THE HANDS-ON Science Center (HOSC) has been well-known in Tullahoma for almost three decades. Local children have grown up with the center attending summer camps, visiting on field trips, hanging out on a rainy afternoon, or dropping by for a birthday party. While HOSC has been the go-to spot for children for 28 years, current director Sean Amidon wants locals and visitors alike to know that science and the center are for everyone, regardless of age.
Hired as the director in 2018, Amidon knew the importance of the center in Tullahoma. He also knew the center had faced some tough financial times in previous years. Amidon wanted to fix those things and take the beloved center to the next level.
“When I started in ‘18, we weren’t making a lot of money, and it was barely a break-even type situation,” he explained. “I had known about that coming in, and it was one of the things that motivated me to try to help switch that around. The money was tight the first couple of years, but I was able to manage the budget well enough so we could gradually start expanding. 2019 was terrific; our summer camps increased by more than 600 percent. Birthday parties were skyrocketing and things like that.”
In 2020, COVID hit, and like the rest of the world, the center went into a very uncertain time. However, during this time, Amidon saw it as an opportunity to reach an even larger audience with science.
“What we were able to do is turn that into an advantage,” he explained. “We did have to close to the public for just about a year and lost the general admission revenue. But we were saved by a switch to virtual programming. We created a new initiative called HOSC Virtual, where we did our virtual classrooms via Facebook Live. We also did a popular take-home science kit, which we continue to do today. Every other week, people can come in and get a pre-packaged kit that includes a lesson plan and all the materials they need. We also started our Science Daily series five days a week. Pre-pandemic, we went from reaching about 15 to 20,000 people in the local area to today, where we are projected to reach over half a million people worldwide. Before we reopened to the public, our virtual programming had already reached all 50 states in over 40 countries. So COVID made it possible to reach more people daily.”
Opening back up to the public in 2022, Amidon said the center began to go through what he calls a “renaissance” period.
“During that time, we opened at least nine new exhibits,” he said. “Some of those exhibits were exhibit halls, including multiple exhibits such as the popular Dyno-Tots exhibit and outdoor classroom. That was the start of what we call renaissance HOSC, and those plans continue.”
Additional exhibits that have opened in 2023 include the Technology and Engineering Hall, sponsored by Jacobs, and the Human Body Wing, with renovated areas sponsored by Vanderbilt Tullahoma Heart Hospital. The most recent was the February unveiling of the Electricity and Magnetism Wing that the Tullahoma Utilities Board and the Tennessee Valley Authority sponsored.
As the weather continues to warm, Amidon said there is much to look forward to outside the center, with outdoor exhibits opening in the summer months.
“We received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for a tire recycling grant,” he said.
“That is a $100,000 project where we are doing an entirely new outdoor exhibit called Amazing Science. We are also expanding the parking area. Additionally, we received a grant from the Arts Builds Communities program for a new outdoor mural. At the same time, our new Aerospace Hall will be unveiled on another corner of the building. So [there are] lots of great things to look forward to.”
Along with exhibits and projects, the center is hosting four significant fundraising events that will be held in 2023. According to Amidon, the events are a part of the center’s efforts to raise additional funds and awareness for the center.
“We’re always trying to make new exciting things to keep things fresh. We will host four fundraisers, each planned with a completely different format,” he explained.
Amidon also hopes the events will bring in new faces and future showcase all the center has to offer, including various exhibits and programs to stimulate and educate minds of all ages.
“The fundraisers are just a bigger way to bring the community into the center,” he said. “We also hope to attract a different audience that maybe normally wouldn’t come into the center. We are looking to welcome potential donors’ different demographics, graphics, and interests.”
For more information on upcoming fundraisers and events at the Hands-On Science Center, visit online at hosc.org or contact the center by calling (931) 455-8387. GN
