Archive: Around Town

On February 20, Cargill Mine Manager, Shawn Wilczynski, presented Sciencenter Executive Director, Dean Briere, with a check for $100,000 in support of the Sciencenter's Science for All initiative. The Science for All initiative provides free field trips to the Sciencenter for all 2nd grade students in Cayuga County, in perpetuity.

"This generous donation from Cargill greatly expands the Sciencenter's field trip programming to now reach all of Cayuga County," said Sciencenter Executive Director, Dean Briere. "Thanks to Cargill every 2nd grade class will have the opportunity to visit the Sciencenter on programmed school field trips, for free, for as long as the Sciencenter stands. We are incredibly grateful to Cargill for making this possible."

The Science for All initiative is an endowed program of the Sciencenter that provides annual field trips to the Sciencenter for all 700 2nd grade students living in Cayuga County. This initiative is a critical element in the Sciencenter's vision to empower every young person to use science in shaping a better future.

"We are delighted to partner with the Sciencenter on this initiative," said Shawn Wilczynski. "This community is where our families live, work, and go to school. We know how important it is to invest in our children's future so they have the skills, tools, and education to succeed in life."

Currently, the Sciencenter provides free annual field trips to all 2nd grade classes in Tompkins County and Cortland City schools through Kids Discover the Trail!. During these trips, students take part in a supplementary interactive, hands-on program called 'Power the Future' where they explore engineering principles, climate, and energy science. The donation from Cargill provides funding to bring Cayuga County second graders to the Sciencenter for free, supplemental educational programming that meets with Next Generation Science Standards, and free 'Come Back' passes for field trip students and their families.

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