Membership
Members' Night at the Academy
Credit: Ramon Torres/ANS
Membership is a great value! Members receive an entire year of unlimited, free general admission to the museum, access to members-only museum hours, events and activities, discounts on programming, parking and Academy Shop purchases and memories that will last a lifetime!
There’s more to membership than visitation benefits — an Academy membership is a tangible way to make a positive impact on our community and planet. The Academy is a vibrant community of scientists, researchers, students, staff and supporters who care deeply about the natural world and want to protect it for our children and grandchildren. Our members are an essential part of that community.
All Academy members enjoy the following benefits:
- Unlimited, FREE general admission to the museum
- Free or discounted tickets to special exhibits
- Digital membership cards, a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic cards
- Access to exciting members-only events like exhibit previews and our annual Members' Night
- Invitations and free admission to Academy festivals like Bug Fest
- Discounted guest passes for friends and family
- Parking discounts at the parking garage at 1815 Cherry St.
- Special members-only discounts on programs
- 10 percent discount in the Academy Shop
- The chance to add an extra adult to your membership
- Active members can pay the difference to upgrade your membership to a higher level to increase your impact and benefits
For more information about your benefits as a member, visit our Member Resources page.
Membership Levels
Academy members join us in our commitment to understand the natural world and inspire everyone to care for it. By joining the Academy, you’re making a tangible impact on our community and our planet.
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Individual members receive all of the fantastic general member benefits listed above for one named adult. Make it a dual membership by selecting the option "I would like to add an extra adult to the membership for an additional $20" when you join or renew.
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Family members receive the fantastic general member benefits listed above for two named adults and up to five children (under 18) in the same household OR up to five grandchildren (under 18).
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Family Plus members receive all of the benefits of a Family membership, plus:
- FREE admission for two guests each time you visit (member must accompany guests)
- FREE admission to more than 300 museums with the ASTC Passport Program
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Academy Collaborators are much more than members. Collaborators take an active role in our mission to understand the natural world and inspire everyone to care for it. As an important part of our Academy community, Collaborators are invited to exclusive events and hands-on field opportunities that allow them to participate in our research, explore our collections and connect with our engaging scientists and staff.
Academy Collaborators receive all Family Plus membership benefits, plus:
- Unlimited admission to the museum and our special exhibits for three named adults, up to five children and two guests each time you visit
- Guest passes to share with family and friends
- Invitations to exclusive events
- Recognition in the Academy’s Annual Report.
Drexel Employees
Drexel University Faculty and Staff receive 10% off membership dues and have the option to pay for an Academy membership through payroll deduction! You can elect to pay for a year’s membership either in monthly increments or in a one-time payment.
As always, Faculty and Staff — like all DragonCard holders — do get free individual general admission to the Academy, but a full Academy membership includes a whole host of other benefits, including dscounted parking rates at a nearby garage, discounts in the Academy gift shop and café, discounted or free admission to evening events and invitations to members-only previews and to our popular Members’ Night Event. Family level members and above also receive free general admission for the entire family, including children or grandchildren.
Payroll deduction is a quick and easy way for you to get involved with the Academy, and to sweeten the deal, the Academy will offer a 10% discount to any Faculty or Staff member who chooses to join through payroll deduction.
Download the payroll deduction form
Library, School or Organization Museum Passes
Museum Pass Membership ($299 per member card) The Academy offers a special transferable membership for libraries, schools and other qualifying organizations. By presenting the active museum pass at the front desk during public hours, you will receive:
- Free general admission to the Academy for the number of people specified on the pass
- Free admission to onsite Academy festivals and select special events
- 10% discount in the Academy Shop
A museum pass cannot be used to receive entry to members-only events or members-only museum hours, discounted guest passes for friends and family, programming discounts, parking discounts or field trip/group admission.
ASTC Museum Passport Program
Members of the Academy of Natural Sciences at the Family Plus level and above are entitled to free admission to more than 300 select science and technology centers across the nation and around the world through the Association of Science - Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport Program. When traveling outside of Philadelphia or the state, be sure to take along your Academy membership card to visit other great science museums. To receive free general admission, simply present your current membership card upon arrival to the museum or center.
A few local museums in PA are also accepting the ASTC passport:
- Da Vinci Science Center, Allentown 484-664-1002
- National Watch & Clock Museum, Columbia 717-684-8261
- Lancaster Science Factory, Lancaster 800-210-2927
- North Museum of Nature and Science, Lancaster 717-358-3941
- Reading Public Museum, Reading 610-371-5850
- (The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is not part of this benefit.)
Members of museums that provide reciprocal benefits to the Academy must provide proof of membership when they arrive. Acceptable proof of membership includes a membership ID card or a membership confirmation letter on your home institution's letterhead with the ASTC logo clearly visible. Reciprocal members are entitled to free general admission to the museum for two adults and four children. Special exhibits and additional guests may require an additional purchase.
Free admission to participating museums does not guarantee free admission to special exhibits, experiences or programs and does not entitle the cardholder to membership benefits at that museum. Each museum or science center reserves the right to define “family membership” and “number in family.” Science centers or museums located within a 90-mile radius (“as the crow flies”) of each other are excluded from the Passport Program unless that exclusion is lifted by mutual agreement. Additionally, to receive Passport Program benefits, you must live more than 90 miles away from the center/museum you wish to visit.
Visit the ASTC website for a current list of participating museums
Contact Us
We’re here to help! If you have questions about Academy membership, please call 215-299-1022 or email membership@ansp.org.