Discovery Place

Grateful for our recent visit to Native American Studies Center, USC Lancaster! 🪶 Our Collections team learned invaluable lessons about honoring Native American artifacts through authentic collaboration and Indigenous voices. This is what meaningful museum work looks like: listening, learning, and building partnerships that truly matter. Thank you for sharing your insights with us! 🙏

🕊️ Remembering Jane 🌿 As we closed the doors on the Becoming Jane exhibition in April, we carried forward a legacy that will never fade. Dr. Jane Goodall showed us that one person, armed with nothing but curiosity, compassion and courage, could change how we see ourselves and our place in the natural world. She taught us that science begins with wonder. Dr. Goodall may have left this world, but her roots run deep. In every child who now dreams of protecting wildlife, in every act of conservation, in all of us who refuse to give up on this beautiful, fragile planet. Thank you, Jane. For everything. Your work here is not finished – we, along with everyone who visited your poignant exhibition, will carry it forward. 🌱 "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." — Dr. Jane Goodall

🛝 Worldwide Day of Play 🎈 At Discovery Place, we believe play is at the heart of how children learn and grow. Play is not a break from learning, it is learning. When we allow children to explore, create, and imagine, we are giving them permission to build on the critical skills that they will need throughout life. Just as important, play nurtures character by teaching values like respect, resilience, and compassion. When we play, we allow the feeling of joy to shine through, which creates shared experiences and connections across generations. For those of us at Discovery Place - from educators to exhibit designers and everyone in between -  play isn’t optional, it is essential. Play is how we help children see, understand, and embrace the world around them. Have you played today? Association of Children's Museums

Ready to inspire the next generation of innovators? Our newest exhibition, Above and Beyond, launches Saturday, October 18 at Discovery Place Science! Experience the future of aerospace through one of the most interactive flight exhibitions ever to tour: ➡️ Race at supersonic speeds ➡️ Pilot drones into hurricanes ➡️ Journey to Mars ➡️ Explore flying car technology Perfect for corporate team outings, educational field trips, or family adventures that combine learning with excitement. Produced by Evergreen Exhibitions with Boeing, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

🎉 Discovery Place is thrilled to share that our museums have once again earned accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition a museum can receive. This prestigious achievement reaffirms Discovery Place's commitment to excellence, accountability and innovation in science and education. Of the estimated 33,000 museums in the United States, only about 1,100 are currently accredited. Science and technology museums make up just 3% of that elite group and children’s museums represent fewer than 1%. Discovery Place’s reaccreditation reflects the hard work, passion and dedication of our employees, board members and volunteers, as well as our steadfast support of our community. Because of your belief in our mission, Discovery Place continues to grow, evolve and create transformative experiences that inspire learners of all ages. We are deeply grateful to have reached this milestone and excited for what the future holds for Discovery Place. 💙

Are you an educator? 👩🏫 Join Discovery Place Science on September 13 for our Educator Summit—a free event designed to empower educators with tools to bring STEM to life for students! Connect with fellow educators and the Discovery Place team while visiting our hands-on science labs, previewing an IMAX Planetarium show and learning about our outreach programs and classes. Plus, explore innovative ways to engage your students, plan unforgettable STEM field trips and get practical tools to boost your teaching. ✏ The Educator Summit is free for educators. Register here ➡ https://lnkd.in/gvVGasC7

Do you know someone who'd make a great apprentice at Discovery Place? Applications are open for our Fall 2025 STEM Corp Apprenticeship Program, a volunteer-based opportunity for students 14-18 years old. Discovery Place apprentices work alongside museum professionals to learn daily operations, build professional skills and gain customer service experience with guests through STEM activities. 🔹When: The program begins in October 2025 and ends in April 2026. 🔹Where: Apprenticeships are available at Discovery Place Science in Charlotte, Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville and Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham. 🔹Deadline: Application materials must be submitted by September 5, 2025. 🔹Apply here + pass this along to others in your network ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eAxjzXbb

This summer, Discovery Place proudly partnered with Bank of America to deliver the 2025 STEM Scholars program, a two-week learning experience designed to empower rising high school juniors with essential life and career skills. The scholars participated in dynamic, hands-on sessions focused on topics like public speaking, interviewing, personal finance and budgeting, health insurance basics and college preparation. The scholars also engaged with Discovery Place educators and guest speakers and had an opportunity to network with Bank of America mentors. The program wrapped up with a Capstone Celebration at Discovery Place Science, where each scholar showcased their growth through final presentations. Discovery Place is grateful to Bank of America for its partnership in inspiring future STEM leaders!

Throughout the year, Discovery Place's Outreach team takes learning beyond museum walls with in-person workshops and STEM events across our community. This summer, Outreach partnered with Johnson C. Smith University's Upward Bound Program, which helps students prepare for a successful college education. Over the course of four weeks during June and July, Discovery Place delivered nearly 100 hours of STEM programming to high schoolers as part of the university's Upward Bound Summer Institute. Students had an opportunity to participate in two of the four curriculum tracks—Anatomy & Physiology, Computer Science, Engineering and Make—and engage in hands-on, inquiry-based learning designed to prepare them for future success in college and STEM careers. Thank you to Johnson C. Smith University for welcoming us this summer to empower the next generation of STEM leaders!

We’re thrilled to announce an expanded partnership between Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham and Vulcan Materials Company that will bring nearly 450 fourth-grade students from Richmond County Schools to the museum for immersive STEM experiences. With Vulcan’s generous support, every fourth-grade class will take part in a free field trip to the Museum, where they’ll explore interactive exhibits and participate in “Vulcan Rock Stars,” a special geology-focused class designed by Discovery Place educators. Their experience will extend beyond the Museum, with a visit to Vulcan’s Rockingham quarry facility, where students and educators will witness how STEM applies in real-world industry and how it can lead to rewarding local careers. 🗨️ Dr. Nikole (Nikki) L. Hill, Chief Learning Officer at Discovery Place, shared: “This partnership opens the door to meaningful learning opportunities for children across our community, inspiring them to dream bigger, grow their curiosity and see themselves in the future of STEM.” We are proud to work alongside Vulcan to help empower the next generation of STEM leaders in Richmond County.