The goal of raising $6 million for the Kansas Children's Discovery Center is within reach, but we need your help to get there by September 30th. That goal and that date are necessary for the project to qualify for a $500,000 matching grant.
You can help by making a pledge at the web site www.kansasdiscovery.org.
Joanne Morrell, Executive Director says they have raised more than $4.6 million but they need to get to $6 million by the end of September in order to get the extra money from the Mabee Foundation in Tulsa Oklahoma. “We’re not breaking ground until all the commitments are in place,” Morrell said.
Bill Moore, president and chief executive officer of Westar Energy, also serves in a volunteer position as co-chairman of the Heartland Visioning Process. He said the Discovery Center will address a number of needs cited in the group’s strategic plan. He cited, for example, the statement from the plan that the community should strive “to create enthusiasm for and provide opportunity for students to be exposed to technologically, science-driven and agricultural careers in Shawnee County.”
The Discovery Center's 15,708 sq ft building will be nestled along the edge of four wooded acres, providing numerous opportunities for outdoor exploration and discovery. The energy-efficient building will create a positive learning environment that enhances the exhibit experience and a wonderful connection to the outdoors through natural day lighting.
From the dramatic roofline that collects rainwater, to the rainbow colored glass wall, to the illuminated beacon vestibule, the building creates adventure and excitement at first glance.
Like the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, the Kansas Children's Discovery Center will be a showcase facility and a great source of community and state pride that regularly serves visitors from a 60-mile radius and beyond.
The Discovery Center will be about discovery and exploration. Children learn best by "doing" in a hands-on environment. The Discovery Center will be colorful, magical and fun, with a primary focus of EDUCATION.
Exhibit areas will emphasize math, science and the arts, encouraging both critical and creative thinking, as well as promoting physical and gross-motor activity. With programming and exhibits that align with the Kansas curriculum objectives, the Discovery Center will be a resource for educators and provide an economical field trip for students in northeast Kansas.
The Discovery Center’s educational exhibit areas will create an immersive environment filled with opportunities for a variety of unique learning experiences.
