Save the Date

Fall 2016

News about events and exhibits at Discovery Center Museum in Rockford, IL

INSIDE:

2Information 35th Birthday New Website

3Special Events #DiscoverTheSpirits 4Tot Spot Classes

Home School & 5Family Classes SAVE THE DATE Summer interns to Sip, Sample & Support! 6a huge help! Discover the Spirits is returning Friday, October 21 from 7:30 to 10:30 pm for spirit tasting, orchestrated by Artale Accessibility Wine, with tasty tidbit samplings from Five Forks, Greenfire, Pinnon’s, Thunder Bay, improvements Chick-fil-A, and Sweet Dreams Bakery. Join the spooky fun by dancing to the sounds of Mornings of Fun Frank Calvagna & Vince Chiarello and Carl Cole. The science experiments will amaze you, the intuitive Messy Mondays reader will enlighten you, and our caricature artist will delight you! We welcome all big kids 21 and older to join us for our signature fundraiser. Trip Advisor Tickets are $50/person. Casual business attire is recommended. Certificate of Excellence Register today on our newly designed website to make sure you don’t miss out on this one of a kind event! We’re sure you will have a spooktacular time! For questions or further information, email [email protected]. Grants & Gifts Premier Sponsor Executive Sponsor Partner Sponsors 7 Advanced Machine/Hennig Rock Valley Credit Union Thank you YES Reinhart Boerner Van Duren Williams McCarthy volunteers Join the fun! Associate Sponsors Spirits Sponsors Rockford Bank & Trust First Benefits Group Bill & Audra Capriola Holmstrom Kennedy CoyleKiley Insurance Kids ID and safety event 8 In-Kind Sponsors Record attendance

