Summer is right around the corner, and the Reading Science Center is ready with exciting camp experiences designed to keep students thinking, exploring, and discovering for an entire week.

Please Note:  Girls Inventing the Future is SOLD OUT!

READING SCIENCE CAMP

July 27–31, 9am to 4pm
Ages 8–11
$325 per camper

A full-day camp where curiosity leads the way. Campers spend the week thinking like a scientist and even conducting experiments of famous past discoverers and explorers. Participants will dive into science investigations, tackle creative challenges, and explore exhibits while building confidence and problem-solving skills along the way.

SOLD OUT - GIRLS INVENTING THE FUTURE CAMP

Funded through the If/Then Collaborative, this half-day experience is designed for girls ready to explore science in a way that feels relevant and empowering. Connecting with today’s women in STEM careers, they will engage in collaboration and build confidence, seeing future possibilities for themselves in STEM.

2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting year yet at the Reading Science Center! If you have been following our progress, you will note that we have been under construction and have finally completed the transformation of our new museum space, doubling the previous square footage and adding exciting new exhibits. We are also conducting a capital campaign that has enabled us to make these renovations to the museum space, but are still looking for contributions to help us convert two additional rooms on our floor into classrooms.

In May, we held our third annual Celebrate Science Day at Reading Regional Airport, breaking records of attendance, attracting 1018 kids and their families. We are also providing more summer programming than any year in our history. We will serve nearly 1,000 students in the Reading School District for summer school, provide programming for Christ Church Summer Learning Adventure, and conduct 2 weeks of our own summer camps. It will be a sizzling and sciency summer!

We also highly anticipate the launch this fall of a new after school program for boys and girls in grades 3 to 5 called Innovation Club. It will meet once a week during the academic year, alongside our legacy signature program, Sisters in STEM, which has been in existence for the last five years.

In total, we served over 8,000 children and families in 2025. This is a 50% increase over 2024 and we are set to crush that record again this year! Thanks to your interest and support, the Reading Science Center is growing by leaps and bounds. We are proud to make engaging programming available in Berks County and beyond. It is our privilege to bring learning opportunities to all science enthusiasts in our community!

The Reading Science Center reached new heights this spring with its third annual Celebrate Science Day: Take Off, welcoming 1,018 attendees to the Reading Regional Airport for an unforgettable afternoon of hands-on science exploration.

Held for the first time under an airplane hangar, this year's aviation-themed event transformed the venue into a hub of curiosity, discovery, and family fun. Visitors explored everything from weather phenomena and live birds of prey to an indoor planetarium, historic aircraft, chemistry experiments, engineering challenges, and interactive exhibits presented by more than two dozen community partners.

One of the event's most exciting outcomes was its ability to introduce new families to the Reading Science Center. An event survey revealed that 58% of respondents had never visited the Reading Science Center's downtown location before, demonstrating that Celebrate Science Day is successfully connecting the organization with new audiences and inspiring future visits.

Throughout the afternoon, children eagerly moved from activity to activity—building, experimenting, asking questions, and discovering new interests—while parents shared in their excitement. The smiles, laughter, and moments of wonder seen indoors and outdoors reflected exactly what Celebrate Science Day is designed to accomplish: creating meaningful science experiences that inspire the next generation of innovators.

The Reading Science Center is deeply grateful to the Reading Regional Airport, our generous sponsors, dedicated volunteers, and more than 25 community partners who made this free event possible. Their support helped create an engaging experience where families could learn together, explore together, and celebrate the joy of science.

SPONSORS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

As the Reading Science Center continues to grow, events like Celebrate Science Day remain an important part of our mission—bringing science beyond our walls, strengthening community connections, and inspiring curiosity in thousands of children and families across our region. We can't wait to see where next year's adventure takes us!

Our monthly lineup keeps things fresh with rotating demonstrations and guided experiences designed for curious minds of all ages.

INVESTIGATION STATION

Investigation Station is a monthly rotating hands-on science discovery, free with admission every Saturday.

This spring marks an exciting new chapter for the Reading Science Center. With the newly expanded exhibit space opening beginning July 1st, visitors can look forward to more ways to explore, experiment, and discover during every visit.

The expansion allows us to introduce new interactive experiences, create more room for curiosity to unfold, and welcome even more families, students, and educators into the space. New exhibits added include Newton’s Chairs, Sphero Indies, and two If/Then exhibits on seismology and resonance.  This is a meaningful step forward in strengthening what the Reading Science Center can offer to the community.

