Spartanburg Science Center

What Spartanburg Science Center does

The Spartanburg Science Center (legal name: The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1975 and headquartered at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It operates a hands-on science museum with more than 23 interactive exhibits, a natural science room, and a live animal room housing nearly 100 individual animals across 40+ species of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. The Center also operates the 675-square-foot Contec Children's STEM Lab and the adjacent Milliken Learning Space, which together host early-childhood programs, standards-based K-12 lessons, robotics, and lifelong learner sessions.

The Center delivers programming through three primary channels: on-site museum visitation, school-based lessons delivered across all seven Spartanburg County school districts, and traveling outreach (STEM on the Go, StarLab inflatable planetarium, Buzz Aldrin's Giant Mars Map). It serves over 20,000 students annually through 500+ educational programs, plus 60+ teens in a community aviation program operated with the Spartanburg Downtown Airport. Other programs include 18 STEAM summer camps, Hub City Robotics (FIRST LEGO League), birthday parties, facility rentals, and adult STEM workshops.

Revenue is generated through a mix of per-person admissions ($5), annual memberships ($150-$250), fee-based programs and workshops ($100-$150/hr and $10-$20/student), summer camps, birthday parties, facility rentals, corporate sponsorships (Contec, Milliken, AFL), foundation grants (Spartanburg County Foundation, Spartanburg Academic Movement), and individual donations. The organization is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Mary Levens, who succeeded founder-era director John Green in 2016; John Schmid joined as Education Director in 2025.

Name

Spartanburg Science Center

Legal name

The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center

Website

https://spartanburgsciencecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Spartanburg Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hands-on science museum and STEM education provider in Spartanburg, SC, serving 20,000+ K-12 students, families, and adults annually across all seven Spartanburg County school districts via interactive exhibits, live animal programs, summer camps, and traveling outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Informal STEM Education and Science Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Biology & Life Science Enrichment (Biotech, Genetics, Anatomy) (EDAMABAF), Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE), Robotics & Engineering Summer Camps / Bootcamps (EDAMADAF), Robotics, Engineering & Makers Camps (EDAMALAE)

Keywords

• Informal STEM education
• Hands-on science museum
• Live animal education
• Traveling STEM programs
• Science summer camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Spartanburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Admissions & Entry Fees: General admission revenue from individual visitors and families visiting the museum and exhibits.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships for families (2-3 people for $150/year, 4-6 people for $250/year) providing free admission, birthday parties, early camp registration, and STEM Study Buddies tutoring.
3. Educational Programs: Revenue from standards-based STEM lessons, field trips, traveling programs (STEM on the Go), StarLab presentations, and STEM workshops for K-12 students and adults.
4. Summer Camps: STEAM summer camps for rising K4 through rising 9th grade, offering 18 camps during summer months with both in-person and virtual options.
5. Birthday Parties: Themed birthday parties including animal encounters, slime, and chemistry programs at the Science Center.
6. Corporate Sponsorships & Grants: Funding from corporate sponsors (Contec, Milliken, AFL) and foundation grants (Spartanburg County Foundation, Spartanburg Academic Movement) to support operations and expansion.
7. Donations: Individual donations from community supporters to help continue STEM education mission. Currently running $10,000 matching gift campaign.
8. Facility Rentals: Rental of spaces including Fossil Room (max capacity 15 with projector), Milliken Learning Center (max capacity 10 with projector), and Animal Room learning table.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Spartanburg Science Center operates a hands-on science museum and educational center at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina, providing interactive exhibits, a live animal collection, and standards-aligned STEM programming. Core paid offerings include general admission visits, family memberships, summer camps, birthday parties, school field trips, on-site and traveling standards-based STEM lessons, workshops, and special programs such as the StarLab planetarium and Mars Map. It also runs targeted programs for teens (Aviation Program) and younger learners (Stepping into STEM, STEM Storytime, Hub City Robotics).

