UPDATE FROM THE MARIA MITCHELL ASSOCIATION…
Due to an abundance of caution and upon careful review of the latest national and state recommendations regarding COVID-19, the Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Community School have decided to cancel the 2020 Nantucket Science Festival scheduled for March 21 from 10am-2pm. This free indoor event attracts over 400 children and their families for a fun filled day of science and exploration. We appreciate our partner organizations including the Nantucket Land Council, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Sustainable Nantucket, Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Mass Audubon, UMASS Field Station, and ACK Smart who were set to exhibit this year. We will all miss participating in this joyful and educational event but, we want to help to protect our island community.
We want to also take this opportunity to thank our Lead Sponsors: Cape Cod Five Foundation, Dr. David and Beverly Barlow, and the Nantucket Land Council, as well as our Sponsors, Island Kitchen, Faregrounds Restaurant, Don Allen Ford, and Nantucket Pharmacy for their support. We look forward to planning and hosting all our friends and families to the Nantucket Science Festival next year.
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The Nantucket Science Festival is back for another exciting year. On March 21, 2020, join the Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Community School for hands-on, interactive activities for all ages from preschool to adults. Other community partners include the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Linda Loring Nature Center, Ack Smart, and Mass Audubon.
The Nantucket Science Festival aims to connect people with their inner scientist by providing fun, interactive activities designed to engage people of all ages, opportunities to learn about science-based organizations on the island, and by giving participants ideas and materials to continue science activities at home. The theme this year is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day and activities will include citizen science projects, reducing electricity use, upcycled robots, erosion control challenges, the importance of growing locally, and more.
Kim Botelho, the Maria Mitchell Association’s Director of Education, said, “This is one of our favorite events of the year! It is so rewarding to see families excited to learn science together. It also feels wonderful to be part of an event that has so much community support and impact. ”
The festival will be held in the Nantucket High School Gymnasium, 10 Surfside Road, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and admission is free.
“The Nantucket Science Festival is the largest mid-winter family event on Island and it is a wonderful cooperative effort with our friends at the Community School and many other organizations,” said David Gagnon, the Maria Mitchell Association’s Executive Director. “We appreciate everyone who helps to make this event so successful. It’s one of the reasons why Nantucket is such a great community – with a love and appreciation for the natural and scientific world twenty-eight miles out to sea.”
The Nantucket Science Festival is sponsored by Dr. David and Beverly Barlow, Cape Cod Five Foundation, the Nantucket Land Council, Island Kitchen, Don Allen Ford, Faregrounds Restaurant, and Nantucket Pharmacy. Many generous businesses, both local and off-island, donated prizes for the Festival this year.
The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.