Impression 5 Science Center

Name

Impression 5 Science Center

Legal name

Impression 5 Science Center

Website

https://impression5.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum & Informal STEM Education

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC), STEM & Maker Education (Makerspaces, Coding Clubs, Robotics) (EDAAAFAL)

Keywords

• Hands-on science exhibits
• Informal STEM education
• Science museum programs
• School field trips
• Interactive learning experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Entry fees charged to visitors for museum access. Adults and children 2+ pay $15; seniors and military pay $13. Revenue is one-time per visit from individual consumers.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscriptions providing free admission, discounts on programming, and other benefits. Members receive 15% off store items.
3. Event Rentals: Corporate events, holiday parties, board meetings, and networking events. Pricing starts at $3,000 for for-profit organizations and $2,000 for nonprofits. Includes access to ~25,000 square feet of exhibits.
4. Group Visits and Field Trips: School groups and organizations book group visits with workshop add-ons. Workshops range from $1-$3 per student. Includes Big Science Lesson and Generation Science programs.
5. Overnight Adventures: Evening programs (6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) at $22.50 per student with minimum of 36 students. Includes 2 workshops and one snack.
6. Science on Wheels Outreach: Mobile workshops delivered at schools, libraries, and community venues. Fees vary by workshop type.
7. Spark STEM Toys & Gifts Retail Store: Online store selling educational toys, science kits, and STEM-themed merchandise. All revenue supports the nonprofit mission.
8. Capital City River Run: Annual running event (33rd anniversary in 2026) benefiting the science center. Includes half marathon, 5K, and kids run events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Impression 5 Science Center operates a hands-on science museum in Lansing, Michigan, offering interactive exhibit experiences (Hands-On Exhibits, First Impression Room for ages 0-4, Think Tank teen maker space), structured educational programs (field trips, day camps, Science on Wheels outreach), event rentals, birthday parties, annual memberships, and an online STEM retail store (Spark STEM Toys & Gifts).

Product overview

Impression 5 Science Center is a nonprofit hands-on science museum in Lansing, Michigan, founded in 1972. Its core offering is interactive science exhibits across multiple themed spaces (Hands-On Exhibits, First Impression Room for ages 0-4, Think Tank teen maker space), complemented by educational programming (day camps, school partnerships, outreach), event rentals, and membership. The organization also operates Spark STEM Toys & Gifts, an online retail shop selling educational toys. The portfolio centers on informal STEM education through physical, interactive experiences rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hands-On Exhibits Self-choice, learner-directed exhibit environments for families to explore science through interactive, hands-on experiences. Includes permanent exhibits such as Destination Mars, MEGAWATT, Spectrum, Chew On This, Build Zone, Throwing Things, Planet Walk Plaza, FLOW (water experience), POP! (bubble experience), Nano, and SMASH (nuclear adventure).
• First Impression Room Dedicated space for young scientists ages birth to four years old featuring water tables, play structures, light sensory tables, puzzles, books, and themed exploration stations. Includes family restroom, nursing room, and shoe-free zone.
• Think Tank Teen Maker Space Teen maker space with real tools, challenges, and outcomes for students in grades 5-12. Features the Youth Action Council for teens to participate in STEM education research and project prototyping.
• Traveling Exhibits Rotating exhibits that bring new experiences to the Science Center on a periodic basis, such as Destination Mars developed by Scitech, Perth, Australia in partnership with Imagine, Atlanta, GA.
• Education Programs Participatory educational programming including Science Day Camps, Summer L.A.B.S. Program, Scout Programs, Big Science Lesson, and Generation Science school partnership programs.
• Science on Wheels Outreach Mobile science education bringing workshops such as Circuit Builders, Electricity, Force & Motion, Biospheres, and Slime to schools, churches, libraries, and special events across Michigan.
• Event Rentals Facility rental for corporate events, holiday parties, board meetings, networking events, and birthday celebrations. Includes access to ~25,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, catering spaces, and optional workshops. Pricing starts at $3,000 for for-profits and $2,000 for nonprofits for a 3-hour rental.
• Membership Program Annual membership providing free admission, member promotions, and discounts on educational programming. Includes digital membership cards and scholarship options. Members also receive 15% off store items.
• Birthday Parties Celebration packages at the Science Center with access to exhibits, private spaces, and optional add-ons for children and families.
• Spark STEM Toys & Gifts Online Shop Online retail store (shop.impression5.org) selling STEM-focused toys, games, and educational materials including Green Toys, BRIO/GraviTrax, schleich figurines, and science activity kits. Operated by Specialty Toys Network. All revenue supports the nonprofit mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 160,000+ annual visitors

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to create SMASH: A Nuclear Adventure exhibit featuring simulated particle accelerator environments and the Isotopolis game. FRIB is funded by U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
• Scitech (Perth, Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped the Destination Mars traveling exhibit in partnership with Imagine, Atlanta, GA.
• Justice Leaders CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed anti-racism training for Impression 5 staff members in May 2021 as part of social justice initiatives.
• MuralmaticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWill facilitate a school-break mural project for 10-12 middle school and/or high school students as part of inclusivity initiatives.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Michigan Science Center: Michigan's largest science museum in Detroit, operating hands-on STEM exhibits, IMAX, and educational programs. Same-state regional direct peer serving similar family, school, and group audiences in Michigan.
• Discovery Place: Science center and children's museum in Charlotte, NC with hands-on exhibits, camps, and outreach programming. Comparable in scale and educational mission.
• TELUS World of Science – Edmonton: Interactive science center with permanent and traveling exhibits, school programs, and IMAX theater. Comparable operating model across exhibits, school programs, and event rentals.
• MOST (Museum of Science and Technology): Mid-sized hands-on science center in Syracuse, NY operating interactive exhibits, IMAX, and educational programs. Similar regional scale and operating model as Impression 5.
• Imagine Children's Museum (formerly Imagine It!): Children's museum in Atlanta, GA that co-developed the Destination Mars exhibit with Impression 5 and Scitech. Operates hands-on educational exhibits with comparable family and school programming.
• Scitech (Perth): Australia's hands-on science center in Perth, operating permanent and traveling exhibits with a similar mission. Impression 5 partnered with Scitech on the Destination Mars exhibit, confirming direct operational comparability.
• COSI (Center of Science and Industry): Mid-sized hands-on science center in Columbus, OH operating ~300,000 sq ft of interactive exhibits, camps, and outreach programs. Closest comparable in scale, mission, and operating model outside Michigan.
• Discovery Museum: Hands-on science and nature museum in Bridgeport, CT serving families and school groups with interactive exhibits. Comparable mid-sized regional science museum model.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Science Center: Major Seattle-based science center with interactive exhibits, IMAX, and extensive educational programming. Comparable operating model at significantly larger scale, serving as a broad incumbent.
• Carnegie Science Center: Larger Pittsburgh-based science center operating hands-on exhibits, IMAX, and educational programs. Same category and mission but significantly larger scale, serving as a broad incumbent benchmark.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTCX_8ojukFFdvWUdghUU6A
• Facebookfacebook.com/impression5
• Instagraminstagram.com/myimpression5
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/impression-5-science-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Impression 5 Science Center