As we grow, we are also making a thoughtful adjustment to our admission and membership pricing. These updates will take effect on July 1, 2026 and will support the ongoing care, development, and expansion of exhibits and programs.

UPDATED PRICING BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026

With these changes, we are expanding our offerings, yet keeping the Reading Science Center accessible. Programs like Museums for All continue to ensure that low income families can visit at a reduced cost, and memberships still provide an economic way to return again and again.

We are grateful for the community that continues to grow with us and make this work possible. The Reading Science Center looks forward to welcoming you into the new museum space very soon!

This fall, the Reading Science Center is excited to launch Innovation Club, a brand-new FREE after-school program designed to spark creativity, critical thinking, and a love of STEM in students in Grades 3–5.

Building on the success of our long-running Sisters in STEM program, Innovation Club will offer young scientists weekly opportunities to tackle hands-on STEM challenges, problem-solving activities, and collaborative projects. Each week will explore a different topic in STEM. Children will use the scientific method, observe exciting phenomena, and discover real-world applications. We hope to prepare the next generation of innovators for an ever-changing world!

The program will launch in Fall 2026, with weekly sessions running October–December 2026 and February–April 2027. Consistent attendance is encouraged.

Planning is already underway to bring students some of our most creative, surprising, and explosive activities yet!

Because Innovation Club is free, space will be limited. Families interested in joining the inaugural cohort are encouraged to complete our Interest Form to join the waitlist and be among the first to receive registration information.

We can't wait to welcome the next generation of innovators!

This fall marks an exciting milestone as the Reading Science Center celebrates the sixth year of Sisters in STEM, our free after-school program that empowers girls in Grades 4–6 to discover the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Each Wednesday, participants dive into hands-on experiments, connect with accomplished women working in STEM careers, and take home activities that encourage continued exploration long after the lesson ends. One of the most rewarding traditions of Sisters in STEM is welcoming back former participants as "Big SISters," giving them the opportunity to mentor younger students while continuing their own leadership journey.

The upcoming Fall 2026 semester promises another exciting lineup of experiences, including robotics activities, partnerships with Tower Health, inspiring guest speakers, and the return of favorite hands-on investigations. A featured lesson, "Story of Our Stars," will transform the classroom into a planetarium as participants explore galaxies, constellations, and the wonders of the night sky before creating constellations of their own.

Sisters in STEM meets every Wednesday from 4:30–6:00 p.m., and participation is completely free. Registration is now open for the upcoming school year, but spots are limited.

If you know a curious young scientist who would thrive in this program, we encourage you to share this opportunity. Together, we're inspiring girls for future STEM careers — one experiment at a time.

Approximately 140 students in the Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program will discover the excitement of hands-on science at the Reading Science Center (RSC) this summer, many for the very first time. Thanks to support from the First United Church of Christ Mission and St. John's UCC Reading Funds of the Berks County Community Foundation, these students in grades K-6 will participate in a free STEM field trip designed to strengthen self-esteem, boost language skills, and turn learning into active discovery.

Children in migrant families often experience frequent moves, interrupted schooling, and limited access to enrichment opportunities outside the classroom. Many are also multilingual learners. By eliminating the cost of participation, this program ensures that every student can engage in this meaningful STEM experience regardless of their circumstances.

During their visit, students will take part in an educator-led investigation, “Archaeology: Can You Dig It?” aligned with summer learning goals, and explore RSC's interactive exhibits. Through experimentation, problem-solving, and discovery, they will connect classroom concepts to real-world experiences.

For many students, this field trip represents more than a day of science exploration. It provides access to opportunities their families would not otherwise be able to afford and reinforces the message that science is for everyone.

The Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program (PA-MEP) is a federally funded initiative administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that provides supplemental educational services and support to children and youth from migratory agricultural families. The program serves eligible students from birth through age 21 whose education may be disrupted by moves related to seasonal or temporary agricultural work, helping ensure educational continuity through academic support, family engagement, and connections to community resources.

Providing these experiences requires dedicated support. While the Pennsylvania Migrant Education Program offers valuable academic services to students, funding is limited for enrichment opportunities such as STEM field trips. Support from the Berks County Community Foundation’s First United Church of Christ Mission and St. John's UCC Reading Funds helps ensure that migrant students can participate in a meaningful, hands-on science experience at no cost to the program or the students.

We are grateful to our funding partners for helping us expand access to STEM education and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to explore, discover, and experience the joy of science.

The Reading Science Center is grateful to announce continued support from Tower Health for summer STEM outreach programming for the Reading School District.

