Revisit to Chabot Space and Science Center

Frank and I took Alex to the Chabot Space & Science Center for an afternoon outing on March 8th. The complex, sprawling over the hills of Oakland, consists of two main buildings, the Spees and the Dellums connected by a Sky Bridge. The last time we had been there was in the May 22nd, 2022 and I commented on that visit in my post dated 6/5/22. Alex really enjoyed himself then, but we were a bit disappointed this visit. There seemed to be fewer things for him to do and those hands on exhibits that he could get engaged in, seemed worn out from use and in need of freshening or refurbishment.  

Our first stop upon arrival was to see the Planetarium show. It focused on how Pluto lost its status as a planet and is now categorized as a dwarf planet. The voiceover was fascinating for Frank and me but it was the visuals that really seemed to engage Alex. The swirling motion seemed to mesmerize him. We sat in the first row but after a few minuets I had to change seats. Alex kept jiggling and swaying. His movements combined with the whirling visual made me nauseous and I had to move a row back where Alex's motions did not make my seat move, too. Despite my initial queasiness, I think this was the best part of our visit.

There were many empty deserted "classrooms", most likely intended for school visits. "Studios" contained "exhibits". After the planetarium show we set out to find some interesting, low key exhibits. We found very few and the ones we found I actually thought could have been far better presented. In our travels from studio to studio we came across this phases of the moon demo that Alex liked from last time but that was about it.

It was not until we got to the third floor of the second building that we found two hands on activities that could engage Alex (and Frank and me). One was to build a structure, then shake it to simulate a quake on Mars. Alex much preferred putting the blocks back in their milk crate source. Frank got involved with him and then Alex did show a short-lived interest in building. On our previous visit he had lingered there, engaged for nearly an hour. Gone also were the giant LEGOs which had entertianed him on a previous visit.

There was one other demo that was to illustrate magnet-powered trains. Blocks with metal on the bottom would slide down an incline more rapidly, drawn along by magnets. Putting the blocks metal side down held no interest for Alex. Instead he rolled balls from a neighboring, non-functioning exhibit down the slope.

This facility seems to have changed its demographic to appeal to scheduled visits by school field trips. Other than the planetarium shows, not much is going on for impromptu touring by the general public. Either the focus has changed or the funding has dwindled. We will not be going there again soon. The pleasant ride there and the mesmerizing planetarium show were successful activities that allowed us to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat on this impromptu Sunday outing with Alex.