For the past 20 years, EUREKA! has engaged students, teachers and the general public in enhanced and meaningful learning through hands-on math and science experiences. Our goal is to create and sustain enthusiasm for STEAM fields and to encourage students to pursue STEAM careers.
All Colorado Gives Day donations will be used to support the following:
Underserved and low-income students to attend EUREKA! STEAM programs
STEAM After School programs for Title 1 schools
Bilingual pre-k programs
Math Tutoring in District 51 classrooms
Exhibits in the museum for local families to have a safe place to explore science and math in a hands-on way
"Tons of science & mathematical experiments to do; always challenges your mind to think a little differently as you try to understand why things work the way they do! Great exhibits; awesome place for kids, young and old!" Museum Guest, 2024.
"EUREKA! is fun and interactive. The teachers are amazing. There are so many activities to do and we never get bored!" -Two 4th grade girls at STEAM Camp, November 2024
"I can't even begin to thank you enough for coming to our school and reaching out to our kids...Well, I could go on and on but the bottom line is this: what you do is invaluable and so appreciated and we can't thank you enough. You made an enormous impression on these kids; one they won't soon forget!" Head of the Silverthorne PTA, 2019.
"What a gift you are to the children (and adults) of Grand Valley. Thank you again for your time, talent and patience. We really appreciated you and your presentation." Sincerely, a Caprock Elementary School 4th Grade Teacher, 2021.
"Tons of science & mathematical experiments to do; always challenges your mind to think a little differently as you try to understand why things work the way they do! Great exhibits; awesome place for kids, young and old!" TripAdvisor comment
Mission: To inspire a passion and respect for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) in our communities.
Our vision: is a science and technology literate society.
EUREKA! was founded by retired physicist, John McConnell, to address deficiencies in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through inquiry-based, hands-on activities for students and resources and training for teachers. EUREKA! has evolved from its earliest beginnings as a volunteer effort by John McConnell with one class at Wingate Elementary School. Over a period of nine years, John volunteered his time to teach scientific principles to kids through hands-on demonstrations that he created. The effort quickly became a traveling road show, with John carrying the demonstrations from school to school in the trunk of his car and going out over 100 miles from Grand Junction to reach an ever increasing audience. After reaching about 5,000 students a year from his car, John asked Mesa Valley School District 51 administration for space for a math and science center, which they granted. In 2018, the center moved to Colorado Mesa University and is currently housed in the Confluence Hall Engineering Building, rebranding as EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum.
For the past 20 years, EUREKA! has engaged students, teachers and the general public in enhanced and meaningful learning. We know from experience that students develop enthusiasm and learning is enhanced for math and science when they participate in hands-on activities. If this enthusiasm is sustained throughout pre-college education, students will have greater opportunities to select college and professional careers in science, technology, engineering and math. We also know that when teachers learn to teach hands-on math and science and have the resources to bring those experiences into the classroom, they are far more likely to inspire an ongoing interest in these subjects for their students.
Through hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and teacher resources, EUREKA! strives to instill wonder in each student by defining the world we live in through math and science that is meaningful. Whether the student is making geometric bubbles, working gears, or playing with electromagnets, they are always moved to ask "why?" and "how?". These questions initiate the process of critical thinking that leads the student to develop a hypothesis, test that idea, and draw conclusions based on observation.
Today EUREKA!, provides STEAM After School programming for six elementary schools in the Grand Valley, provide Math Tutoring in seven schools for students 1st-9th grade, operates a mobile bilingual preschool, a STEM preschool known as Nest, and soon to open a third STEM preschool, STREAM at the upcoming Confluence Center of Colorado. EUREKA! offers science programming to all ages, including a 55+ group who travel and explore scientific content all over the globe! EUREKA! still follows John McConnell's original model of field trips and STEAM Camps for students who aren't in school, including 12 week of summer STEAM Camps.
Organization name
Eureka! McConnell Science Museum
other names
none, Western Colorado Math & Science Center, John McConnell Math and Science Center, EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum
2004
Tax id (EIN)
20-1641549
Category
Science & Technology
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Child Care Credit
Address
1400 N 7th StreetMesa County, CO, US