This summer, approximately 1,000 students participating in Reading School District summer programs will experience hands-on science investigations led by Reading Science Center educators. Programs will take place throughout June and July at schools including 10th & Penn Elementary, Amanda E. Stout Elementary, Central Middle School, Northwest Area Elementary, and Reading High School.

Students will explore topics such as magnets, thermal energy, ecology, and earth science through interactive lessons designed to encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Activities are customized for a variety of student populations, including English language learners and students participating in Extended School Year (ESY) programs.

By bringing STEM programming directly into summer classrooms, the Reading Science Center and Tower Health are helping students stay engaged in meaningful learning experiences while reinforcing science concepts in a fun and accessible way. Tower Health's partnership helps remove financial barriers for the schools, expands access to high-quality STEM education opportunities for students across Reading, and provides meaningful volunteer engagement that enhances the student experience.

Chromatic Claire

Docent

Chromatic Claire is from Blandon, PA but lives in Bethlehem during the academic year while pursuing an Art Education degree. Her favorite area of science is chemistry! When she’s not at The Reading Science Center, Claire can be found playing soccer, reading, or working out. She also has a huge collection of CDs that she inherited from her parents and has added to herself.

Emerald Evelyn

Docent

Emerald Evelyn is from Tower City, PA in Schuylkill County. Evelyn went to Williams Valley School District and then Juniata College for their bachelor’s degree in History and Museum Studies. They have plenty of areas of interest within the science field, mainly- archaeology, astronomy, botany, and marine biology! When they’re not at The Reading Science Center, they can be found writing, playing video games, or playing with their cat, Onyx (also named after a mineral!). Emerald Evelyn also puts science skills to good use with baking delicious treats at home! 

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.

Aaron Bollinger

Vice President of Engineering – Automotive and Diversified Division

East Penn Manufacturing

Aaron Bollinger is Vice President of Automotive and Diversified Engineering at East Penn Manufacturing. His career at East Penn has spanned the Test Laboratory, Applications Engineering, Product Engineering, and Process Engineering, providing a broad technical foundation and cross-functional leadership experience across a wide range of markets and technologies. Aaron joined the Reading Science Center Board because he believes building a strong technology pipeline begins with empowering young people through science and technology education. Aaron is committed to supporting opportunities that help the next generation develop the confidence and skills needed to contribute to a thriving future for the Greater Reading community.

Claire Cummings

Vice President

Cherry Hill Programs

Claire Cummings serves as Vice President at Cherry Hill Programs, where she oversees retail operations for the company’s Souvenir Division across tourist destinations throughout the United States and Canada. With leadership experience in operations, partnership development, and team management, Claire has helped drive significant organizational growth while strengthening relationships with partner organizations. A lifelong science enthusiast, Claire joined the Reading Science Center Board to support opportunities that make STEM education accessible, engaging, and meaningful for children and families throughout the community. She is especially passionate about encouraging girls in science and supporting programs that help inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.

Mark Krawiec

Director of Development

Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

Mark Krawiec serves as Director of Development for Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, where he leads fundraising efforts that strengthen healthcare initiatives and community impact throughout the region. With extensive experience in philanthropy and strategic relationship development, Mark has built a career focused on connecting people and organizations around meaningful causes and long-term growth. He joined the Reading Science Center Board to help advance its mission of expanding access to STEM learning opportunities for youth and families across Berks County. Through his background in healthcare philanthropy and community engagement, Mark is committed to fostering partnerships that strengthen connections between science, education, and the broader community.

Andrew Thome

Manager, Metallurgy Special Projects

Carpenter Technology

Andrew Thome serves as Manager of Forged Bar and Billet Product Metallurgy at Carpenter Technology Corporation. Throughout his career, he has contributed to a broad range of technology development efforts, from the development of new metal alloys to providing metallurgical expertise to a government-led industry group dedicated to enhancing flight safety. With more than 15 years of industry experience in the greater Berks County area, Andrew has mentored numerous young engineers from local schools and recognizes the importance of continually strengthening STEM education. He remains committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of scientists.

Lorena Tribe

Professor of Chemistry
Penn State Berks

Dr. Lorena Tribe is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Penn State Berks whose research focuses on theoretical and surface chemistry, environmental interactions, and computational modeling. A dedicated educator and mentor, she has spent decades guiding undergraduate students in research experiences that have led to presentations at national conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Passionate about making science accessible beyond the classroom, Dr. Tribe sees her service on the Reading Science Center Board as an opportunity to expand access to hands-on learning experiences and inspire future generations to explore science and discovery.