"Say 'Tegu'"

Tucked in the top corner of Chapman Cultural Center's Montgomery Building, 200 E Saint John St, find physics, fossils, and a bear (oh my!) in one of Spartanburg's greatest, public, scientific resources. The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center has a long history in the community before opening in 2007, going back for decades to the original Spring Street arts center with Mr. Green's reptiles and traveling school visits.Some of the most popular exhibits include the robotic arm, Science theater, mobile Star Lab planetarium, the interactive fossil room, and a multitude of Lego stations and walls. Find fun for all ages, Thursday and Friday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1-5pm. The Center is open to school trips and homeschool classes during the week by appointment.The Center is also the Upstate host for the annual Junior FLL Lego Expo, the sponsor organization for the Hub City Robotics club, the creative minds behind the Spartanburg Community Aviation Program, and more. Their motto of "excite, engage, educate," transcends to the Center to their school visits, after school programs with the Boys & Girls Club, and community events, such as 'The Science of Wine' and STEAM camps. Learn more about the Science Center's collaboration with the Spartanburg Downtown Airport and their upcoming programs in the City's featured podcast episode here.We couldn't possibly forget the living residents of the Center either! In addition to its most infamous resident and escape artist, Imhotep the Tortoise, the Science Center's Animal Room is home to a hedgehog, several varieties of snakes, turtles, and lizards, amphibians, and... a brand new Tegu Lizard!The Argentine Tegu (teh-goo) is currently just under a foot long, but the breed can grow up to four feet. Known as the "puppy dog of lizards," the friendly terrarium-dwellers enjoy being held and can be taught to exercise on leashes. Expect to see this friendly, striped girl walking through the Center on ArtWalk nights!The Science Center held a contest on social media to let the kids of the community choose the new tegu's name, and the winner was: Teak!