Memberships
Become a Virginia Discovery Museum member and enjoy unlimited visits to the best discovery spot in Charlottesville for families with newborns to children age 8! With 3-month and 12-month options available, a Museum membership makes a great gift and offers families the flexibility to play at their own pace and on their own schedule. Plus, when you go blue with our annual Discovery Membership, there is literally a world of possibilities to explore through reciprocal and discounted admission to hundreds of other science and children’s museums across the U.S. and around the globe!
Levels & Add-Ons | Partner Merchants | Family & Explorer Members
Levels & Add-Ons
Effective Jan. 18, 2018, 3-Month Memberships include up to 4 named people and no longer have membership ID cards. Discovery Memberships include one wallet-sized membership ID card, which includes the membership expiration date and must be present to redeem ASTC, ACM, and Partner Merchant discounts. Please note that 3-Month Memberships are not upgradeable to Discovery Memberships; if you want to become a Discovery-level member, you will be responsible for the full annual fee, and your new membership will begin when your 3-Month Membership ends.
3-Month: $45
- Unlimited visits to the Museum for 3 months for up to 4 named people (limited to adults and children in the member home, caregivers, and/or grandparents)
- Easy Museum check-in with your membership name
- Weekly e-blasts about VDM news, programs, camps, and events
Go Blue! Discovery: $125
- Unlimited visits to the Museum for 12 months for up to 6 named people (limited to adults and children in the member home, caregivers, and/or grandparents)
- Easy check-in with your membership card or name
- Reciprocal general admission at over 350 ASTC Travel Passport Program sites (Details) *
- 50% off general admission for up to 6 people at over 200 ACM Reciprocal Network sites (Details) *
- 15% discount on select programs, camps, and events and on birthday parties and event rentals
- Exclusive, ongoing discounts at several Partner Merchants *
- 1-month extension for each new VDM member recruited
- Weekly e-blasts about VDM news, programs, camps, and events
Add-On Options
- Additional Names ($10 Each): Grow your membership! Specify up to 4 additional adults or children from the member home, caregivers, or grandparents.
- Additional Membership Cards ($5 Each): Need to replace a lost card? Want to give a card to a grandparent or caregiver on the membership? Have a spare one on hand! (Discovery Only)
Memberships are temporarily unavailable for online purchase, but this feature will be back soon. Please call (434) 977-1025 x102 for immediate assistance.
*Must show a valid blue Discovery-level membership ID card to redeem benefits marked with an asterisk.
Partner Merchants
VDM Discovery-level members can redeem exclusive, ongoing promotions at participating Partner Merchants by showing their blue Discovery-level membership ID card at the time of purchase. VDM will keep a regularly updated list of Partner Merchants here on our Memberships page, on the TV in our Front Lobby, and on our community bulletin board. Check back regularly to see what new discounts have been added and which have changed.
Alakazam Toys & Gifts
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 10% discount on every store purchase.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Green Bean Baby Boutique
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 10% discount on their entire purchase.
Valid through March 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Bend Yoga
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive the first class free (new clients only) and 10% off any new 10-, 15-, or 20-class pass.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
The Candy Store
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 15% discount on every purchase at the Charlottesville location only.
Valid through April 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Draft Taproom
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive half-price kids meals from the taproom’s “Half Pints” menu on Saturdays.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Kilwins
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 15% discount on ice cream purchases at the Charlottesville location only.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Iron Paffles & Coffee
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members have one child eat free per one paying adult. Offer includes single chicken paffles and up to two toppings; drinks not included.
Valid through April 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Paradox Pastry
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 10% discount on in-store purchases. Offer does not include catering, wholesale, or special orders like wedding cakes.
Valid through April 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
The Melting Pot
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 20% discount on all purchases.
Valid through June 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
New Dominion Bookshop
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 10% discount on any store purchase.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Shenanigans
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 10% discount on every purchase.
Valid through April 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Splendora’s Gelato
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a free bambino gelato with any purchase.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Telegraph Art & Comics
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members receive a 10% discount on any of the books from the “All Ages” section of the shop.
Valid through July 1, 2018
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
Tilman’s
Ongoing Promotion: Discovery-level members get $1 off kids meals, and Mom (or Dad) can have Happy Hour anytime because they deserve it!
Valid through April 1, 2019
Must Show Valid Blue Discovery-Level ID to Redeem
What About My Family/Explorer Membership?
If you are a current Family- or Explorer-Level Member, VDM will honor your existing benefits for the remainder of your membership period. When your membership expires, you have the option to renew at the 3-Month or Discovery levels.
- Current Family-Level Members: You have the option to upgrade to a Discovery Membership for the remainder of your membership period for a $25 fee. VDM will print a new card for you, reflecting the change in membership level. (Online Upgrade Temporarily Unavailable)
- Current Explorer-Level Members: If you would like to upgrade your membership card in order to utilize the Discovery Membership’s exclusive Partner Merchant discounts, we will gladly print a new blue card for you, free of charge. Please email membership@vadm.org to request a Discovery-level card.