AN UPDATE FROM THE ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM AND LESLIE SCIENCE & NATURE CENTER ABOUT COVID-19

Update May 20, 2021

We will continue to require masks for ages 2-12 and any unvaccinated individuals. We respectfully encourage you to wear a mask even if you are vaccinated, to protect our youngest visitors who are not able to be vaccinated at this time, and to model masking behavior for them. Our staff and volunteers will continue to wear masks in all public spaces.  Summer Camps will continue to function within their separate masks required policy for campers, volunteers, and staff.

Update May 11, 2021

To our friends and supporters,

When we closed in March 2020, it was with the hope that we would re-open in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, those best intentions did not become a reality. As a science-based organization, we are watching information about COVID-19 continually, to best assess how to safely continue to offer high quality programs and experiences for our community.

The health and safety of our visitors and our staff is our priority. Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center currently have limited openings for our community to come on site and engage with us through pre-reservation only museum hours, and pre-reserved in-person programs at both sites.  You can  review our up-to-date programs, and pre-reserved options at the museum on our website, and our join our newsletter for the latest information. And, as always, we continue to offer award-winning virtual programs throughout this time.

Throughout this last year, our team has worked diligently, planning many new and exciting features for you! Our education team has developed new learning opportunities. Our educators miss in-person on-site field trips and outreach to schools and community locations. With a goal of providing unique and quality learning experiences to our community, our team has: Offered FREE weekly virtual programming for everyone in our community March -Sept 2020 Offered FREE programs and workshops over the holidays Created a camp-at-home experience summer 2020, complete with activity kits and virtual learning opportunities and both camp-at-home and in-person camp experiences for summer 2021 Created opportunities at LSNC for in-person programming outdoors, featuring exciting STEM and Nature based concepts, as well as private raptor programs • Partnered with several school districts in SE Michigan to create engaging and hands-on science programs for the school year, supporting teachers and students as they navigate virtual learning

Our facilities team has been busy updating the Museum. When you next visit, we want you to feel comfortable knowing that your safety is important to us. We have cleaned and refreshed frequently touched surfaces throughout the Museum to ensure the best experience possible. We’ve added another layer of filtration to our H2O gallery, and added extra hand-sanitizer stations throughout the Museum.

Our exhibits team CREATED an all-new health and wellness gallery and we are in the midst of another brand-new exhibit to open late summer 2021!

We acknowledge that this is a stressful and challenging time. We continue to monitor COVID-19 data and we look forward to when we may welcome you again. Whether you chose to reserve a private POD time at the museum, pre-reserve a ticket for you and your family, or join us for a virtual or in-person program – we thank you for your support. It is because of YOU we are still here today, and able to re-open safely, knowing we are all in this – TOGETHER.

Gratefully,

Mel Drumm President & CEO	Susan Westhoff COO

Check this page for any updates.