1 INFORMATION: Help Discovery Hours Center celebrate Monday – Sunday: our 35th birthday! 10 am – 5 pm Fall 2016 marks the 35th anniversary of Admission Discovery Center Museum. We need Adult/Child: $8 your help to celebrate! Please send Children age 1 and us your photos or short videos of your younger and Members: FREE! family enjoying Discovery Center. In addition, we’d love to collect your stories about your Membership kids or grandkids enjoying the museum, how we CLIMB SuperPass: may have influenced your child’s love of science or $135/year; $250/2 years career path or how generations of your family are enjoying the Family SuperPass: $125/year; $250/2 years museum. You can either email your photos, video and/or stories Family Membership: to [email protected] or post them to $85/year; $160/2 years our Facebook page and hashtag #TraditionofDiscovery. We may Grandparent Membership: even ask you to take part in video testimonials! $85/year; $160/2 years We are on track to serve our 5 millionth visitor later this fall! We Individual Membership: hope it will be you! $55/year; $100/2 years We’ve come a long way in 35 years, and we look forward to the Group Rates next 35. We look forward to seeing your photos and videos, as Discounted group rates are available well as reading your stories! for tours, classes, museum rentals, and birthday parties. Reservations required. Discovery Center introduces Contact Us redesigned website Phone: (815) 963-6769 Discovery Center recently launched a complete redesign of Website: www.discoverycentermuseum.org our website at DiscoveryCenterMuseum.org. This new design features new and enhanced content, more photos, improved Staff navigation, and a simple, fresh look. We think the best feature Sarah Wolf...... Executive Director for our members and Lisa Coen...... Office Manager visitors is the ability (for Kyler Hartje...... Exhibits Technician/ the first time) to register Planetarium Technician for classes, purchase Michele Larson...... Assistant Gift Shop Manager memberships and make Cheryl Maggio...... Accountant online donations! Finally, Joyce Mazzola...... Gift Shop Manager the redesign is fully Sara McKevitt...... Development Director responsive, allowing you Hillary Parks...... Guest Services Manager to easily view it whether Bruce Quast...... Exhibits Director you are on your Mike Rathbun...... Associate Director mobile device, Meghan Richards...... Education Specialist/ Scout Coordinator tablet or computer. Jenny Rossol...... Early Childhood Educator Let us know how you like it! Maggie Ruggerio...... Education Specialist Corinne Sosso...... Director of Education Sue Stevens...... Volunteer & Special Projects Coordinator Discovery Center Museum Ann Marie Walker...... Marketing Director has birthday parties down to a science! Jessica Williams...... Education Specialist Our fun-filled, hassle-free parties begin at just $125 for Non-Members and $113 for Members and include invitations, Our Mission cupcakes, punch, exploration time in the Museum and more! Create opportunities for joyful learning and Special activity and pizza parties are available for additional fees. discovery through hands-on experiences in Call us at 815.963.6769 to reserve your child’s party the sciences and arts. or for additional information. 2 Fall 2016 discoverycentermuseum.org Fall 2016 Special Events All activities included with museum admission, unless otherwise noted Maker Mania Smashing Pumpkins Saturday, September 10; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sunday, November 6; 1:00–4:00 p.m. Join us for a fun day of invention, Watch Newton’s laws of motion construction and innovation! Use real take on new perspective and tools and real materials to create turn your decaying jack-o-lantern amazing projects in our Make It into exciting science! Your porch Workshop! Make a musical instru- décor can become a pumpkin ment, design a boat projectile using our giant trebu- that floats, or learn chet, or surrender it for target practice as part of the to solder! In addi- enormous citadel of squash! Construct a mini-catapult tion, Raspberry of your own, create a craft, fashion a bird feeder, design Pi’s, Cubelets, and autumn artwork, and celebrate the harvest Bee-Bots will be charged with a smashing good time. When the up for coding ed-ventures and launching ends, pumpkin pieces are robotic fun. Assemble our circuit kits collected and fed to local livestock or get engaged with your favorite block- – everybody wins! building materials including Legos, Citi Blocks and Imagination Playground! Science Cornucopia Friday and Saturday, November Worldwide Day of Play 25-26; 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 24; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We’re turning turkey-day left- Turn off the television and put down your devices! overs into zany science fun! Come to the museum for a day of activities including Experiment with cranberry chem- a hula hoop contest, jumping rope, bean bag toss and istry, engage in hopscotch. Also, pedal your way around our big wheel fruitcake physics, track and make a cup and ball game to take home. and find out what happens to whipped cream Happy Birthday when it’s dropped into liquid Discovery Center! nitrogen! Roll out some Sunday, October 2; 1:00 – 3:50 p.m. gingerbread play dough, Discovery Center is turning 35! We’re make an arithmetical orna- enjoying cupcakes, scooping ice cream, and ment, and bring the family revving up for fun! Come forward with stories to kick off the holiday season and photos, and plot your family on the with extraordinary demos and inter-generational graph of glee. Fashion a birthday festive arts and crafts. hat, construct a noise maker, and join in the celebra- tion as we exploit science to extinguish 35 candles Holiday Hoopla instantaneously! December 26–30; 11:30–3:30 p.m. $3.50 admission all day; 35 year-olds are free! Discovery Center’s lunchroom transforms into holiday headquarters as we merge hands-on arts and crafts Spooky Science with amazing math and science. Vote for your favorite Friday, October 28; 6:00–9:00 p.m. Christmas cookie, snip a snowflake, Bring your Trick-or-Treat bag and create delightful designs, and get ready to grab gobs of goodies discover hidden shapes. in our exhibit spaces as you concoct glowing slime and make Countdown creepy crafts! Fill in a bingo card to Fun! as you garner science facts and Saturday, December 31; feats from expired engineers and 12:30–4:30 p.m. deceased scientists. Explore the Park in the dark, pick up a prize from Alfred Design a party hat, Nobel, enjoy the not-quite-right chemistry create a noise maker, of Dorothy Hodgkin, and practice science tricks that look and get showered like magic! Grown-up ghouls, mid-sized monsters, and with confetti as we little goblins will have an enchanting experience in this find out where in the non-scary Halloween festival of fun! Come in costume! world it’s midnight each hour and countdown to $4 Members; $9 Public fun! Ring in the New Year all afternoon with this ener- getic blend of math, physics, fun, and art.

3 Skele-tons of Fun Cost: $12 Public / $10 Members (per child, per class) Take a closer look at skel- Preregistration required; payment must accompany etons as we discover what registration. Registration begins August 29 for members and gives our bodies shape and August 31 for non-members. Please call 815-963-6769 or strength. Learn which exer- visit our website to register at discoverycentermuseum.org/ cises and tasty food choices education/education-overview help our bones to grow In our classes for 2-year-olds, children must be accompanied healthy and strong. by an adult. We require that siblings (including babies) Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: not be in attendance. Your child needs your undivided Session 1 Mon., Oct 24; 9:30–10:30am attention. Session 2 Tues., Oct 25 11:00–Noon Adults are not required to attend classes for 3 to Session 3 Wed., Oct 26; 9:30–10:30am 6-year-olds but are welcome to come in to Session 4 Wed., Oct 26; 11:00–Noon observe the class. Session 5 Wed., Oct 26; 1:00–2:00pm Cancellation Policy: refunds (less 10%) are It’s Appletime! Session 6 Thurs., Oct 27; 9:30–10:30am available for classes when cancelled Pick up some apple facts in Sessions for 2-year-olds: at least 10 days in advance. this class! From blossoms to (With an adult, NO siblings, please.) fruit, learn how apples grow Session 7 Tues., Oct 25; 9:30–10:30am and have bushels of fun with Session 8 Thurs., Oct 27; 11:00–Noon Cozy Critters Jingle All the Way apple art. Saturday Special for 2- to Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: 6-year-olds: Discover how our animal Jingle into Discovery Center Session 1 Mon., