The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center’s mission is to excite and engage students in STEM exploration.
Vision: We are a community of problem solvers, ignited by a spark for STEM
Values: We value Education, Engagement, Excitement, and Equity
Dear Educators,
In our 46th year of operation, The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center remains the premier STEM educational resource for educators, parents and students in Spartanburg County. We strive to inspire excitement for science through interactive exhibits, live animals and hands-on programs. Located on the 2nd floor of the Chapman Cultural Center, our museum offers guests of all ages more than 20 exhibits, a live animal room featuring an assortment of reptiles, amphibians, and fish plus a natural science room with a collection of fossils, bones, skulls, rocks and minerals. Last year, our Educational Director, “Miss Mae”, Webster and the Science Center team conducted over 500 educational programs, which served more than 19,000+ children. The Center’s aim is to provide high quality STEM opportunities to ALL while keeping the cost low. To do this, we rely on our corporate sponsors, community donors and foundation grants. We appreciate the generosity of this great community, especially in this period of great growth for us at the Center. Our hands-on approach to teaching inspires students from all walks of life to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers. We take our job as the leading local incubator of tomorrow’s tech workforce very seriously. Please let us know how we can best serve your little learners. Please email us at mwebster@spartanarts.org or check out the “Educators” tab on the website to schedule your Spartanburg Science Center experience today!
Sincerely,
The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center Team
The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center was founded over 45 years ago as a project of the American Association of University Women in 1975. The doors first opened to the public in February of 1978. The Spartanburg Science Center was once known as the “Spartanburg County Nature-Science Center”. The NCS was established for the purpose of establishing a conservation center within Spartanburg County where land and people can be reunited for scientific, cultural, recreational, and educational pursuits.
In the first year, the “Nature-Science Center” served 7,000 people in our community. In October of 1979, John Green joined the staff as the “Director-naturalist”. John Green served as the Executive Director of the Spartanburg Science Center unitl May of 2016. He still teaches summer camps with us each summer!
Today, we serve over 20,000 students per year through our programming and events. Our current staff consists of five main employees. Our Executive Director is Mary Levens, a retired school teacher of 43 years. Mae Webster, a Wofford graduate and Spartanburg native, is our Education Director. We also have Lex Ramirez as our Animal Room Manager and caretaker, Gerene Dawkins as our receptionist and center manager, and Josh Streacker as our exhibit specialist.
The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center offers standards-based programs in all major fields of science. All programs are hands-on, student-participatory programs. Programs can be held in schools/classrooms, or at the Spartanburg Science Center. The Center also provides professional development opportunities for all educators in Spartanburg County. We can’t wait to continue to spread Mr.Green’s love for science to our community for many more years to come.
