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THE SCIENCE VORTEX OF VERDE VALLEY
Cornville, AZ · EIN 844106067 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · Micro (<$100K) · sciencevortex.org
revenue
$78K
expenses
$76K
net assets
$32K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

The Science Vortex provides STEM+art (STEAM) education to families. Our mission is to positively impact children's critical-thinking abilities, creativity, and STEM literacy. Our center is committed to achieving these goals by providing hands-on, interactive exhibits, enticing learning materials, and engaging programs for children ages 2-12. We strive to create an environment where children are drawn into a vortex of play, perseverance, collaboration, and innovation!

profile · synthesized from sources

The Science Vortex of Verde Valley is a nonprofit children's science center in Cornville, Arizona, offering hands-on STEAM exhibits and programs for children ages 2-14. It provides interactive learning experiences through exhibits like wind tubes, augmented reality sandboxes, and maker spaces, alongside weekly programs, school visits, and youth leadership opportunities. The center serves families, schools, and youth in the Verde Valley region.

named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Chief Science Officers (CSOs)
Youth leadership program for 6th-12th graders who serve as STEM ambassadors, develop workforce skills, and lead community STEM initiatives
Kids' Night Out
Evening event allowing parents a night off while children engage in supervised STEM activities
Little Learners STEM Play
Friday program for children ages 2-5 with an adult, featuring hands-on experiments, crafts, and free play in the center
School & Homeschool Visits
Guided, inquiry-based field trips for classroom and homeschool groups to support curriculum learning
Science Birthday Parties
Two-hour birthday celebrations including a STEAM lesson, t-shirt for the birthday child, and free play in the center
Weekly Family Make & Create
Weekly Thursday program for families to design, create, and collaborate using sewing, animation, programming, and inventing materials
activities · 5 groups

what they do

  • Children's Educational Birthday Parties 2 activities
    • Children's Birthday Parties
      Hosts children's birthday parties that include a STEAM lesson, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and free play in the center.
    • Hosting Children's Birthday Parties
      The organization hosts children's birthday parties that include a STEAM lesson, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and free play in the center.
  • Interactive Children's Museum Exhibits 2 activities
    • Interactive STEM Exhibits
      Operates a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits for children ages 2-14, including a Wind Tube, Chalk Spinners, Rocket Launcher, Augmented Reality Topographic Sandbox, MakerSpace, Rube Goldberg Corner, Microscopes with Specimens, Little Learners Lab, Plasma Globe, Magnetic Wall, Circuits, and Simple Machines, to teach principles of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
    • Operating Interactive STEM Exhibits
      The organization operates a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits for children aged 2-14, including a Wind Tube, Chalk Spinners, Rocket Launcher, Augmented Reality Topographic Sandbox, MakerSpace, Rube Goldberg Corner, Microscopes with Specimens, Little Learners Lab, Plasma Globe, Magnetic Wall, Circuits, and Simple Machines, to teach scientific principles and foster creativity.
  • Museum Membership Benefits Program 2 activities
    • Membership Benefits and Access
      Provides free weekend access to the Science Vortex and free admission to ASTC passport program sites as part of membership benefits.
    • Offering Membership Benefits
      The organization provides free weekend access to the Science Vortex and free admission to ASTC passport program sites as part of its membership benefits.
  • Summer and School Break Camps 2 activities
    • Providing STEM-focused Camps
      The organization offers a Spring Break Camp program for children.
    • Spring Break Camp
      Offers a Spring Break Camp program for children.
  • Uncategorized 4 activities
    • Engaging Youth as STEM Ambassadors
      The organization engages middle and high school students as Chief Science Officers to serve as STEM ambassadors in the Verde Valley.
    • Hosting Weekly Family STEM Programs
      The organization hosts weekly family programs focused on design, creation, and collaboration in activities such as sewing, animating, programming, and inventing, as well as a weekly STEM exploration program for children aged 2–5 with an adult, including hands-on experiments or crafts and free play.
    • Weekly Family and Early Childhood STEM Programs
      Hosts weekly family programs focused on design, creation, and collaboration in activities like sewing, animating, programming, and inventing, and offers a weekly STEM exploration program for children aged 2–5 with an adult, including hands-on experiments or crafts and free play.
    • Youth STEM Ambassador Program
      Engages middle and high school students as Chief Science Officers to serve as STEM ambassadors within the Verde Valley community.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$78K
Contributions & grants$24K30%
Program service revenue$54K70%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$76K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$52K
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$32K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$32K
2 years on record · 2021–2022 · YoY revenue -18.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Laurie Altringer President Treasurer Employee- Director- Lead Instructor 40 $41K
board members · 3
  • Donald Groves — Director
  • Matthew Scheidegger — Director
  • Viviane Kraus — Secretary Director
relationships · 2

who they work with

  • Association of Science and Technology Centers Network — Participates in the ASTC passport program, enabling reciprocal admission benefits.
  • Verde Valley Partner — Geographic and community base for Science Vortex programs and Chief Science Officer initiatives.