Science Museum Offers Free Admission for Preparathon

The Science Museum of Virginia (2500 W. Broad Street) is hosting PrepareAthon, a free festival that provides important information about community preparedness, sustainability and resiliency. The event includes presentations about climate and weather, including a talk by NBC 12 meteorologist Megan Wise, science demonstrations throughout the day, numerous hands-on activities and special challenges.

Exhibitors from government organizations, academic institutions, businesses, emergency management agencies and community groups across the state will be onsite providing helpful tips, resources and giveaways. Guests can also participate in workshops about rain barrel and preparedness kit making. The Museum will register guests onsite for those first-come, first-served workshops. Plus, the first 300 guests to complete the PrepareAthon Passport will win a useful preparedness prize!

Guests of all ages are encouraged to attend the festival to get actionable advice on how to not only become more prepared at home, but also become a more resilient community. Having potentially life-saving information before disaster strikes will produce better outcomes during and after an emergency, such as extreme weather events that are happening more frequently and becoming stronger. In addition, learning about sustainability practices to reduce waste, install energy-efficient building features and reduce heat-trapping gas emissions has long-term benefits for everyone.

PrepareAthon activities take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25. The Museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day.

At 10:30 a.m., the US Green Building Council Greater Virginia chapter will present the Museum with a plaque celebrating the Dewey Gottwald Center’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. The Dewey Gottwald Center, the Museum’s newest exhibit and event space completed in April 2017, earned the second highest green building rating for its innovative use of recycled resources, water use efficiency and optimized energy performance.

Museum admission is free all day Aug. 25. The Museum is offering a discounted price on films and touring exhibition tickets. Dome features, which start at the top of each hour, are only $5. The “BODY WORLDS: ANIMAL INSIDE OUT” exhibition is $7.50, the lowest price available before it closes Labor Day.