#SCI50th: Mother's love for SCI continues with her kids

#SCI50th: As we celebrate 50 years of inspiration and impact at the Science Center of Iowa, we are sharing stories and memories of how SCI was established, grew and continues to serve the next generation. View the timeline and stories at www.sciowa.org/50th

“I loved the science center when I was a kid, and now my kids love it also.”

Meleah, 42, of West Des Moines, remembers going to the Des Moines Center of Science and Industry on field trips and for fun weekend visits. 

The first thing she’d see when she walked in the doors was the huge Foucault Pendulum hanging from the ceiling. She remembers hanging out in the planetarium, too.

One of her favorite memories, though, were the laser shows the science center used to put on.

"When I was in high school, we didn’t have much to do," Meleah said. "We were either too young or too old or whatever, so we’d go to the laser shows on the weekends."

Each week, she recalled, there would be a different theme. There’d be laser country shows, and the lights would be in sync with country music. There were laser Aerosmith shows and laser Pink Floyd shows. It gave Meleah and her friends something to do.

Now, years later, Meleah and her family are still enjoying the science center, especially SCI Camps.

This past summer, her kindergartener learned about robots, mechanics and space.

Her fifth grader learned about robotics and coding and "all sorts of new things."

"I loved the science center when I was a kid, and now my kids love it also," Meleah said. "It’s just such an instant connection when you can put your hands on things while you’re walking through a museum."