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Private Experiences – Choose Your Own Adventure!

Orlando Science Center’s private experiences are more than tours… they’re fully immersive and hands-on adventures that allow you to shadow our incredible staff while you join us on a fun, educational journey to take a deeper dive into the inner workings of your Science Center!

These 90-minute private programs are offered for groups of 3–10 guests from the same party who would like to visit the museum before we open to the general public or as we are winding down at the end of the day.

Choose Your Own Private Adventure!

Did you know that our NatureWorks team arrives as early as 7:00 am to make sure our animals are cared for and healthy? Or that our fully functioning makerspace is used to create everything from a felt succulent garden to large interactive exhibit pieces? What else will you discover on your private adventure?

Image of two-toed sloth at Orlando Science Center.

NatureWorks

Become a Keeper for a Day!

Offered Saturdays & Sundays from 8:30 – 10:00 am
Weekday reservations available upon request.
Adventure is open to all ages but we suggest one adult per two youth.

Embark on a behind-the-scenes tour through this fan-favorite exhibit which emulates animal habitats found in nature. Throughout your guided experience, you will participate in animal touches and feedings while learning about animal husbandry and the care that goes into keeping our animals happy and healthy. Once you’re familiar with the lay of the land, it’s time to learn the ropes and become an animal keeper!

Did you know our animal ambassadors are big fans of food prep? Our animals’ diets are designed to fit each of their unique nutritional needs. Help us prepare the day’s meals and feed some of our four-legged friends!

Enrichment is also a crucial part of our animals’ health and wellbeing. Learn how keepers use enrichment to keep animals physically and mentally fit. This will be demonstrated while an animal ambassador paints a two-colored masterpiece for you to take home as a keepsake for your exciting day!

Meet an animal ambassador! Once you've finished your animal keeper training, there will be time for a special opportunity to interact with an animal ambassador* and pose for photo-ops. 

*Animal encounters are just as enriching for the animals as the humans who participate in them but, like humans, sometimes they want to stick to their own schedule. Animal well-being is our top priority, so if a particular animal does not want to participate in that day’s private experiences, our staff will select another exciting animal ambassador for you to meet!

Two cregivers and ayoung child work on a craft activity together in The Hive.

The Hive: A Makerspace 

Join the Maker Movement!

Offered Saturdays & Sundays from 9:00 – 10:30 am OR 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Weekday reservations available upon request.
Workshops are best suited for makers ages 8 and older.

Go forth and create! In this collaborative workspace, you can try new tools, build new skills, and create something one-of-a-kind to take home. Makers are MacGuyvers. Through the simple act of making something, you are strengthening essential skills in problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

These private experiences will challenge you to bring your ideas to life, and every choice you make will lead you to something new. Makerspaces cultivate community so enjoy sharing your creations with each other.


Being a maker is all about creativity and experimentation, so select one of the following projects for your group’s private experience to explore and make your own:

3D Design for Printing

Get an overview of 3D printing technology, the software involved, and some applications for 3D printers in the world. Learn basic 3D modeling skills as you work together to create a custom 3D-printed piece! Discover how this technology is revolutionizing so many industries by turning creative ideas into realities. Your only limits are your imagination!

Make Your Own Mouse Ears

Create your own ribbon-wrapped mouse ear headband by using 3D printed ear loops. Design an original garden headband with faux foliage or choose from a variety of materials to adorn your very own headwear that can’t be mass-produced. Each piece is unique to the creator. How’s that for custom fashion?

Sew a Felt Succulent Garden

You don’t need a green thumb to create a flourishing succulent garden made of felt! Make a small magnet or desk garden using laser cut felt shapes. Learn techniques to make five varieties of succulents and cacti using plush sewing techniques as well as hot glue rolled or wrapped succulents. Create a unique and beautiful small personal garden just for you or share it with someone special. Enjoy this gardening without breaking a sweat or getting your hands dirty.

