More Than Child’s Play
culture, discovery landing, discovery science place, exhibit, gina bruton, holly short, recreation, science,
Holly Short has come to rely on Discovery Science Place to fill her children’s rainy days and long summers.
Short‚ who has lived in the area for more than 10 years‚ has had her museum membership for more than eight years. When her children were little‚ she says‚ she didn’t have to worry about them damaging the exhibits – everything was kid-friendly and hands on. As they got older‚ she watched them embrace the museum’s summer camps.
Just don’t tell Hampton‚ 8‚ and Emma‚ 5‚ that the camps are educational. They think it is all fun.
“We love‚ love‚ love their camps‚” Short‚ 36‚ says with more than a hint of enthusiasm. “I can’t say enough about them. I don’t know where they come up with the teachers‚ but they are great.”
So great‚ Short says‚ that one day her son watched in horror as mom jumped right in and played with abandon.
“‘Uh‚ Mom? It’s for kids‚’” Short recalls Hampton saying. “‘You’ve got to go now.’”
Gina Bruton‚ Discovery Science Place’s marketing director‚ describes the children’s museum as a hands-on experience focused on math‚ science‚ technology and culture.
After a Texas A&M University feasibility study indicated a need for a children’s museum in the area‚ the project was taken on by the Junior League of Tyler. Discovery Science Place opened in 1993.
It’s perhaps best known for “Discovery Landing‚” an 85-component area complete with model mountain‚ ship and earthquake simulator.
Nearby‚ “Hometown USA” is a mini version of Tyler itself. Designed to help kids understand the immediate world around them‚ it includes everything from a grocery store to a full-size ambulance.
“It teaches role-playing and how Mommy and Daddy live every day‚” Bruton says.
“Hometown USA” is a visible example of community support for the museum. Brookshire Grocery Co. built the store. The Tyler Morning Telegraph sponsored the newspaper exhibit‚ and East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System donated the ambulance.
“We fill a need in the community‚ and they help us in ways they can‚” Bruton says. “If not with money‚ then with goods.”
Museum officials keep the experience fresh with traveling‚ temporary exhibits such as the San Francisco-based‚ ExploraZone sound exhibit.
“It’s really loud‚” Bruton says with a laugh.
Outreach efforts include working with area teachers during field trips or in the classroom. Bruton said the museum has a number of trunks available for classroom use; each is filled with period dress and artifacts to help bring history lessons to life.
During summer months‚ Discovery Science Place offers more than 60 summer camp courses‚ attracting more than 300 students who learn about a variety of subjects‚ including science‚ cooking and flight.
In addition to renting space for children’s birthday parties‚ the museum has become increasingly popular with adults‚ with businesses renting space for holiday celebrations.
“The adults get to come be kids‚ and we’re starting to have young adults who remember coming here as kids‚” Bruton says.
“This is a great place for families to spend a Saturday afternoon learning together‚” she adds. “Then they can share it when they get home.
Story by Leanne Libby
Photo by Antony Boshier
