The Paleontological Research Institution, its Museum of the Earth and Cayuga Nature Center are dedicated to Earth science and environmental education. The Community Accessibility Program (CAP) was developed and continues to grow, based on our community’s needs and our capacity to fill them, to ensure that Earth science and environmental education is available to everyone regardless of resources or special needs. CAP consists of four ways to experience all we have to offer:
Pay-What-You-Wish Weekends
In lieu of paying admission on the first weekend of the month visitors are instead invited to make a donation to help support Museum of the Earth’s exhibits and programming if they would like. Pay-What-You-Wish weekends are sponsored by BorgWarner.
YNAP - Young Naturalist Access Program
YNAP provides Tompkins County youth in need (aged 5-17) free access to a one-year YNAP Youth Membership to the Paleontological Research Institution, which provides young people and their families/caregivers all of the benefits of a regular PRI membership plus free access to all of our ticketed events, such as Maple Fest and local Fossil Field Trips. YNAP also offers members the opportunity to take advantage of a free week of summer camp at the Cayuga Nature Center.
Agency Memberships
This unique membership level allows community agencies to give the individuals and families they serve access to the Museum and Nature Center. Agency memberships are available to select 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations and government agencies offering human and/or social services. Benefits of Agency Membership include: unlimited free admission passes to pass on to constituents, unlimited group admission with advance notice, and discounts on programming, events and field trips with advance reservation, plus the opportunity to award one week of Summer Camp at the Cayuga Nature Center to a child in the agency’s service area.