Statements
Mission
Engaging curious minds to fuel the future.
Background
The Children's Discovery House was chartered in 1986 as Children's Museum Corporation of Rutherford County. After an extensive grassroots campaign, a building was purchased and renovated at 503 N. Maple Street, exhibits and programs were gradually created, and Children's Discovery House opened on March 3, 1987. The 4,500 square foot facility hosted 11,000 in its first year. Utilization grew from 11,000 visitors in the first year to over 35,000 visitors in 1990. After several years, the current site was overflowing with exhibits and visitors, resulting in the need to search for a new home. In the late 1990s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified Murfree Spring wetlands as the best location for interpretative and educational activities. As a result, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State of Tennessee, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the City of Murfreesboro, local corporations, and numerous civic groups, the Children's Museum Corporation of Rutherford County built the new museum, Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, in 2002. The Board, along with Congressmen Bart Gordon, was able to raise nearly $3 million to construct the building and exhibits. In 2007, the museum added a 9,000 sq. ft. addition with the generous support of the Christy Houston Foundation. In 2012, under new leadership and an energized commitment to serving as a sustainable community resource, strategic planning sessions involving staff and board members were held to devise both long-term and short-term goals to reach all segments of the community. This began a period of focused growth expanding learning opportunities and experiences that increase Discovery Center's impact including a free, after-school Explorer's Club for the Murfreesboro Boys & Girls Club, The STEAM Bus (a mobile laboratory for Science Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), a new Discover India free cultural day, the Youth Council, and the Special Needs Council. In 2017, Discovery Center launched the inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival. The festival's 10-day period provided many opportunities for children, youth, and families of all ages to experiment with STEAM ideas in real-world situations. The Discovery Center and the Tennessee STEAM Festival were awarded the 2018 Bronze award for Best New Event by the Southeastern Festival and Events Association.
Impact
Our vision is to build a community with the courage to ask thoughtful questions, the drive to find creative solutions, and the confidence to implement positive changes. Significant accomplishments include:1) Planned and launched the inaugural Tennessee STEAM Festival in October 2017. The Tennessee STEAM Festival is a 10-day statewide celebration designed to build interest and excitement in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). To date the festival has served 65,000+ minds and counting. 2) Became the Tennessee State Hub for the National Girls Collaborative Project in August 2018. As the convening agency of the Tennessee Girls Collaborative, Discovery Center will bring together organizations and individuals that are committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in STEM, encouraging greater collaboration and improved inter-program communication. 3) Selected for the fifth Cultural Competence Learning Institute (CCLI) Institute, a national initiative, cohort in 2018. Through CCLI, our goal is to increase organizational capacity around diversity and inclusion in its broadest sense. 4) Expanded outreach to rural counties through a robust mobile education program and participation in the national summer program, GSK Science in the Summer, delivered to 400 children through 5 counties. Our top goals moving forward include:1) Grow as an organization in a way that reflects the growth and changing demographics of the middle Tennessee region including feasibility of expansion in satellite locations. 2) Collaborate with partner organizations in the Science Alliance Tennessee to strengthen informal STEM education in the state. 3) Offsite attendance grows by 50% through regional outreach activities and pop up locations. 4) Effective communication and interaction with stakeholders that contributes to the museum's prosperity via mission and money.
Needs
Opportunities to communicate The Power of Play and Discovery Center as an exceptional resource for families, caregivers, and educators.Increased funding for Kids First, Discovery Center's accessibility initiative. Sponsors and partners for the Tennessee STEAM Festival. Recruitment and participation in the Discovery Guild. The Discovery Guild is a network for families, caregivers, and community leaders to connect and engage within the vision of Discovery Center. The members of the Discovery Guild embrace this vision: to build a community with the courage to ask thoughtful questions, the drive to find creative solutions, and the confidence to implement positive changes.
CEO Statement
Discovery Center provides an opportunity for all children to have access to high-quality informal learning experiences. This is critical in developing a robust learning ecosystem that includes out-of-school and after-school partnership programs. A child between the ages of 4 and 8 years of age spends 85% of their time outside the classroom. It is imperative that we facilitate experiences that can't be found at home or school, experiences that will inspire inquiry. Over the next 30 years and beyond, we will continue to be impact driven. We will provide those transformational moments that connect curiosity to careers and inspire children to become collaborative, compassionate, and innovative leaders. We are striving to make Discovery Center one of the nation's best, most resourceful and relevant children's museums. We want to serve our growing community.
Board Chair Statement
Over the past two years, we have weathered difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid these trials, the Discovery Center has emerged even stronger and continues to be a place of creative play, learning, and family enjoyment for children (and grownups!) in the Middle Tennessee Area. Numerous individuals, companies, and agencies have contributed to the success of the Discovery Center over the past 30+ years. From our tremendous community support that now spans generations as parents re-live their childhood experiences and visit the Center with their families, to the generosity of many businesses throughout Middle Tennessee, the Center is recognized as a valuable asset and contributor to the quality of life in our community. Additionally, we value the support from local, state, and federal agencies which are relied upon for special initiatives and operations. If you have not had the opportunity to visit the Center, please take the time to drop by for a special event, or education program, or to just play at the water table or slide down the slide. As a frequent patron over the years, previously with my son and now with his sons, I can attest - it will be a memorable experience.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Arts, Culture & Humanities - Children's Museums |
| Secondary Category: | Environment - Environmental Education |
| Tertiary Category: | Education - Educational Services |
Areas Served
The Discovery Center's public programs serve Rutherford County and the entire Tennessee community with visitors from 75 Tennessee counties in 2018.
| TN |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