Product overview

The Spartanburg Science Center is a hands-on science museum and educational center offering interactive exhibits, live animal experiences, and STEM programs for children and adults. The organization provides a portfolio of distinct products and services including: the core museum experience with over 23 interactive exhibits and animal room; specialized facilities like the Contec Children's STEM Lab and Milliken Learning Space; educational programs such as Standards-Based STEM Lessons, Summer Camps, and Stepping into STEM (for ages 4-6); robotics programs through Hub City Robotics; the Aviation Program for teens; and outreach services including STEM on the Go and StarLab planetarium. Additional offerings include STEM Workshops, Birthday Parties, and the annual STEM Educator of the Year Awards. The center serves all seven school districts in Spartanburg County through on-site visits, school visits, and traveling programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spartanburg Science Center Museum Experience Hands-on science museum with over 20 interactive exhibits, a live animal room featuring nearly 100 reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates across 40+ species, and a natural science room with fossils, bones, skulls, rocks, and minerals. Open to the public on a posted schedule at $5 per person.
• Family Memberships Annual subscriptions for families providing free admission for the covered household, one free birthday party, early access to summer camp registration, free admission for guests, STEM Study Buddies tutoring, and free entry to STEM Saturdays and programs. Pricing: $150/year or $15/month for 2-3 people, and $250/year or $25/month for 4-6 people.
• Summer Camps STEAM summer camps offering 18 camps during June through August, in-person and virtual, for rising K4 through rising 9th grade, led by professional educators with Science Center animal and exhibit interaction. Scholarships available.
• Birthday Parties Two-hour themed birthday party packages at the Science Center for up to 25 people, including 30-45 minute themed programs such as animal encounters, slime, and chemistry. Included free for members.
• Standards-Based STEM Lessons Hands-on, student-participatory lessons in all major fields of science aligned with South Carolina science standards, delivered at the Science Center or in schools/classrooms across all seven Spartanburg County school districts. Self-guided field trips also available. Guided program pricing is $100 per 45-minute program plus $2 admission per person.
• STEM on the Go Traveling versions of SSC's STEM lessons delivered on-site at schools and events, including StarLab, Mars Map, Earth Balloon, and STEM Nights. Pricing: $150/hour plus mileage outside Spartanburg County; STEM Nights priced at $250 per event.
• StarLab Planetarium Traveling 12-foot by 12-foot inflatable dome planetarium showing constellations, planets, and moon phases. Each 30-minute presentation accommodates 25 students. Pricing: $150 setup includes first lesson; additional sessions $75 per 30 minutes for 25 students.
• Mars Maps Buzz Aldrin's Giant Mars Map experience: 25-foot-by-25-foot interactive map depicting Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter (MOLA) imagery with NASA Mars robot landing sites, used in classroom programs primarily for fourth-grade students.
• STEM Workshops Workshops for K-12 students and adults including Nature Walks ($10/student), Science of Self Care ($115-125/hour), Terrarium Building ($15-20/student), and Animals and Adaptations ($100-125/hour), with minimums of 5 and maximums of 25-30 students.
• Aviation Program Seven-week program partnering with Spartanburg Downtown Airport that introduces students ages 16-20 to aviation careers through Civil Air Patrol educational classes, flight simulation, glider flights, and exposure to aircraft mechanics.
• Hub City Robotics FIRST LEGO League robotics clubs meeting on 2nd and 4th Mondays during the school year for children ages 5-10, hosted permanently at the Science Center.
• Stepping into STEM Program for children ages 4-6 that introduces STEM through hands-on interactive activities and experiments aligned with South Carolina state science standards, hosted in the Contec Children's STEM Lab.
• STEM Storytime Biweekly storytime (every other Wednesday) designed for children ages five and under and their caregivers, featuring STEM-related books with interactive segments.
• Facility Rentals Rental of indoor spaces including the Fossil Room (max capacity 15 with projector), Milliken Learning Center (max capacity 10 with projector), and the Animal Room learning table for meetings and events.
• Self-Guided Field Trips Group/field trip admission at $5 per person with complimentary adult chaperones (up to 8) and required 48-hour advance scheduling for groups over 10, available to school and youth groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 educational programs conducted annually, serving 19,000+ children
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Spartanburg Downtown AirportflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Spartanburg Science Center partnered with the Spartanburg Downtown Airport for the Community Aviation Program (SCAP), exposing the community to aviation value and appreciation. This is one of the first known partnerships matching a community science center with hands-on aviation experience. Students ages 16-20 participate in a seven-week program learning from airport aviation groups.
• ShareSpace FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShareSpace Foundation provides Buzz Aldrin's Giant Mars Maps (25-foot-by-25-foot interactive maps) and support to educators with onsite teacher training and long-term curriculum support.
• Spartanburg Area ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Spartanburg Area Conservancy for the 'Seeing Through Their Eyes' STEAM program providing access to Cottonwood Trail for nature photography activities.
• USC Upstate FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USC Upstate Foundation for 'Seeing Through Their Eyes' STEAM program providing access to Susan Jacobs Arboretum and guided tours by Dr. Jon Storm.
• Chapman Cultural CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChapman Cultural Center hosts the Science Center on its second floor. The Center provides the physical location and collaborates on public/private partnerships including funding for Mars Maps.
• Civil Air PatrolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil Air Patrol (official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force) provides educational classes as part of the Aviation Program, offering an inside look at how CAP progresses into the US Air Force as a career.
• PASOSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPASOS (Hispanic community organization) partnered to distribute 250 STEAM camera kits in English and Spanish as part of 'Seeing Through Their Eyes' program.
• Spartanburg City Parks & RecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpartanburg City Parks & Recreation partnered to distribute STEAM camera kits as part of 'Seeing Through Their Eyes' program.
• Kids Club of the UpstatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKids Club of the Upstate (formerly Boys & Girls Club of the Upstate) is the largest provider of programming for SSC, supporting STEM education in Spartanburg and Cherokee County.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Discovery Place: Charlotte, NC-based science museum and family of education brands with hands-on exhibits, IMAX, camps, and K-12 programs. Larger regional incumbent operating in the same broader Carolinas science-museum category.
• South Carolina State Museum: Columbia, SC-based state museum covering natural history, science, and technology with exhibits, planetarium, and school programs. Broader and larger South Carolina science institution with overlapping subject matter.
• Adventure Science Center: Nashville, TN-based science center with planetarium, hands-on exhibits, school programs, and camps. Comparable mid-size science center model with similar programmatic pillars.

