

A new exhibit will be unveiled thanks to the efforts of dozens of employees and the generous resources of East Penn Manufacturing. 

"Energy in a Box" will make its official debut on October 18, 2025, showing how the internal plates of a battery come together to feed the roaring engines that fuel our roadways and imaginations!  In addition, the exhibit teaches participants to recycle their battery parts, thereby encouraging sustainability of materials and building environmental consciousness.

"The lights and sounds of this exhibit make it extremely appealing to our young audience, but the adults who accompany them are fascinated by it too!" remarked Executive Director, Ralia Vardaxis.

The official unveiling celebration will take place at 11:00am in recognition of this wonderful museum addition.  Admission to the Reading Science Center will be free to the public all day from 10:00am to 4:00pm (last entry at 3pm).  

Mike Stanislawczyk, CEO of East Penn Manufacturing will be on hand, alongside Reading Science Center Board President, Jim Cinelli, for the official unveiling and ribbon cutting.  

Founder, Jim Cinelli offered, "This exhibit by East Penn Manufacturing is the latest in several built for us by local industries that shows the relationship between science and manufacturing, healthcare and engineering.  This is exactly what I had envisioned when I established the Reading Science Center."

Additional science learning activities will be available during the day, which will include spooky science and battery building.  Don't miss it!

At the Reading Science Center, we see every day how curiosity can transform a child’s outlook. A teacher recently shared with us a story about a student who came to school the day after a field trip, still wearing his lab coat, and proudly declared, “I’m a real scientist.” Since opening our doors in 2020, we’ve welcomed more than 20,000 children and families, including nearly 4,000 students last year, through field trips that align with Pennsylvania standards and bring concepts like electricity, polymers, and states of matter to life. With over 50 interactive exhibits and guided classroom lessons, students don’t just learn science - they begin to see themselves as scientists.

This impact is only possible because of community support. Last year, more than 1,900 people visited during public hours, almost 800 community members joined us for Celebrate Science Day, and 30 girls deepened their learning in our Sisters in STEM program. These experiences build confidence, critical thinking, and opportunity for children across Berks County. Your gifts enable us to keep exhibits fresh, provide outreach to schools, and offer families affordable admission rates. Together, we are creating sparks of discovery that will grow into futures filled with possibility.

Every science experiment begins with strong preparation. For the Reading Science Center, that prep will now include new cubicles, a conference table, and chairs for our staff. Generously donated by the DaVinci Science Center and transported with support from Penske, this office furniture will anchor the work behind the scenes so discovery can thrive out on the museum floor.

Five members of our Exhibit Committee and a Penn State Berks student volunteer made the trip to Allentown to bring everything to Reading. We are deeply grateful to DaVinci Science Center for sharing their resources and to Penske Transportation Solutions for providing a truck to make the move possible. This collaboration is a powerful reminder of how organizations, businesses, and individuals can come together to strengthen science education. Together, you’ve helped us take another important step toward the future of science in Greater Reading!

If we want to build the next generation of scientists and innovators right here in Berks County, we need to be intentional about how we support them today. Imagine a classroom where a student’s eyes light up as they hold a pig heart for the first time. Picture a young mind captivated by a hands-on experiment, discovering the wonders of science in real time. These are the moments your support creates, moments that transform curiosity into confidence, and confidence into possibility. 

We are inviting you to be part of that impact by sponsoring and attending A Night of STEM & Stars on Tuesday, November 18th at the Redners Event Center from 5 to 8 PM. Your presence and partnership help fund hands-on STEM field trips, classroom experiences, and programming that give local students the confidence to see themselves in science, engineering, technology, and math careers. Together, we can open doors that lead to college labs, engineering firms, research centers, and beyond.

This is more than a fundraising event. It’s an investment into the future of Berks County and a chance to help inspire imaginations, ignite dreams, and launch the next generation of STEM leaders.

Where do young girls go to discover their passion for STEM? Every girl with a spark of curiosity deserves a space to explore it. Sisters in STEM (SIS), a free after-school program, was created to provide exactly that:  a place where inquiry can flourish and every girl has the opportunity to thrive in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Every Wednesday from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, participants dive into hands-on activities that turn science into an adventure. Whether they’re building, testing, coding, or experimenting, girls gain confidence by stepping into the shoes of scientists and problem solvers. Importantly, they’ll form friendships with peers who share their excitement for discovery.

Along the way, participants meet women in STEM fields who are doctors, engineers, and innovators who share their stories and answer questions. These role models help girls see what’s possible for their own futures, sparking ideas about the many directions a STEM path can take.

This special program runs from October 1st to December 17th, with a break until the Spring session resumes in February. Enrollment is open now, and spaces are limited. We encourage all young aspiring girls who would benefit from this program to apply as soon as possible by visiting the Sisters in STEM page on our website or clicking the button below.

Sisters in STEM is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire young minds and guide them on a life-changing journey. So, what are you waiting for? The future of STEM depends on YOU!

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, students and families from Southwest Middle School spent an exciting day at the Reading Science Center, thanks to a partnership with Communities in the Schools. This free event hosted 18 family members to explore science through hands-on experiences in anatomy and biology.

Drexel University College of Medicine, West Reading Campus, brought a team of medical students to lead engaging activities for the middle schoolers and their families to participate in, including frog and pig heart dissections!  They also worked alongside the med students in the Neag Cell Lab, exploring the microscopic building blocks of life.

The day was a unique opportunity for students to see science in action and engage directly with future medical professionals. We are grateful to Southwest Middle School, Communities in the Schools, and Drexel University College of Medicine for helping make this day a memorable experience that brought the excitement of discovery to the next generation of scientists.

A membership to the Reading Science Center is your ticket to endless science fun, discovery, and special benefits. Whether for yourself or your family, membership means unlimited visits, exclusive discounts, and invitations to members-only events that bring science to life.

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AND PRICING

Individual Membership - $40 Per Year
Unlimited admission for 1 person for one year

Family Membership - $100 Per Year
Unlimited admission for 5 individuals for one year

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS AND PRICING

The following new members have joined the Reading Science Center Board of Directors. They bring a diverse range of expertise and community-focused leadership to support the Center’s mission of inspiring and educating future generations through STEM initiatives.

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