Pricing

Private Experiences

Members / Non-Members:
$200 / $250 for up to 5 people


Additional Guests

Members / Non-Members:
$25 / $30 each for ages 12 and up
$20 / $25 each for ages 3–11

Private Experiences can host up to 10 guests and we suggest at least one adult per two youth. Programs are non-refundable.

Packages do not include General Admission to Orlando Science Center for non-members. Admission tickets can be added before or after your program for a reduced rate during your visit.

Know Before You Go

 

  • Guests age 3 years and older are required to wear a face covering at all times while visiting Orlando Science Center and while interacting with staff.
  • All guests will be temperature checked upon arrival.
  • Any equipment used will be thoroughly sanitized between programs.
  • Guests may bring a camera but for some behind-the-scenes programs there may be areas where you may be asked not to photograph or video record.
  • Program elements are subject to change without notice due to animal needs, weather, or staffing issues.Please review our Safety Guidelines for more information on planning a healthy visit.

Book Your Adventure!

To learn more about our adventure options, check availability, or make a reservation, please call 407.514.2290 or email groups@osc.org.

Lunch in Pompeii • A Free Virtual Speaker Series in Partnership with UCF College of Sciences

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Grab a sandwich or some coffee, and let's have lunch. In Pompeii! 

Travel plans canceled this year? Go back in time with “Lunch in Pompeii”, a free speaker series held through Zoom. Hosted between 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., take a nice break from work or school, and tune in to learn about some of the artifacts that can be found in our latest exhibit Pompeii: The Immortal City.        

This collaboration with UCF and the Orlando Science Center started in 2019 with the launch of Knight at the Museum, a speaker series hosted at OSC. Lunch in Pompeii continues this partnership with a virtual speaker series to meet the needs of today's world and social distancing. These subject matter experts will help give us a uniquely in-depth look at various topics related to the exhibit. 

This speaker series is FREE, but you must RSVP to receive the Zoom link and login details.

*This series is recommended for students 13 years and older but younger students are welcome to join.   

How Metal Shaped Pompeii and the Roman Empire

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Metals were a fundamental part of Roman life, providing a wide range of weapons, coins, implements and jewelry. Given the scarcity of metals in Roman provinces, demand for these precious resources drove previously unprecedented scales of interaction and trade that affected linked Rome, including major trading centers like Pompeii, to the Roman provinces and beyond.

Dr. Joseph Lehner will examine how metal production and trade shaped the Roman world, and how the archaeological study of these materials give us extraordinary insight into not only the mechanics of the empire but also the daily lives of people who once lived there.

RSVP
Lunch in Pompeii with Joseph-W.-Lehner
Dr. Joseph W. Lehner Ph.D.

Dailies and Delicacies: Getting a Taste of Pompeii

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Dine like the ancient Pompeii citizens in a gustatio, a light lunch of starters! Our meals and the meals of those before us are very different. Here, you can attend a virtual tasting of daily fresh breads, drink a full-bodied raisin wine or posca, a cold, watered-down vinegar, and savor herbed olives in oil. Sounds delectamenti!

Dr. Lana Williams will give us a taste of why our modern system of tastes that seem so “naturally” preferable to us are very different from those of the past. The perfect meal of ancient Pompeii and the Roman World was one where all the tastes, and therefore all the virtues, would be simultaneously present.

RSVP
Lunch in Pompeii with lana Williams
Dr. Lana Williams, Ph.D.

Fleeing Pompeii: Bodies Frozen in Time

Thursday, December 10, 2020

When the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius hit Pompeii in 79AD, its ash formed a protective shield around the bodies of the citizens. This created a type of mummification. Pompeiians are now called “ash mummies” due to the intactness of bodies.

Dr. Sandra Wheeler dives into how and why these preserved bodies provide several different insights into the deaths, but also the lives of every day Pomepiians.

RSVP
Lunch in Pompeii with Sandra Wheeler
Dr. Sandra Wheeler Ph.D.

Learning From Lasers: Uncovering Pompeii With Chemical Laser Analysis

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Lasers and Pompeii? Ancient and modern worlds collide in this presentation by Dr. Matthieu Baudelet. As an associate professor of Chemistry at UCF, Baudelet specializes in laser-based spectroscopy for forensic analysis.

