About Roper Mountain:

Roper Mountain Science Center exists because of a unique partnership of public ownership, corporate sponsorship, private support, and volunteers. The primary mission of the center is to foster enhanced learning and growth opportunities through educational excellence and high quality instructional programs for students, teachers, and the general public. Science enrichment programs are presented in an exciting and entertaining manner that makes learning fun.

The center is owned by the School District of Greenville County, which provides the full-time staff and operational support. A private support group, the Roper Mountain Science Center Association, actively supports and promotes the center through memberships and corporate sponsorships.

Because Roper Mountain Science Center is a facility of the School District of Greenville County, the primary program participants are that county's school children. Programs in all areas of science correlate to the science curriculum of the district, and provide reinforcement for concepts studied in the classroom. Schools from other districts in the state may participate in the center's programs for a fee.

During the summer, many of the area's children participate in 4-day "Science for Fun" mini-courses at the center. Groups study a wide variety of topics such as Lego Logo, rocketry, kitchen chemistry, unusual pets, seashore critters, and many others.

Public programs at the center are limited to Friday "Starry Nights" programs and the Second Saturday public day. In addition, the nature trails, arboretum, and butterfly garden are available to the public any time the main gate is open. By enhancing the quality of life to the public through education, the science center serves as a positive force in the economic development of the upstate region of South Carolina.

Many of the center's activities are made possible or enhanced by active volunteer support. Opportunities to help at the center represent a wide variety of interests and skills-everything from plant and animal care to being a costumed living history farm volunteer.

Roper Mountain Science Center also understands the importance of teacher training in science education. After-school teacher workshops and mini-courses abound during the school year. However, the most intense teacher workshops occur in the summer. The largest one of these is the Science P.L.U.S. Institute, funded by a South Carolina EIA Grant, which benefits several hundred public school science teachers each year.

Although school programs are the main focus of the center's efforts, the areas of teacher education, summer science, and public programs certainly round out the services provided by this unique facility. It is truly a place where "Science is for Everyone"!