15 Best Places to Get Scientific with Kids in NYC

The bankers and the artists may get all the press, but NYC is a great city for science too. There are many wondrous places in New York where kids can soak up, explore and create scientific knowledge for themselves. From Science Museums, Programs, Shops and more, we've rounded up the best places for kids to get scientific in New York City.

Museums

Liberty Science Center
The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is really a world class institution. After a $109 million renovation and expansion, they reopened in 2007 bigger and better than ever. From the nation's largest IMAX Dome Theater to the new iExpl ore toddler and preschool exploratorium to permanent exhibits, like the 12,800 square foot interactive Skyscraper! exhibit and several rotating exhibits, there is way too much to explore in one day. One of the unique things about the Liberty Science Center is the high number of programs, demonstrations and workshops that you can participate in while you are there. www.lsc.org

NY Hall of Science
Another great science museum for kids is the NY Hall of Science in Queens, a science and technology center with over 400 hands-on activities. Talk to any kids who's been there and you'll here that the highlight is the outdoor science playground where kids can learn about and explore the principles of physics through their own play. www.nyhallsci.org

American Museum of Natural History
Of course you've been to the Museum of Natural History before, but don't forget that there's a lot more to this museum than dinosaur bones and the whale room. The Discovery Room offers an interactive entry to explore the museum exhibits and a behind the scenes glimpse at the science involved. Space shows in the Hayden Planetarium immerse kids in the most current science of space. And the IMAX theater takes children on entertaining and enthralling scientific voyages. www.amnh.org

Sony Wonder Technology Lab
Free and right in Midtown Manhattan, The Sony Wonder Technology Lab is as entertaining as learning about technology should be. They just reopened the top two floors with new exhibits so now there are four floors of high-tech, interactive exhibits let kids make music, animation, learn about video game and film technology, robots and nanotechnology. The Sony Wonder Lab also offers programs, parties and free movies for kids. www.sonywondertechlab.com

Science Barge
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum, the Science Barge gives children the ability to learn hands-on how technology can help us have less of an impact on the earth and live more sustainably. The Science Barge is a sustainable urban farm powered by wind, solar, and biofuels and irrigated by rainwater and purified river water. It is completely off the grid, creates no carbon emissions, no net water consumption and no waste stream. Families can tour the barge and participate in programs geared to teach them mosre about the technologies involved. www.nysunworks.org

Bodies, The Exhibition
THere has been a lt of controversy about this exhibit over the origin of the actual bodies used, but I felt I had to include it because it is there and, in fact, a pretty amazing opportunity to see up close and real the inner workings of the human body. For young children this may be too gruesome, but for older children, they can learn about the bones, muscles, and organs that make up the amazing human body. www.bodiesny.com

Programs

Staten Island Museum Junior Science Club
In addition to a small natural science s exhibit, The Staten Island Museum offers a Junior Science Club that meets the third Saturday of every month for children ages 8-13. Children do hands-on experiments and projects for an in-depth study of a different topic each session. www.statenislandmuseum.org

Mad Science
Mad Science offers fun afterschool programs, parties, vacation and summer camps for kids where they can participate in their own hands-on experiments and learn about everything from rockets to the science of toys. www.madscience.org/

Science Teacher Sarah
Science Teacher Sarah has a unique program that takes children on field trips on one day and on the next day they bring the learning home with work on related lab experiments and projects in their science center complete with animals that the children can handle and care for. Sign up for after school programs, vacation and summer day camps with a flexible come when you want schedule. www.scienceteachersarah.com

Robo Fun and Robot Village
Kids can learn about robotics, design and make their own robots at these two different robot-centric programs. Robot Village is in the middle of a transformation, shutting down the store to make way for even more educational programs. Meanwhile RoboFun offers after-school programs, parties and camps for kids. www.vemny.org/robofun/index.htm and www.robotvillage.com

Stores

Maxilla and Mandible and Evolution
These two Natural History and Science emporiums, one on the Upper West Side, one in SoHo, sell bones, fossils, mounted insects and other unique artifacts, but even if you aren't in the market for a human skeleton or a trilobite fossil, kids will be fascinated exploring the shops which are packed to the gills with curiosities. maxillaandmandible.com and www.evolutionnyc.com

The Scholastic Store
One of the reasons I think the Scholastic Store is one of the best toy and book shops for kids in NYC is it's great selection of educational and science toys. I love to shop stores that have great, smart toys so I know whatever I pick it will be a winner and the Scholastic Store gives me that confidence. Plus the entire experience of the store is great with reading nooks, story times and activities, turning shopping into an event. www.scholastic.com

Other fun stuff

World Science Fair
This Spring was the first World Science Fair in NYC, a multi-day event that included a great street fair with tons of fun hands-on science activities for families. No information has been released about the 2009 event yet, but I'm hoping that it will return to NYC next year. www.worldsciencefestival.com

Science & the City
Science & the City is the website of the New York Academy of Sciences and is a great resource for finding out about many different science-related events, talks and other goings-on. www.nyas.org/snc

Cool Science Camps
Check out our article on cool science camps from our Camps and Summer Programs Guide.

This article is part of a series of posts about Science for Kids. The other articles are:

Review of Top Chemistry and Electronics Sets

Five Best Science Web Sites for Kids

Science Kits for Little Kids

Find more great activities like this in our Indoor Activities Guide.

Find more NYC birthday party ideas in our Party Guide.