Direct peers

• EdVenture Children's Museum: Columbia, SC-based children's museum with hands-on science exhibits, traveling outreach programs, summer camps, and school programming. Same nonprofit museum model with SC-standards-aligned K-12 educational offerings.
• Tellus Science Museum: Cartersville, GA-based science museum with fossils/minerals, planetarium, live animal exhibits, and K-12 outreach. Comparable hands-on, multi-disciplinary science museum with similar exhibit breadth.
• Catawba Science Center: Hickory, NC-based science center with hands-on STEM exhibits, live animal collection, planetarium, school programs, and camps. Highly comparable in scale, exhibit-plus-animal mix, and Carolinas-region K-12 outreach.
• Roper Mountain Science Center: Greenville, SC-based public science center offering hands-on STEM exhibits, planetarium, and K-12 programs. Closest geographic and programmatic peer, also Upstate South Carolina and serving school districts across a multi-county region.
• The Children's Museum of the Upstate: Greenville, SC-based children's museum with hands-on exhibits, educational programs, memberships, summer camps, and birthday parties. Directly comparable in mission, programming mix, and family-targeted STEM focus.
• The Schiele Museum of Natural History: Gastonia, NC-based natural history and science museum with live animal exhibits, planetarium, school programs, and camps. Closely comparable in exhibit-plus-animal mix, traveling planetarium, and K-12 standards-aligned programming.

Regional players

• Greenville Zoo: Greenville, SC-based zoo with live animal exhibits and K-12 educational programming. Comparable live-animal-based educational delivery in the same Upstate region, though focused on zoo operations rather than STEM programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCW2WZQUCIbRaPb8672RXneQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/spartanburgsciencecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/spartanburgscience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spartanburg-science-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Spartanburg Science Center