the children's museum of science and technology (the junior museum)

Looking for something really great for children and adults, go to the The Children's Museum of Science and Technology. We took the grand kids on a day when it was free. Everybody had a blast. They had a story time on nano scale how low can you go. The reader was very good and kept going when obviously the topic was more for the parents than for the kids. Our girls stayed focused with the free book that they were givenA lot of the interactive exhibits were very challenging mostly for the parents . The size of the museum is just right for introducing all areas of science and technology to young minds. It is not too overwhelming and the girls moved through it very well. We need more places like this.

Excellent displays of a large variety to enthrall children of various ages. Thankfully the large reptile display is in a separate room. Grandchildren went in to view, while Nana stay outside the room.

Took my two eldest grandchildren (6 & 10) and both were entertained and intriged with the exhibits and activities that were available.

This is a great Children's Museum of Science and Technology in the Albany, NY area. The exhibits are great and they have a theatre which shows movies related to children. Great learning experience. Highly recommend.

Perfect for little ones on a rainy day. Small enough to get through it all, large enough for a great time. Staff was above and beyond.

We went to this museum when we realized it was free due to our ASTC Passport membership from our local museum. I believe it's only $5 to get in anyway. It's very small, however our 6 and 8 year old were very happy to be there. The front desk attendant gave them a scavenger hunt sheet of paper that kept them active throughout the circular-shaped museum. They loved the magnetic tube wall, as well as the interactive health exhibit in the center. We didn't have time to see a show, but it was a good way to pass some time on a rainy day. I'm not sure how they could really improve it much considering their space is pretty filled out, but the kids definitely learned a thing or two and enjoyed the live animals (owls!) that you wouldn't normally get to see.

They've made strides to add some other rooms and more activities. Just a bit too small and lacking that real excitement factor. We will go back though the kids do really enjoy it.

Its hands on, not very large but the kids enjoy it. It is a museum on how to care for fish life and they can actually touch them. its interesting but don't think its something outsiders would really enjoy. local kids yes. goes too fast.

This museum is a bit smaller than some other children's museums but I think that is part of the charm. For smaller kids there is a lot less walking to do and with no stairs or elevators to navigate it is much easier to bring a stroller. They have live animals, some of which the children are allowed to touch and visit with and the staff is incredibly helpful and friendly. Better for toddler and pre-school/kindergarten age children.

The museum is very small and for most of our visit during the middle of the day, we were the only people there. The staff was extremely friendly with our children which was nice. One of the major interactive displays was broken. Overall our young kids enjoyed it and learned something from the visit.

While there are some decent and modern exhibits (the Nano room mainly) we did not enjoy our first visit to CMOST and I guarantee its the last. The very first exhibit had broken parts and was filthy. I'm not talking didn't get cleaned after a day of heavy use, or someone forgot the day before, I'm saying it looks like it hasn't been cleaned since installed. A thick layer of dust and grim as well as cobwebs all very visible to the staff person sitting at the front check in desk. That alone should have tipped us off to the utter lack of upkeep and care. I could go on and on about all the disgusting play areas and broken run down displays, but I won't waste anyones time further. Do not bother with CMOST,

the museum is modest in size and scope. Our younger children enjoyed the visit. They particularly enjoyed a live demonstration on differences between turtles. There were some interesting exhibits on different properties of light. The youngest also like a computer matching game.

very small without many attractions. Kids got bored after 45 min. there was a birthday party the same time which makes it even worse.

We visited with our granddaughters, age 11 and 12, on a Saturday afternoon. The girls are experienced judges of science museums and gave it the lowest rating of the 7 NY and MA museums we visited on our 8-day trip. They felt is we definitely geared for the younger, knee-biter, set and too simplistic in the interactive exhibits. However, they gave the live critter section a big thumbs-up, with a special shout-out to the hedgehog, which we have all read about, but this one was real and alive. In fact, on talking to the very helpful animal attendant who was doing a feed-and-maintain round, we learned that the live animal section is still very much in development: they have a lot of exotic species, all in glass cages or aquaria, which are on hold (and on exhibit), and which will soon become part of a fully integrated and developed section of the museum. If I could give stars for seeing my first hedgehog, my first blue-tongued skink (finally!), or the biggest most charming iquana I have ever seen up close and personal, this museum would get them all. We will definitely go back the next time we are in the Tri-Cities area (the museum is associated in some way with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I think, and should benefit from some of that school's very advanced thinking.)

I remember the Rensselaer County Junior Museum, and it was a haven for preschoolers and school age alike, with lots of exhibits and things to do. We returned to CMOST (the reinvented junior museum) with the grandchildren. Very little hands on and much of what was supposed to be usable was broken. No staff was available to explain some of the exhibits or direct us to the trail. We missed the show announcement, and no one traveled through the museum to announce it. The children were bored after a quick tour of the circle. The only good point was the price--for a military family, it is free. Maybe we could have engaged the school age child, but the preschooler, there was nothing to entice her.