RSVP
Lunch in Pompeii with Matthieu Baudelet
Dr. Matthieu Baudelet Ph.D

Pompeii: The Immortal City is on display at Orlando Science Center from October 26, 2020 - January 24, 2021. Get your timed-entry tickets today!

Pompeii: the Immortal City Exhibit - Premiering October 26, 2020

Pompeii: The Immortal City

In just 24 hours, Pompeii and neighboring Herculaneum were buried by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. 

The site was lost for centuries and remained almost entirely untouched until 1748. Today, the most advanced scientific research brings to light the extraordinary achievements of Pompeii and the Roman world. 

Plunge into the heart of the drama and ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii. Spectacular immersive moments allow you to experience the destruction of the city and to identify with the inhabitants of that time, immobilized by the volcano’s ashes.

Through artwork, interactive mechanical devices, and multimedia experiences, you will embark on a journey through time into the daily life of a first-century Roman town.

Find yourself in the center of events as you hear and feel the roar of the volcano erupting before your eyes. Discover how the excavation of Pompeii in the 18th century influenced the development of archaeology as a scientific study. Play the role of archaeologist through the use of digital interactives and replicas of artifacts from Pompeii.

Although this exhibition is appropriate for people of all ages, some of the art features era-specific depictions of men and women without clothing.

 

My daughter and I went and we were both impressed. It was just awe-inspiring to be so close to things that old, knowing that real people used them, lived with them. Then to see two of the cast molds at the end — that made everything real.

Stephanie B.
Visitor Testimonial

Pompeii is the perfect exhibit for these times. The artifacts displayed within this 10,000 square foot gallery encourage quiet contemplation while timed-entry limits capacity and offers people ample time, and distance, to examine displays and better understand the magnificence and ultimate tragedy of this remarkable place.

Efforts have been made to provide guests with a quality experience that addresses health and safety during their visit. If guests desire an exhibit experience with fewer people in the gallery, please consider visiting on weekday afternoons between 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

Additional health and safety precautions include:

  • Timed-entry tickets
  • Face coverings required
  • Hand sanitizing stations available
  • Regular cleaning and sanitizing of high touch areas
  • Following current CDC guidelines at the time of your visit
Review all our health and safety protocols

Admission Pricing

General Public


$26 – Adult

$18 – Youth (2–11)

$23 – Senior (55+)

$23 – Student (with ID)

FREE – Under 2

PURCHASE TICKETS

Members


Orlando Science Center’s Members get FREE admission to this exhibit! Advance booking fees apply.

If you’re currently a Member, log in below to reserve your tickets. Memberships must be active through the date of your Pompeii timed-entry ticket.

Renew your membership before it expires to save 10%.
Email oscmembership@osc.org or call 407.514.2158 to renew!

Not a Member yet?
Learn about an annual membership here.

RESERVE TICKETS

Immerse your students in Pompeii: The Immortal City through an in person or virtual field trip!

Please contact Reservations at classes@osc.org or 407.514.2112 to book your field trip experience today.

Group Rates and Tour Guides Available!

Groups of 15 or more receive reduced pricing and early admission into the exhibit and will have the option to add a private tour guide to their visit (only available for group bookings).

Reservations required with full payment prior to your visit. Call 407.514.2290 or fill out the contact form below to reserve your group visit today!

GROUPS CONTACT FORM
 
Tempora Logo
Exhibits Development Group Logo
Civita - Mostre e Musei Logo
Museo Galileo Logo
Ministero per i beni e le attivita cultturali Logo
Museo archeologico nazionale di Napoli Logo
In Partnership With
Arts & Cultural Affairs Orange County Government Florida

Exhibition developed and produced by TEMPORA in collaboration with Civita and Filmmaster based on the scientific research of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli and Museo Galileo Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze and distributed by Exhibits Development Group. 

Pompeii: The Immortal City is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Blockbuster Program.

