Headwaters Science Center Volunteer Opportunity

Please join Headwaters Science Center, 413 Beltrami Avenue NW, Bemidji, Tuesday, September 3^rd through Friday September 6^th to paint the interior of the science center.  Valspar Paint donated 75 gallons of paint to HSC through the Minnesota Beautiful Grant program administered by the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

To accomplish the task of painting the interior of our building, HSC will be closed to the public starting on September 3 and will re-open for regular hours on September 7^th at 9:30 am.  Volunteers are needed to help HSC staff and board members paint the interior of the science center.  No experience required and a minimum time commitment of two hours is requested. Interested volunteers can sign up for a time slot by calling 444-4472 or emailing director@hscbemidji.org.  

Painting will occur between 8 am and 6 pm starting September 3rd and ending September 6th.  Volunteers should wear painting appropriate clothing and bring brushes and rollers if they have them.  Paint and some supplies will be provided by HSC.

The Headwaters Science Center (HSC) was founded in 1994 to provide hands-on science and technology exploration in northern Minnesota.  HSC is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission "to provide intellectual stimulation and enjoyment for children, adults, and educational organizations in northern Minnesota using hands-on science and technology exhibits and programs.”    NEW: Seasonal Hours: September 7 through March 17: Closed Tuesday.  Open Monday, Wednesday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

Thank you for supporting HSC!

Volunteers Honored

Headwaters Science Center volunteers Arianne Louwers and Amy Granlund  were recently recognized as “Someone Special Volunteers.”

Granlund has volunteered more than 250 hours to the center in the past year assisting with raptor care and education, Friends of Headwaters Science Center activities and special events including Spirited Elements and e-cubed.

 Louwers has volunteered more than 700 hours in the past year assisting with Raptor Demonstrations, Science Club, exhibit floor services and special events.

The Bemidji Pioneer, Paul Bunyan Broadcasting, Ken K. Thompson and the United Way recognize “Someone Special Volunteers” who have made significant contributions to the community.

New Exhibit at HSC: Alien Invasive Species

A new interactive exhibit is now available at Headwaters Science Center about alien invasive species (AIS) in Minnesota. The expansion of harmful invasive species and their control in Minnesota is a major environmental concern.

In this exhibit pressing a button will help you determine whether a plant or animal is considered “invasive” from a total of fifty different species shown with photographs; included are invertebrates, aquatic and terrestrial plants and fish. Fifteen of them are considered invasive. Can you make the correct choices?

This game-like exhibit was largely funded by a matching grant from the Mn Department of Natural Resources Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The match by HSC was fulfilled by volunteers who built the exhibit, prepared specimens, photos and signage. Thanks to Keenan’s Cabinets of Distinction in Bemidji for constructing the platform.

May the Balloon Rise Again!

Help! Our Hot Air Balloon is damaged beyond repair and we need a new one which will cost $800. We are asking for donations to get this great exhibit going again.

So far we have raised about one-half of the required amount from generous members and friends.

Please donate now so the balloon can rise again!

With about 25,000 visitors each year (half are children) using the hands-on exhibits at HSC, maintenance, repair and replacement is a huge, often unanticipated, cost. Much of this cost must come from generous contributors that want HSC to continue as a unique and important part of science education in northern Minnesota.
You can mail a check to:

Headwaters Science Center - Balloon Project
413 Beltrami Ave
Bemidji, MN 56601 

 or Donate online right now!

The Terese Elhard Story

Terese Elhard has a story to tell about her inspiration.   She agreed to share it with you:

"As a life-long science enthusiast and learner, my childhood experiences at the Headwaters Science Center have been invaluable. There is no greater reward than being encouraged to explore and play.
What I have learned there continues to enrich my life, as I now create science exhibits for the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

My memories of HSC expand wall to wall; playing with the exhibits and mastering the Magic Eye activity, eating packages of freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, petting Monty the snake—oh the sensation of reptile skin!, making my first painting—of the buffalo head in the classroom upstairs, and being horrified on Halloween in the basement spook-house.

Thank you to Jim and Laddie Elwell for their remarkable devotion to bringing science learning to Bemidji! The Elwell's are ever inspiring for me as I, in turn, make a commitment to bringing excitement and wonder to a curious audience. The world truly is a better place when we build a community of sharing knowledge!"

Terese Elhard

About Our Logo

Did you ever wonder what the Headwaters Science Center's logo represents?

The main image is the North Star. Seen only in the northern hemisphere, it depicts a sense of direction and importance. All other stars revolve around it; only the North Star appears to stay put – forever.

A water drop is in the center. Water is a requirement for life and a basic theme of Headwaters Science Center. The water drop is divided into three parts depicting the major watersheds within the HSC service area: Upper Mississippi, Rainy River and Red River. The term headwaters is part of the HSC name, showing its important location in the Upper Mississippi Watershed.

The logo was designed by Triad Marketing and Advertising of Nisswa, MN in 1993 under the direction of Jim and Laddie Elwell.

New Exhibit

We are always looking for new and innovative ways to inspire kids and adults to think about science and technology as a challenge that is full of fun. Our exhibit floor has over 40 hands-on activities to help achieve this goal, but new exhibits to replace the old-timers are always in various levels of planning and implementation. Here is a new exhibit "on the floor", but still in a development and testing stage.

Keva Planks

HSC welcomes "KEVA planks", a new component of our in-progress STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) exhibit at Headwaters Science Center. KEVA planks combine imagination with engineering and construction skills using simple planks of wood. No electricity or batteries and no LCD monitor. Great fun for the whole family. Thank you MindWare Toys in Roseville MN for the donation!