3rd Annual Kids Camp and Education Fair

Free Admission from 10am-5pm on Saturday February 28th! Come find out about the variety of summer programs available throughout the community, in addition to exploring DCS.

Science Sprout Days

Visit Discovery Center Thursday February 26th from 10am-4pm for Science Sprout Days! Brain Bytes on this day will be geared to early learners. Early childhood groups, MOPS groups, play groups are encouraged to use this day for visiting the museum without fear of encountering older groups of students. Early childhood programs can be added for an additional fee, to enhance the visit. For more information, contact Hayley Budd at 417.862.9910x726

The eye has three separate processing systems

New research shows it takes a village to help you see, according to the Society for Neuroscience. Right now, we know of at least three separate processing systems that help your brain make sense of visual data: One that focuses on shape, another devoted to color, and a third that takes on the task of interpreting movement and location. The Society reports that psychologists have found that humans can see and understand things like depth perception and texture even without color being involved. Instead, contrasts in light intensity help us pick up on this information.

"Hubble's Next Discovery -- You Decide"

In 1609, Galileo Galilei turned his telescope on the night sky for the first time, profoundly changing our view of our place in the universe. In recognition of this, 2009 has been designated the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). IYA is a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society, while marking the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope.

In celebration of the IYA, you have the opportunity to vote for the next object the Hubble Space Telescope will observe. From now through March 1st, the world can participate in "Hubble's Next Discovery -- You Decide", and vote for an object Hubble has never observed before. In addition, educators can participate in a related classroom activity called the “Hubble Collage Activity.”

For more information about “Hubble’s Next Discovery – You Decide,” visit the Amazing Space Web site.

Outreach from DCS

Discovery Center can bring our interactive educational programs to you. We have fun, educational programs that last one hour. Choose from 20 different topics!

ScienceWorks on the Road is an eight week outreach program. Professional educators come to your classroom with interactive experiments that are aligned to Missouri Grade Level Expectations in Science. In the eighth week the class goes on a field trip to Discovery Center to reinforce what they learned.

For more information about Outreach call 417-862-9910.

Discovery Center also has tax credit programs available to donors who qualify. These NAP credits will benefit programs like ScienceWorks on the Road:

Discovery Center of Springfield (DCS) is excited to announce the award of a new Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credit grant. DCS has been awarded $199,830 in credits which will leverage $399,660 in contributions to support our mission.

NAP tax credits are made available to donors to redirect their state tax dollars to support local projects that improve the quality of life for our community. DCS has been approved for NAP credits consistently over the past 15 years because of our unique position to provide an educational environment that serves to enrich and appeal to all ages and stages of learners at all socio-economic levels. Individual learning styles of children and families are nurtured with the intent to excite and engage on various topics. DCS exhibits and programs naturally encourage visitors and students to experience objects and ideas firsthand, shaping impressions of themselves, each other and the world around them. Please find a brief description of the program these contributions will support beginning on page 2.

The financial benefit to eligible donors is a 50% state tax credit in addition to a federal charitable tax deduction for qualified donations. The philanthropic benefit is the knowledge that your NAP tax donation can affect the lives of children in our community forever. Through NAP tax credits, DCS has been able to offer free programming to students eligible for the Federal Free Lunch Program. Programs such as ScienceWorks on the Road have seen 30% gains in science knowledge from students participating with their schools. Programs like this, as well as facility upgrades and new exhibits DCS has been able to add with NAP tax credits, help create a long-lasting energy and excitement for learning. The community benefit is the opportunity to empower a child to transform their life and our world.

These credits are available until June 30, 2011. Qualified donations can be made by check, credit card, or stock. Minimum donation is $1,000. If you would like more information or a personal tour of the DCS, please call Emily at 862-9910 ext. 700.

Star Party at DCS February 13 5pm-8pm

2009 celebrates the 400th anniversary of the invention of the telescope. In hopes of raising awareness about astronomy, we have set the goal of getting 150,000 people to look through a telescope in 2009. This is approximately the population of Springfield, Missouri. We will offer a star party once a month where anyone can come down and look through a telescope, then register as a participant in the project. This is a community building event, so feel free to bring down your telescope and “WOW” your neighbors with everything you know, or come down and look through a neighbor’s telescope and be “WOWED!” The Springfield Astronomical Society has partnered with DCS to offer their expertise and knowledge, and to make sure everyone has a chance to see all the amazing objects in our universe! Star Party on Patio Free, admission applies for entering the museum.

Also join us for the Great Observatories Image Unveiling at 7pm! Discovery Center is excited to announce that we have been chosen as one of the sites for NASA’s Great Observatories Image Unveiling. DCS will receive a free permanent exhibit highlighting the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) as seen by three different telescopes. To celebrate this new addition, there will be an unveiling party at 7:00 pm on Friday, February 13th. Members only “Galileo’s birthday” celebration from 5pm-7pm; enjoy refreshments and activities, as well as experience amazing discoveries across the universe.

DCS Is Open on President's Day!

School is out and what a great day to continue to learn and have fun with family and friends at Discovery Center of Springfield. General Admission applies. Discovery Center is an interactive, hands-on museum committed to inspiring people of all ages with a life-long love of learning and an appreciation for the world and our place in it. Admission is $7.00 adults, $6.00 seniors, $5.00 children (3-12). Contact us at 417-862-9910 or website at www.discoverycenter.org.

Watch DCS on KSFX!

Want to see some cool stuff going on at DCS? If you miss us Wednesday morning on KSFX don't worry; just visit our site for the video! Click the KSFX logo to visit the DCS site for a list of videos!