 

 

Observatory

Temporarily Closed to Promote Safe Distancing

Atop Orlando Science Center sits a domed observatory that, if visited during the right time of year and under the proper conditions, can provide views of planets, stars, and other celestial objects. 

View the four moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and deep sky objects such as galaxies, nebulas, and binary star systems!

View the breathtaking night sky, brilliant sun, and even bustling downtown Orlando area from the powerful, 10-inch lens of the refractor telescope along with several smaller scopes.

Check out the Building Guide to see what’s happening during your visit. 

Download Building Guide

The Hive: A Makerspace

Makerspace - Level 3

Come see what all the buzz is about! In The Hive, the possibilities are as vast as your imagination. Learn how to sew a button, fold an origami crane, design a figurine using 3D modeling software then bring it to life with a 3D printer, or solder a circuit board – there’s always something new to try! 

Many of the best designs come from collaboration. The Hive is a space that cultivates community and emphasizes the learning opportunities in every failure and success. Being a maker is all about creativity and experimentation. Go forth and create!

The Hive is designed specifically for makers ages 8 and up. Makers 8-12 must be accompanied by an adult. Maker activities for ages 7 and under are available in the KidsTown Studio.

Check out the Building Guide to see what’s happening during your visit.

Download Building Guide

Open Make Activities in The Hive 

January 2021

All programs and times are subject to change

For January’s Self Care Aware theme, we’ll be highlighting some meditative maker activities to help calm your mind and bring you some peace in the new year!

Quilling, also known as paper filigree, involves using strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued in place to make elaborate, mosaic-like designs. You can also learn the art of science of journaling and collage as you transform recycled materials into a new creation! Journaling and creating art just for yourself has a proven positive effect on mental health.

 

Enjoy this Makerspace all to yourself when you book a private experience!

Choose your workshop and join the maker movement with your small group!

NatureWorks

Exhibit Hall – Level 1

In NatureWorks, you’ll learn about the amazing animals and plants that inhabit coral reefs, mangrove forests, cypress swamps and other Florida environments, along with other areas around the world. 

Discover what lies deep within the Floridan Aquifer, learn how to identify some of Florida’s native and invasive species, and observe animals in their unique habitats to understand their amazing adaptations!

Within the exhibit hall, there are frequent opportunities to hear from a NatureWorks animal keeper and encounter some of our Animal Ambassadors up close at their scheduled encounters!

Check out the Building Guide to see what’s happening during your visit.

Download Building Guide

Conservation Partner 

 Seafood Watch

Want to become a keeper for the day?

Participate in diet prep, target training, enjoy meet-and-greets, and more when you book a private experience!

Theaters

If you need a break from the exhibit floor, take a seat in one of our state-of-the-art theaters.

The domed giant-screen Dr. Phillips CineDome and high-definition Digital Adventure Theater both offer educational films daily, and all films are included with general admission. Content changes regularly, so be sure to check the theater schedule before you arrive to find out what’s playing.

Reserve a theater for your private function!

Both theaters are available for private rentals for film screenings, award presentations, team meetings, talent shows, and so much more.

Learn more about our private venue rentals.

A giant-screen movie showing an image of people on a city street.

Dr. Phillips CineDome

Giant-Screen Theater – Level 1*

Choose a seat and be instantly transported to exotic and interplanetary lands. Images of clarity and extraordinary depth bring the audience on an expedition to the center of the action in this immersive cinematic experience.

A projector's fish-eye lens projects onto an 8,000 square-foot screen, creating a 180 degree image that surrounds the audience and extends beyond their peripheral vision. Films cover nature, geography, history and more, and new titles are introduced throughout the year. *Wheelchair access located via Level 3.

Guests listening to presenter on stage of Digital Adventure Theater.

Digital Adventure Theater

Immersive Digital Films – Level 2

Dive into the action inside the stadium-seated Digital Adventure Theater. Films are presented in 2D with state-of-the-art 4K digital projection and 7.1 surround sound, offering a fully immersive experience.

