Hands-On Science Inspires Washington Students

November 13, 2025

Emily Jeung

At Pacific Science Center, learning is an adventure.

Students explore, experiment, and discover ways to make science tangible and exciting. In the 2024–25 school year, learners of all ages visited our exhibits, attended camps, and participated in programs that brought STEM to life across Washington.

Hand written thank you cards from children posted to a wall

Field Trips: Experiencing Science Up Close

For many students, a field trip to PacSci is their first opportunity to explore science in a fully interactive environment. Walking through exhibits, tackling physics challenges, and attending planetarium shows helps students connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.

In the 2024-25 school year we…

34K+

students attended field trips

9K+

chaperones joined

535

organizations participated, including 217 low-income organizations

Students experimented, collaborated, and made discoveries that stick with them long after the trip ended. Each visit brings curriculum to life while building curiosity, confidence, and wonder.

Science on Wheels: Bringing STEM to Every Community

When students can’t make it to our campus, we come to them.

In 2024, Pacific Science Center celebrated 50 years of Science on Wheels The program started in 1974 with a single van and a few exhibits. Today, it reaches classrooms, gyms, and community centers across Washington and trips to Idaho.

In the 2024-25 school year we…

103K+

students served

84K+

received free programs (81% of total)

347

organizations participated (78% low-income)

The best part of this program was how inclusive it was. Coming to a tiny little school, far away from Seattle, we were able to give an experience to our kids that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible. It was probably the best program we have had in my seven years of teaching. Elementary Teacher in Gold Bar, WA

Students programmed robots to navigate a map of Mars, explored the mobile planetarium, and completed engineering challenges such as designing and testing model bridges.

Each visit turns a classroom into a place of hands-on discovery, helping students see themselves as scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.

Digital Discovery Workshops: STEM Learning Anywhere

Digital Discovery Workshops allow students to engage with science from anywhere! Students video call a PacSci educator for a 40-minute interactive workshop full of science demonstrations, collaborative discussions and engineering challenges.

Born out of the pandemic, these workshops continue to provide access to meaningful STEM experiences without the need to plan a trip outside the classroom.

In the 2024-25 school year…

12.7K+

students engaged

11.3K+

received free programs (89% of total)

The kids made comments afterward stating how much fun they had not only seeing someone on a Zoom call from the Pacific Science Center, but they were really engaged in the idea that they could become engineers and inventors themselves Librarian

Expanding Access and Equity

At Pacific Science Center, equity is at the heart of our work.

Not all students have equal access to hands-on STEM learning. Many schools face long travel distances, tight budgets, or limited classroom resources. These challenges make experiences like field trips, lab supplies, or workshops difficult or impossible to provide.

Programs like Science on Wheels and Digital Discovery Workshops help bridge that gap. They bring high-quality STEM experiences directly to students across the state.

Science on wheels educator is holding up a musical instrument in front of two students

Thanks to a generous grant, Columbia Crest students had the incredible opportunity to experience the Pacific Science Center’s Science on Wheels right at our school. Engaging, interactive experiences like this foster a love for learning, expose students to future career possibilities, and provide equitable access to high-quality STEM opportunities that might not otherwise be available in our rural community. Elementary Principal at rural public school

By providing our education programs at low or no cost, we ensure that learning opportunities are determined by curiosity, not circumstances.

Explore Our Reach Across Washington

PacSci’s programs reach students and communities across the state, from urban classrooms to rural towns. These programs open doors that might otherwise remain closed

This interactive map demonstrates the breadth of our impact, showing the locations of all the schools, community centers, and visitors, we served during the 2024–25 school year.

Celebrating the Community of Supporters

Across classrooms, communities, and under the arches of Pacific Science Center, curiosity continues to light the way forward. In the 2024–25 school year, thousands of students experienced the joy of discovery.

As a nonprofit organization, Pacific Science Center depends on the generosity of our community to make this possible. It is made possible because of donors, partners, and advocates who believe in accessible, hands-on education.

Bristol Myers Squibb has been a leading supporter in expanding access for students across the region:

Pacific Science Center staff posing for picture with skeleton

At Bristol Myers Squibb, we believe every student should have access to high-quality, hands-on STEM experiences. Our long-standing support of partnership with Pacific Science Center reflects our commitment to nurturing curiosity, broadening access, and building the diverse STEM talent of tomorrow. Alison Fitch, Director, Strategy & Operations, Research and STEM lead at Bristol Myers Squibb Seattle

Together with our community, we can continue to ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, and build a brighter future powered by wonder.

Free and reduced-cost access is supported by: 4Culture, Amazon, and OSPI. Additional support from Alaska Airlines, BECU, The Baker Foundation, Chevron Corporation, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Foundation, Hubbard Family Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, Innovia Foundation, Intellectual Ventures, Northern Trust, PNC Foundation, Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pathways funded by NASA under award no. NNX16AB86A, and Anonymous.