COGNiTiON is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Your giving directly supports the science and discovery center! It enables us to maintain interactive exhibits, staff our center and programs, care for the animals we share with the community, and keep the cost to families and school groups accessible.

Online Donation

Areas of Need

If you would like to direct your donation, these are the areas that have ongoing needs. Please note the hardest dollars to raise through grant opportunities are for general operations.

Animal & Exhibit Fund

Animal food and care, habitat needs; exhibit maintenance and supplies

Sustaining Fund

Help us with the cost of keeping the center running through the winter to serve our local residents

Future Fund

Funds will be pooled and used towards an endowment to provide for the longevity of Cognition

Scholarship Fund

Scholarships provide families in need half price memberships, reduced cost for special programs, and reduced field trip tuition for qualifying schools

You can also look over specific needs on our Wishlist page

Our Mission

To be a fun place to expand minds, through hands-on experiences, for kids of all ages.

We are living out this mission by providing a welcoming and inclusive center that offers a wide range of hands-on exhibits. These rotating exhibits are designed to engage, educate, and inspire a wide age range of guests (including parents and grandparents)!

Learn more about Cognition and our history on our About page.

Our Vision

COGNiTiON will create a science playground that captivates a community and life long learners.

Since opening in 2017, increasing numbers of residents, visitors, and school groups have come to COGNiTiON to learn and explore. Now a planetarium joins the lists of things to see in the continuously developing discovery center. The vision is alive!

WISH LIST

Cognition is a 501(C)(3) Nonprofit

Below are important needs for our center.

  • Critter Wish List

    Our Critter would love:

    *Meijers gift card for tortoise and reptile food

    *Aspen Substrate for enclosure bedding

    *Cypress substrate for enclosure bedding

    *Forest Floor substrate

    *Reptile Sand

    *”Fresh News” recycled paper animal bedding

    *News Paper (NO adds)

    *Applewood sticks

    *Freeze dried strawberries

    *Oscar food

    *Gold Fish Flakes

    Here is our ongoing Amazon wish list: https://a.co/eN65bdk

  • Tools Wish List

    Tools to keep things working:

    *Socket Set

    *Three lengths of pliers

    *Two sizes wire cutters

    *Two sizes of adjustable wrenches

    *Flat, small, and large crowbar

    *Large hammer

    *Radial saw

    *Peg board & hooks

    *Shelves

    *Small reciprocating saw

    *Caulk gun with clear and white silicon

    *Pig skin gloves

    *Mechanic gloves

    *Cement drill bit set

    *Saw horses

    *T-square

    *Belt Sander

    *New mop head

    *Small shop vacuum

  • Facility Wish List

    *Melissa and Dough food kits

    *Medium and large clear plastic bins with lids

    *Batteries

    *Magnetic toys and projects

    *Additional ceiling lights

    *Replacement air filters

    *Hand Sanitizer

    *Paper Towel

    *Low exploration table

    *New sensory table

    *Augmented reality sand table

    Here is our ongoing Amazon list: https://a.co/6AUvIqX

  • Earth & Space Lab

    *Quiet planetarium blower

    *Window A/C unit

    *New handheld vacuum (batterie powered)

    *Senior seating for Planetarium (cushioned stools)

    *22 ft. Planetarium Dome

    *Sponsor ship for attending Planetarium Conferences (Where we meet and learn from the top innovators in the industry. Usually costs are x2 of our attendees, plus travel, hotel and food expenditures.)

    *RTX4090 Video Card + secondary power supply for the planetarium PC to double the framerate and comfort level of the Planetarium software for the guests.

    *Covering the cost of one year of Planetarium Director & Assistant pay.

    *4k Projector & Fisheye lens

    *Custom carpet halves

    *Dome show movies

    *Advanced surround sound system

    *Sponsorship for reduced costs for in-center tickets and for mobile outing for schools and organizations that cannot easily afford the planetarium. Making accessible to everyone.

    *Electric temperature-controlled vehicle.

    *Advanced interactive Planetarium software a (considerable upgrade from the software we’re using and with a cloud community to be able to draw content from, for programs and education).

  • Volunteer Wish List

    We need extra hands with:

    *Helping facilitate in the center (ongoing need)

    *Organizing and sanitizing exhibit materials

    *General Cleaning

    *Flyer and poster distribution

    *Board members

    *Sewing projects

    *Electrical—lighting project