The Digital Adventure Theater is also home to Science Live! Shows, which are designed to delight and entertain while also aligning with Sunshine State educational standards. The electrifying “High Voltage” show, explosive “Kaboom!” show, heroic “Super Science” show and more will show you the science in fact and fiction.

Now Showing – General Audience

Content changes seasonally. Check the theater schedule prior to your visit to find out what special experiences will be offered.

VIEW CURRENT SCHEDULE

Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation

Dr. Phillips CineDome

With intrepid explorer Carsten Peter, dodge boulders at the edge of an active volcano in Indonesia, descend to a lava lake in Vanuatu and visit the incredible mineral deposit fields in Ethiopia. Travel across the globe to see the archaeological ghost town of Pompeii and witness the devastating effects of the recent Kilauea eruption in Hawaii.

National Parks Adventure

Dr. Phillips CineDome

One hundred years ago areas of great natural beauty were declared protected for eternity. A team of modern-day explorers take an off-trail adventure through the national parks of the USA, showing the beauty of the parks that is awe-inspiring.

Sea Lions – Life by a Whisker 2D

Digital Adventure Theater

A heart-warming journey of a sea lion pup, and the man that has dedicated his life trying to save her species. Embark on an epic quest through the uninhabited wilderness of the Great Australian Bight, to the lush kelp forests off the Californian coast.

Micro Monsters 2D

Digital Adventure Theater

Super powers exist. Right here on Earth. And they are beneath our feet. They include beetles that shoot chemical fire and lift enormous weights; scorpions that glow in the dark with astonishing crushing powers; spiders that can make themselves virtually invisible and hypnotise their prey; even a bug that can transform itself into another creature entirely. Prepare to be amazed in this adventure exploring the hidden world of the super-powered bugs.

Become A Volunteer

Adult volunteer during the Otronicon event interacting with guests.

Adult Volunteers

Donate your time to bring the Science Center to life in a way that complements your expertise and interests.

LEARN MORE

Customer service employee instructing an intern at the front desk.

Internships

Explore an exciting real-world career in a nonprofit setting, working both independently and with the team. College credit is available.

LEARN MORE

Youth volunteer helping summer camp students measure ingredients for an experiment.

Catalyst Youth Volunteers

Gain valuable skills and make new friends while giving back to the community. Opportunities are available year-round.

LEARN MORE

Internships

Orlando Science Center’s internship program is designed to provide college students and recent graduates with the opportunity to gain realistic, in-depth exposure to the many careers at the Science Center.

 

Interns can expect to expand their professional skills, while gaining valuable experience and becoming part of the Science Center’s bigger mission. Internships at Orlando Science Center are unpaid, but interns are eligible for benefits such as school credit and free annual memberships.

 

Applications are accepted for the fall, spring, and summer semesters and available internships vary by semester. View the list below for current opportunities and check back frequently for other positions.

We are closed for applications to Summer 2020.

Please check back for Fall 2020 opportunities.

Contact Us

For more information about Orlando Science Center’s internship programs, please contact volunteer@osc.org, or fill out the form below.

The Orlando Science Center is committed to building and maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. It is the policy of the Orlando Science Center to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants and to administer all aspects and conditions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected-class status.

Flight Lab

Temporarily Closed to Promote Safe Distancing

Flight Lab uses real-world mission scenarios to teach standards-based STEM concepts. The lab contains 13 flight simulator stations where participants use Oculus Rift head-mounted display units as they learn how to fly, navigate, communicate and work as a team.

Some missions will require all teams to work together, while others will pit the best pilots against one another. 

This experience is best for ages 13 and up.

Check out the Building Guide to see what’s happening during your visit. 

Download Building Guide

Funding is provided by the Office of Naval Research. Subject matter expertise and curriculum support is provided by the Naval Air Warfare Center/Training Systems Division.

Technology and curriculum is designed in partnership with TEQGames. The flight training software was developed by Lockheed Martin and has been used to teach real pilots to fly.

Office of Naval Research
TEQ Games