Vol. 1 SUMMER 2015 The Science Centre Member Newsletter STRETCH YOUR MIND IN THE BRAINASIUM
The Brainasium is expanding and so will your brain! It takes a sense of adventure to climb 100 feet without a harness. It s Good For Brains Images courtesy Architectural Playground Equipment, Inc. / Richter Spielgeräte GmbH You ll find more space to play in the outdoor park with our newest additions to The Brainasium. New ways to climb and explore unlike anything else in Calgary are coming to TELUS Spark this summer. Pack your sense of adventure and get ready to scramble across a giant logjam before discovering inertia on sky-high swings. Work with your friends to balance the swing scales or send them for a spin! Challenge yourself to boulder across giant molecules, then explore the reclaimed prairie (and maybe even the critters that inhabit it). The Brainasium is a place to be adventuresome. With outdoor exhibits complemented by demanding obstacles, it s a place for children to try something challenging, get their heart racing and prime their brain for new learning opportunities. Did you know environments with open-ended play make way for developing executive function in children s brains? It s like creating an air traffic control system in their brains, regulating their attention, focus and mental priorities. Executive functioning makes it easier to learn new things and use these skills in complex situations throughout life. It s all part of building a solid foundation for brain development. Be free to explore new experiences and discover why Calgary s favourite place to learn and play is at TELUS Spark. The new Brainasium expansion opens this summer. Sign up for enews to get the latest updates at Members@SparkScience.ca
Vol. 1 SUMMER 2015 The Science Centre Member Newsletter STRETCH YOUR MIND IN THE BRAINASIUM New in the Dome Theatre: Our Solar System FINAL PRINT ISSUE! Let s Go Green The IGNITE INNOVATE CREATE newsletter that you ve been receiving by post is finally going online! To make the most of your membership, we ll continue to send you current event updates in our monthly enews, but IGNITE INNOVATE CREATE will soon be issued in an exclusive online edition, instead of coming to you in print. IGNITE INNOVATE CREATE is published three times per year and with each edition you ll find comprehensive articles about events, announcements and exciting topics at the science centre, as well as inside information written just for you! If you are not already receiving our monthly enews, please send your email* contact information (with your name and Member ID) to Members@SparkScience.ca and we will ensure you continue to receive this benefit of Membership. *We do not sell, loan or trade names of members, guests or donors to other organizations or individuals for any solicitation purposes. Limited personal information may be shared with third-parties to fulfill delivery of TELUS Spark services such as parking registration and email newsletters. OUR SOLAR SYSTEM Spotlight: PLUTO Astronomical curiosity has driven the exploration of our solar system from the dawn of time to the present day. This entirely new, entirely fresh take on the traditional planetarium show immerses you in a visual storytelling environment you don t want to miss. Join the 40-minute journey from a farm in 1918 to a futuristic spacecraft near a planet we have yet to visit. Shine a spotlight on the most important question of all: what are you curious about? Now playing daily in the HD Digital Dome Theatre.
Those Big Blue Blocks On any day of the week at TELUS Spark you may find children building tunnels, towers and boatsof-the-future with big, blue blocks in the Atrium. These foam blocks are part of a creative, loosepart playground designed by New York architect, David Rockwell. Called Imagination Playground, these mold and microbe-resistant foam blocks instantly activate empty space into a creative community. We are in the process of adding more to the collection so you will continue to see them in the Atrium, but keep your eyes open for where else they will appear at TELUS Spark. Meanwhile, you can download the free Imagination Playground D Builder App from the App Store. The Duct Tape Drive Duct tape is like the Force; it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. Last year alone, visitors used over 1,00 metres of duct tape at TELUS Spark. If we took all the duct tape used during TELUS Spark daily programs, we could tape the Calgary Tower from top to bottom 70 times! You can support our programs team by donating duct tape on your next visit. Drop off a roll through August 0 and receive a TELUS Spark tattoo. Have Your Say & Enter to Win We are grateful for the support that Members provide and your feedback is invaluable to us. In order to understand your priorities more clearly, we ask that you complete our Annual Member Survey in July. Look for an email from us with a link to the survey website. Or, email Members@SparkScience.ca for the link. We d love to hear from all of you! Complete our survey by July 1, 2015 and be entered to win a $250 TELUS Spark Gift Card!
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP The Terrace is a perfect spot to have your picnic this summer! The Brainasium is open in the Outdoor Park all year-round! Be the first to hear about the exciting additions coming to the outdoor park this summer! Sign up for your monthly Member enews for the latest announcements. Contact Members@sparkscience.ca What a perfect spot to have your picnic this summer! There are a number of tables and chairs available on the terrace for your use. Litter-free, please! The Brainasium is designed for ages 5 and up. We recommend the tower for climbers ages 8 and over. The outdoor area is unstaffed. If you need assistance, there are always staff and volunteers available inside the building. f We love our youngest visitors so much! Take care of your little ones during your visit to the Creative Kids Museum. There are a number of COAT HOOKS, a FAMILY WASHROOM and a DRINKING FOUNTAIN in the hallway leading to the Creative Kids Museum. There is a PRIVATE NURSING/ QUIET ROOM located in the Creative Kids Museum. For nature breaks, there are kidfriendly WASHROOMS inside the Creative Kids Museum. All exhibits and activities in the Creative Kids Museum are designed for children 8 and under. e! p Cycle to the science centre this summer! For our visitors on two wheels, TELUS Spark is located along the Nose Creek Pathway. Free bicycle parking is available at the front entrance. Expecting visitors this summer? Gold Members get $2 OFF GENERAL ADMISSION for additional guests on the same visit, or purchase 10 or more advance tickets at discounted prices. Annual Guest Passes are also available for purchase at the Membership Desk. Renew your Membership before your expiry date and get two bonus months! Call us at 40.817.680 to renew. smember
Doors, Floors and Chores TELUS Spark will be closed from August 1 to September 4 for annual exhibit maintenance! While we are closed, your TELUS Spark team is hard at work covering points of wear and tear on your beloved exhibits and giving the science centre a good deep cleaning from top to bottom. Some of the other essential projects we will be working on include: Replacing the exterior front doors with new sliding ones for guest safety and convenience; A slight remodelling of the café for a more efficient layout and improved dining experience; and Replacing the tiled floors in the Dome Theatre hallway with durable terrazzo. A special thanks to the ground-breaking Venetians who developed this innovative flooring system centuries ago. While we are closed, you can show your TELUS Spark Membership card for great discounts around town including the Calgary Tower, Glenbow Museum, Fort Calgary, Calgary Zoo, Aero Space Museum of Calgary and Canada Sports Hall of Fame. Check your email this summer for more details. Not getting emails from us? Contact Members@SparkScience.ca to update your member information. Things to Do: Until August 21: Summer Camps Daily: Our Solar System Spotlight: Pluto in the Dome Theatre Daily: Material of the Season: Naturals in the Creative Kids Museum August 1: Adults Only Night - It Came from Outer Space August 1: Makers Night Out - Maker Apothecary August 1 September 4: Closed for annual maintenance September 10: Adults Only Night - Hack It! September 10: Makers Night Out - Coffee Roasting September 12 & 1: Mini Maker Faire September 16-20: Beakerhead Check out their website for events! October 8: Adults Only Night - Fear and Risk October 8: Makers Night Out October 24-25: Monster Mash-Up