The Spot: Hands-on science tucked in the Tanger Outlets

An experiential STEAM museum hidden in plain sight amidst a shopping mall? Yup, you read right. Riverhead’s Tanger Outlets (Tanger I) is the temporary home to the Long Island Science Center (LISC) as they plan and build out their expansion along Main Street in downtown Riverhead. 

With a mission to “prepare young people for the challenges of a 21st-century economy built on advanced technology and innovation,” this hands-on learning center fuels creativity, problem-solving, and the passion for discovery with its many exhibits and programs.

Our petite crew recently spent a rainy Saturday morning there with friends exploring, building, and creating all through play. Here’s our take…

The details

Nestled in the back corner of Tanger I, the Long Island Science Center neighbors Torrid and nears Crate & Barrel. The museum is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and admission costs $15 per person ages 2+ with admission free for members. Stepping foot inside the unassuming museum you’re met with an open-concept room with stations and exhibits throughout. A coat rack to your left is the spot to store your jacket or stroller, however, there is no attendant to watch over your belongings. The check-in desk along the back wall is where you will purchase your admission tickets (there is currently no option to pre-purchase online) and receive wristbands. Important tip: Don’t forget to pick up your exhibition guide! Since the staff didn’t engage much with museum attendees, this guide will serve as, well, your guide to each exhibit providing helpful information, context, and things to consider as you explore each zone. 

Current exhibits

Currently, throughout the museum are roughly 10 exhibits which include augmented reality coloring, robotic programming, an augmented reality zone, 3D art with handheld 3D printing, a virtual reality zone, Leonardo da Vinci models, a magnetic wall, pixel art, a drone zone, and an engineering zone. There is also a zone for the youngest learners with STEAM books, blocks, and building sets placed near a small sitting area — the perfect place to perch while your little museum-goer learns and plays.

In addition to the engineering zone, which is primarily made up of blocks with guides and inspiration for creativity, these three exhibitions are where we spent most of our time while at LISC.

Pixel art — Think of the colorful science of pixel art zone as a giant Lite-Brite. Along the back left of the museum sits this roughly 5x9’ wall where learners are invited to build images using individual pixel pegs. The exhibition guide walks you through understanding the science of light and color making this experience not only fun and stimulating but also interesting. While the young toddlers we were with loved this zone the older kids and adults got in on the action, too. 

Virtual reality zone — The virtual reality zone is tucked in what looks like dressing rooms in a hallway behind the check-in desk. To get started, ask an employee for the gear and to be set up. You’ll then be stationed in one of the virtual reality booths with Oculus Go and placed in the computer-generated environment of your choice — from outer space to deep ocean to magical adventures, there’s a 3D world for everyone. Enjoy this immersive experience but beware if you’re motion-sensitive. Note that this zone is illuminated with black lights. 

Magnetic wall — Although it felt like pure play, what we actually explored here was physics in motion. A floor-to-ceiling magnetic wall, located directly to the right upon walking into the museum, is accompanied by various tubes, magnetic attachments, ramps, and balls, encouraging exploration of gravity and energy. The trial and error of our efforts, both joint and individual, were exciting and fun. We spent nearly 40 minutes at this zone, however, we could have been there for hours.

Thoughts to share

While the museum welcomes people of all ages and charges for persons 2 and up, in our opinion, the museum is best suited for people ages 4 and up. LISC offers events and programs throughout the month including their Science Saturdays Workshop where attendees tackle different themes with a hands-on approach. At this Saturday’s workshop, which is themed “The Science of Sight,” attendees will discover the world using their senses. Science Saturdays are held each Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. The cost for the workshop, which includes museum admission, is $20 per person (free for members). Parents must be present in the museum during this workshop.