Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

What Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum does

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center is a nonprofit organization operating two combined facilities in Ann Arbor, Michigan — a hands-on science museum at 220 E Ann St and a wildlife/nature center at 1831 Traver Rd. Founded in 1982, the organization delivers interactive STEM and nature education through physical exhibits, live animal displays (Critter House), and a broad program portfolio including camps, field trips, birthday parties, scout badge programs, sensory-friendly hours, adult-only events (Discovery After Dark), and distance learning delivered via interactive video conferencing.

The organization serves four primary customer segments: families with children and schools/educational institutions (both primary), plus scout groups and adults/young professionals (secondary). Distribution combines two physical retail locations with direct-to-school outreach programs and remote distance learning channels. Marketing is primarily organic, relying on the discoverscienceandnature.org website, monthly email newsletters, and social media for visitor acquisition.

Revenue is generated through five diversified streams: museum admissions (one-time), annual memberships (subscription recurring), educational programs, facility rentals for private events, and donations/contributions including animal adoption programs. Pricing includes general admission, annual membership tiers, and an EBT discount program for qualified visitors. The combined entity holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, signaling nonprofit accountability, and operates under a unified membership structure that grants access to both facilities and seasonal programming such as Summer of Discovery.

Name

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Legal name

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center

Website

https://aahom.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center is a nonprofit operating two Ann Arbor facilities that deliver hands-on STEM and nature education to families, schools, scouts, and adults through exhibits, live animals, camps, events, and distance learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and Nature Education Center

NAICS

Museums (712110), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s Museums (THAJADAE), Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Hands-on science exhibits
• STEM education programs
• Nature center programs
• Museum membership programs
• Distance learning science

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Revenue from visitors paying for entry to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center facilities
2. Memberships: Recurring membership revenue providing unlimited access to summer programming and year-round benefits
3. Educational Programs: Revenue from camps, birthday parties, field trips, scouts programs, and distance learning sessions
4. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from AAHOM Facility Rentals and LSNC Facility Rental venues for private events
5. Donations and Contributions: Charitable donations from supporters, including animal adoption programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, jointly operated with Leslie Science & Nature Center, delivers hands-on science and nature educational experiences through two physical facilities in Ann Arbor, MI. Its core offerings include interactive science exhibits, wildlife and nature exhibits (including a Critter House), seasonal programming (Summer of Discovery), camps, field trips, birthday parties, scout badge programs, adult-only events, and live distance learning delivered through interactive video conferencing.

Product overview

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center operate as a combined organization offering hands-on science discovery and natural world exploration. The portfolio consists of two primary facilities: the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (at 220 E Ann St) providing interactive science exhibits, and the Leslie Science & Nature Center (at 1831 Traver Rd) focused on wildlife education and nature programming. The organization offers an eclectic mix of programs including camps, birthday parties, field trips, outreach, distance learning, and special events like Discovery After Dark and New Moon Night Hikes. Both facilities share programming such as Critter House, Critters Up Close, and the Summer of Discovery seasonal initiative, unified under the same membership and support structure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum The main hands-on science museum featuring interactive exhibits and educational programming for visitors of all ages, located at 220 E Ann St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
• Leslie Science & Nature Center

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Michigan Flight Museum & Air AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partnering organization; appears to be a collaborative relationship between science/nature organizations in the Ann Arbor region

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: Chicago nature-focused museum with live animal exhibits, hands-on programming, and family/education audiences. Closely comparable to the Leslie Science & Nature Center half of the Ann Arbor operation in animal exhibits and nature education programming.
• Cranbrook Institute of Science: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan science museum with hands-on exhibits, planetarium, and nature programming. Comparable in regional Michigan footprint, science museum positioning, and school group programming; competes for the same Southeast Michigan family audience.
• COSI (Center of Science and Industry): Columbus, Ohio flagship hands-on science museum with extensive interactive exhibits, camps, and distance learning programs. Comparable in exhibit-driven family STEM model and educational programming, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Impression 5 Science Center: Lansing, Michigan hands-on science center focused on interactive exhibits for families and children. Closely comparable in mission, hands-on learning model, and programming mix including camps and field trips; regional Michigan peer.
• Michigan Science Center: Detroit-based hands-on science museum offering interactive STEM exhibits and educational programming. Directly comparable in mission, audience (families and schools), and exhibit-driven revenue model, though it operates on a larger scale than Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
• Explora Science Center: Albuquerque hands-on science center with interactive exhibits, family programming, and school outreach. Comparable in exhibit philosophy, family/school audience, and nonprofit operating model; useful size and scope benchmark outside Michigan.

Regional players

• Sloan Museum of Discovery: Flint, Michigan museum operated by the Flint Cultural Center Corporation with hands-on science and history exhibits. Comparable in regional Michigan family/school audience and STEM programming focus; competes for the same broader state family-trip market.
• Kalamazoo Valley Museum: Community museum in Kalamazoo offering hands-on science exhibits, planetarium, and educational programs. Comparable in regional Michigan science-museum positioning and school programming; serves a different Southwest Michigan catchment than Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh science center with hands-on exhibits, distance learning, camps, and live programming. Comparable in mission, programming breadth, and school outreach model; part of the larger Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh portfolio.

Others

• Outdoor Discovery Center Network (cross-state nature center consortia): Network of nature centers providing wildlife education, outdoor programming, and school field trips across Michigan. Thematically comparable to the Leslie Science & Nature Center's environmental and critter programming; relevant ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aahom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum