Children's Science Center

The Children’s Science Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and interactive museum where children, families, and school groups can explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts through fun, engaging, hands-on exhibits, activities, and programs. We serve over 70,000 visitors a year at the Children’s Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall and through our community programs delivered to schools, libraries, and STEM festivals across Northern Virginia.  

Our Mission

Is to inspire a love of learning STEM by providing unique opportunities to explore and create.  Learn more about our mission, vision, and values.

Our Vision

Is to create a world-class interactive science center that ignites the curiosity in all of us.  Learn more about our vision for the future science center.

Our Core Values

Are Community, Fun, Excellence, Innovation, and Leadership.

These core values serve as guiding principles for our employees, board of directors, advisors, and volunteers. We exemplify these values as we fulfill our mission, engage with our stakeholders, and recruit new employees and volunteers.

The Lab is open to the public for two-hour general admission sessions on weekends and major school holidays. We have many volunteer opportunities, such as:

Lab Volunteer (age 16+)

These individuals volunteer at the Lab during timed-entry sessions or field trips and work directly with children and their families creating great experiences for them. Lab volunteers must attend an orientation.

Field Trips (age 18+)

Students enjoy hands-on STEM learning in the Lab’s five exciting experience areas

Family Science Nights (age 16+)

Evening program for families hosted at elementary schools across the region

Mini labs (July and August) (age 13+ & adult)

2 hour afternoon program that combines science learning and family bonding with Loudon Library Community participation.

STEM Chicas (age 16+)

Program to engage Latina youth under-represented in STEM

Prep Shifts (age 13+ & adult)

Help us prep materials and activities for our in-Lab experiments and field trips! 

Learn more: www.childsci.org.

Vision Tomorrow

The Northern Virginia Science Center will be a place for discovery, innovation, and fun. This world-class, interactive science center for all ages will feature five expansive galleries with interactive exhibits, educational facilities for hands-on programs, and special event spaces. The Science Center will be located in the Dulles Technology Corridor, adjacent to 200 acres of natural parkland, offering experiences inside and out celebrating that science is everything and everything is science.

The Launch the Future capital campaign to build the Northern Virginia Science Center, a division of the Science Museum of Virginia, is well underway. Pivotal Partners include the Commonwealth of Virginia, Loudoun County, Northwest Federal Credit Union, and Kincora. The award-winning teams of HGA, Roto, and Balfour Beatty are engaged in the architecture, exhibit design, and construction of this world-class facility which is projected to serve 300,000 guests annually.

Learn more: www.novasci.org.