Physical address:
210 Hancock St.
Ithaca, New York.
I Would Like To Donate:
Our program depends on the enthusiasm, expertise, and commitment of community members like you. Your time and energy is what makes all of the joy and discovery happen!
Do you have materials for donation? We welcome science supplies and tools, as well as certain scrap materials, and old junk for kids to creatively re-use in new ways.
Make a gift today to help us provide much needed science programming to low-income and underserved minority youth. Free Science Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Mentor / Program Facilitator
1 – 3 TIMES A WEEK
Work one-on-one after school with youth who are exploring science and developing personal projects. This is the most important role volunteers can perform at the Science Workshop. Being a facilitator is a rewarding opportunity to have a meaningful, long-term impact on these children’s lives, nurturing confidence, interest in learning, and sense of agency.
Content Developer
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
If you like tinkering, working on interesting projects, creating science demos, or preparing biological specimens, you might enjoy being a content developer for Free Science! Our projects reach hundreds of visitors, and may be added to our public outreach programs to reach thousands more. Most of the projects at Free Science Workshop will be produced by the youth themselves, but they can gain inspiration and skill by observing and collaborating with experienced adults.
Special Guest
ONE TIME OR RECURRING
Visit one or more times per year as a special guest to informally share something interesting related to science or making that you are passionate about, e.g. engineering, beekeeping, jewelry making, chemistry, bird watching, metalsmithing. This is a casual, inquiry-based interaction where youth can ask questions, share their own thoughts and ideas, and make connections between their experience and knowledge and yours.
Organizational Support
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
There are a myriad of ways to help behind the scenes with helping take care of the animals, grant reporting, website design, social media, fundraising, etc. If this sounds appealing, we can talk further about what opportunities are the best match for your skills and interests!
Materials Donation
There are a myriad of ways to help behind the scenes with grant reporting, website design, social media, fundraising, etc. If this sounds appealing, we can talk further about what opportunities are the best match for your skills and interests!
Things:
- Bottle caps and lids
- Wine corks
- 1 and 2 liter bottles
- Office supplies
- Craft and school supplies
- Small quantities of paint
- Wood scraps
- Hardware
- Hand and power tools
- Small Electronics for Take Apart, eg: radios, laptops
- Scientific equipment
- Interesting antique machines
- Natural history items (rocks, fossils, bones)
- Animal and plant specimens
Skills:
- Non-profit Development
- Woodworking
- Electronics and Engineering
- Legal/Attorney
- Bookkeeper
At the Free Science Workshop, a little goes a long way!
$15
Supports a week’s worth of food for our menagerie of live animals, which includes birds, mammals, fish, insects, and reptiles. Caring for and holding living creatures is a highlight of life at the Science Workshop for many participants!
$30
Enough DC motors and batteries to keep over a dozen kids busy inventing cars, airplane rotors, optical spinners, battling tops, automatic-bubble-blowers, fans, motorboats, and whatever they can dream up!
$90
Materials for a week’s worth of science demos, group exhibit building, and personal projects, serving 80-90 participants. (When you use a lot of free and scavenged materials, every piece of an object can become a prize)
$250
Teen Intern wages to support three weeks of free summer drop-in hours at the workshop. Help keep our program free of cost, free-choice, and interest-driven!
Free Science Workshop
VISIT US
210 Hancock St., Suite #1
Open for free drop-in participation from 3:00-6:00 pm: Monday and Wednesday
Social