Press Release from Roper Mountain Science Center:
GREENVILLE, S.C. (May 31, 2022) – Roper Mountain is kicking off its 10-week Summer Adventure program on Wednesday, June 1, with some beloved favorites, new exhibits, and an exclusive traveling experience accessible only this summer. The lower part of the mountain features several hands-on learning experiences meant to excite and educate. Summer Adventure is the ideal attraction for everyone this summer, with more than a full-day of fun and adventure spread across multiple buildings, exhibits, structures, and interactive outdoor areas.
This year’s traveling exhibit – Mystery of the Mayan Medallion – promises an exhilarating archaeological adventure. Visitors will learn about the lasting contributions of the Maya people and discover how they shaped, and were shaped by, the natural world as they explore the abandoned camp and mysterious ruins of Site 25. Searching for clues and utilizing problem-solving skills, attendees will work to recover the priceless Jade Medallion.
Summer Adventure continues to feature permanent, interactive exhibits in the Environmental Science and Sustainability building: the Orientation and Habitat Overview, Sustainable Future presented by Fluor, and Our Water Story presented by Greenville Water and ReWa. The ever-popular Nature Exchange, an interactive forum where visitors trade ethically collected natural objects and glean information about them to learn and engage with the natural world, is full of new treasures and information for visitors.
“We saw tremendous support for the inaugural Summer Adventure event in 2021, where we served nearly 34,000 individuals over the course of 10 weeks,” said Roper Mountain Director Michael Weeks. “Taking our successes from last year plus our innovative plans for what ‘could be’, our staff has worked diligently to plan out each of the varying experiences for this year’s event, while ensuring everything intentionally ties closely to the lessons we provide for students during the school year. We are excited to provide access through the lower half of the Mountain to everyone looking to have fun, learn, and explore.”
There are three new permanent exhibits unveiling for the first time this summer. The first, Everbright, is located in the Sustainable Future exhibit. This colorful area is an interactive LED giant light brite. Mesmerizing animations evoke an interactive video wall, with dials that maintain touchable simplicity and accessibility to people of all ages and abilities.
Downstairs near the Connections Café visitors will find a new Farm to Table exhibit thanks to the South Carolina Farm Bureau. This hands-on area highlights the importance of agriculture in South Carolina, how the health of the environment directly impacts the food we eat, and why eating local can benefit each individual, the Earth, and the amazing farmers across the state. Visitors can even go home with a seed packet of collard greens – South Carolina’s official vegetable!
To highlight the importance of cleaning up the environment, the new Litter Letter exhibit, presented by Greenville County Litter Prevention, provides sporadic lessons and challenges presented via videos accessed through QR codes as visitors move from the Environmental Science and Sustainability building over to Harrison Hall of Natural Science. This innovative exhibit is part of a national art installation initiative and is the first Litter Letter project installation in South Carolina.
Inside Harrison, guests begin inside the Rainforest to view plants and other habitats before moving through the Discovery Labs to meet and greet our animal friends, the Ecology Lab to explore South Carolina habitats from the mountains to the sea, and get hands-on access to the ever-popular Marine Lab for all things oceanic.
History buffs will enjoy exploring the Living History Farm, which features authentic log cabins, a barn, blacksmith shop, one-room schoolhouse and several other structures that have been relocated and reconstructed to demonstrate life in the early 1800s. Volunteers will demonstrate various activities such as making candles, cooking on the hearth, spinning, or caring for animals.
Tying all of the buildings and outdoor learning areas together is the popular outdoor Dinosaur Adventure Trail. It features life-size dinosaur models, fun facts, and other learning activities. New this year is an expanded trail with two new dinosaurs that will keep everyone entertained and on their toes.
On select Fridays and Saturdays, Roper Mountain will celebrate STEM Days with featured partners from the community. These special events will take place during Summer Adventure and will provide more hands-on, interactive demonstrations and activities thanks to collaborations with business leaders in the Upstate.
Summer Adventure hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is $12 for teens and adults (ages 13+); $10 for children (ages 3-12) and for senior citizens (age 60 and over). It’s free for children ages 2 and under and to Roper Mountain members. Parking is free and located in the main parking lot just inside the entrance. Lunch is available through the Connections Café from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free for children 18 and under. Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase a variety of Roper Mountain and Summer Adventure-branded materials including Mayan Summer t-shirts, Dinosaur Adventure t-shirts, Roper Mountain t-shirts and hats, and other event-specific apparel for children and adults.
