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RuthPatrickScience & EdcuationCenter
Science Store

Do you know a child who would be fascinated by icky, squishy bugs with bulging eyeballs… crunchy cockroaches… hairy spiders… and wriggly rats immersed in beakers of goo? Do you believe that children learn best by being actively engaged in hands-on learning? If so, you may want to visit the new Science Store opening soon at the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center.
The Grand Opening of the Science Store will be held on Saturday, November 20 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Grand Opening will coincide with the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center’s annual Fall Earth and Sky Night. This event will include planetarium shows, telescope viewing, a NASA display, astronomy lectures, and free activities for the whole family.
The Science Store specializes in unusual, hands-on science materials, toys, models, kits, and collectibles not typically found in larger chain stores. Many of these items support, enrich, and extend the science concepts taught in RPSEC Student Programs classes. Children who visit the Center will be able to purchase meaningful mementos of their field trip experiences.
Where else in Aiken can you find a gumball-type machine that dispenses collectible stones? Or a whimsical dinosaur checkers game…seedlings in a test tube… or alien candy? This is a child-friendly, “please touch” kind of store, with merchandise similar to that found in museum gift shops. This is a great resource for teachers and parents looking for unique items that make science come alive in the hands of a child.
The RPSEC Science Store stocks crystal growing kits, digging for dinosaur fossils, glow-in-the-dark stars and planets, model rockets, magnifiers, bug catchers, and collectible hand blown glass insects. The store carries magnets and electrical exploration kits, puzzles, games, stickers, tee shirts, and posters. Realistic hand puppets, reference materials, and educational books make great gifts or classroom teaching aids.
Stop by the store soon for some terrific gift ideas for this year’s holiday shopping; there are a number of unusual stocking stuffers available at a reasonable cost. More expensive items, such as telescopes and microscopes, will be available by special order.
Following the grand opening on November 20, the Science Store’s regular business hours will be Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition, the Science Store will be open some evenings during special events. For example, the store will be open during the public planetarium shows which are held on the first and third Friday and Saturday evenings of each month.
“This store will offer our community an opportunity to support the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center and, at the same time, purchase unique, quality, educational items for children of all ages,” said Pam Katz, USCA Bookstore Director.

The Science Store will be staffed by USCA Bookstore staff, volunteers, and USCA students. Proceeds will benefit the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center.

For more information regarding the Science Store, please call 803.641.3457.