Supporting students today is an investment in the scientists of tomorrow.
Successfully empowering learners requires a complex strategy. That is why our approach is multifaceted: from cultivating a space for informal learning and community building to developing engaging off-site programs, the Science Mill is dedicated to supporting underserved students in as many ways as possible.
An innovative space for fun and curiosity in the Hill Country
Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the Science Mill serves as a science resource for communities in the area and beyond. “A-ha!” moments, like when kids code a robotic snake to hiss at the Critter Bots exhibit, abound in the museum, as do looks of genuine wonder when they see an axolotl or the Aquaponics Greenhouse for the first time. One of the best parts is finding out that a child was inspired to become a scientist after discovering an interest through the Science Mill.
As a popular field trip destination, the Science Mill regularly welcomes thousands of students and their chaperones from around the Hill Country. Since our doors opened in 2015, we have hosted over 100,000 field trip visitors.
How You Can Help
Through the Scholarship Fund, the Science Mill is able to subsidize many of these schools’ visits, allowing communities who may otherwise have found the field trip inaccessible to receive the educational experience we believe they deserve. This includes field trip admission and transportation to the Science Mill, enrollment in STEM programs, teacher stipends, and related costs.
A space for family-friendly STEM events
The Science Mill is not just a space for scientific discovery – it is a historic destination too! Once a feed mill in the 1880s, the building the museum is housed in has always served a valuable role in the community of Johnson City. Today, the Science Mill is a site of STEM learning and community building. Local beekeepers share their knowledge and passion for their profession with kids, young girls collaborate to take on exciting STEM challenges on Girl Scout Day, and families practice problem-solving together on events like Snow Day while also creating unforgettable memories together.
Consistent with our mission to support STEM initiatives in the community, the Science Mill is also the headquarters of the local FIRST Robotics team, JC Joules.
How You Can Help
The Impact Fund makes the development of the museum space possible. From sponsoring the creation of new, state-of-the-art exhibits to funding exciting events that attract returning and new visitors, the Impact Fund is all about supporting STEM literacy and community building in Texas and beyond.
Off-site programs
Texas is a big, diverse place, and we know that not all the communities we want to serve may be able to physically visit the museum. This is why we put just as much emphasis on the development of STEM programs we can take directly to those who need them.
Our summer STEM Career Immersion Camps (SCI Camps), Labs on the Go, and STEM Discovery Clubs are designed to boost students’ confidence and build 21st-century STEM career readiness.
We also offer Professional Development because we believe that one of the best ways to help students is to empower their teachers too.
Since 2016, we have served thousands of students in over 50 sites including school districts across Texas (like Liberty-Eylau ISD, Presidio ISD, Uvalde CISD) and students as far away as Nairobi, Kenya.
How You Can Help
Through the STEM Education Fund, we are able to support these outreach programs and expand our reach in the years to come.
This is where you come in!
You can help in so many ways:
Sponsoring a Learning Lab for 30 kids - from $180
Sponsoring an onsite Science Show for 30-50 kids - from $120
Sponsoring a class field trip - from $250
Want to sponsor a summer camp, a new exhibit, or something else? No problem! Reach out to ashley.kortis@sciencemill.org to discuss other options.
Want to help and enjoy a great evening at the same time?
Want to make an impact this year and have a blast at the same time? Plan to attend Illuminate, the Science Mill annual benefit on Saturday, October 26. By attending or sponsoring this event, you help serve as a beacon of hope in students’ futures in STEM. All proceeds from Illuminate go directly to Science Mill programs that focus on developing young participants in a science literate community as well as a strong skilled STEM workforce.
Equitable access to science education is only available because of generous people like you who want to watch our young scientists grow, flourish and change the world. If you’re wondering how to make the most of your gifts to the Science Mill, contact us. We can help you find the best way to make a gift in an area that is meaningful to you.