You can purchase a membership online, in-person at the Museum’s admissions desk, or over the phone. To purchase a new membership online, click on the Membership tab at the top of the screen, and select your desired membership level. To renew an existing membership, make sure you SIGN IN/REGISTER with the email associated with your membership profile, at the top right-hand corner of the website before checking out in your cart.

You can purchase a gift membership online, in-person at the Museum’s admissions desk, or over the phone.

To purchase a gift membership online, click here. After choosing the appropriate membership, make sure you check the box at the bottom of the page that says, “This membership is a gift.” You will be able to select whether you’d prefer a mailed physical gift certificate, or an emailed digital gift certificate. (Please allow 2-5 business days to process gift certificates.)

You do not have to wait until your membership expires to upgrade to a higher membership level. You can do this at any time by phone or in-person at the Museum’s admissions desk. 

We offer Military, Student, and Senior discounts on all membership levels, except Family PLUS, Contributing and Sustaining. To receive a Military, Student, or Senior discount, you must purchase the membership over the phone (716-896-5200 x311), or in-person at the Museum’s admissions desk.

Yes! You can apply up to $20.00 worth of your admissions receipt toward a membership purchase. The receipt must be presented at the Museum’s admissions desk (or call 716-896-5200 x311) to receive credit. This offer is only valid up to 14 days after the date on your receipt. 

Memberships can be used instantly after purchase.

To receive a physical copy of your membership cards, please send your request to [email protected]. Instructions for how to download our digital membership cards can be found under the Membership tab at the top of the screen.

The Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences (BSNS) Memberships are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be applied to group visits. 

Our memberships are not tax-deductible. However, if a donation is made alongside a membership purchase, that donation is tax-deductible.

See HERE.

Digital membership cards may be downloaded via the FREE eMembership Card app. See exact instructions here. 

We will only be mailing membership cards to households that specifically request them.

Physical membership cards will usually take two weeks to arrive in the mail during our regular operating seasons. During holiday seasons, physical membership cards may take up to a month to receive. 

If you do not have a physical or digital membership card or forgot to bring your membership cards on the day of your visit, a valid photo ID or driver’s license can be used to check-in at the Museum’s admissions desk.

Although certain membership levels include children, children listed on the membership cannot use their membership benefits unless the adult owner of the membership is present. (Also, children who are listed on a membership cannot use their membership benefits when they are visiting with an adult who is not listed as an owner of the membership. However, memberships can be upgraded to our Family PLUS level, which includes the flexibility for the adult who owns the membership to hand their membership card off to one unlisted adult to bring in the listed children, when they aren’t present. Membership upgrades can be made in person at the Museum’s admissions desk or over the phone at 716-896-5200 x311)

Those who have a Family PLUS level membership can take advantage of more flexibility when it comes to who can use their membership. With Family PLUS, the adult(s) who owns the membership is able to hand their membership card off to one unlisted adult to bring in the listed children on the membership, when they aren’t present. Membership upgrades can be in person at the Museum’s admissions desk or over the phone at 716-896-5200 x311

Unfortunately, membership benefits/discounts do not apply to school field trips. However, adults who own the membership can use their membership to cover the cost of their general admission ticket if they are chaperoning the field trip.

Your BMS membership allows you access to over 350 science and children’s museums worldwide through the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport Program and free or discounted admission to over 30 great museums throughout New York States science through the Empire State Museum Reciprocal Program.

We recommend that you contact your desired reciprocal location before visiting to verify their visitor requirements. To learn more about the ASTC Passport Program, or participating locations, click here. To learn more about the ESMRP Reciprocal Program, click here.

When purchasing online with a membership, make sure you sign-in to link your membership account (the SIGN-IN/REGISTER button can be found in the top right corner of the screen after you select your desired event. It’s important to make sure you sign-in or register your membership account using the email associated with your membership. You will also need to use the exact name listed on your membership account. If you need to update the e-mail on file, or you are having trouble signing in, please give us a call at 716-896-5200 x311.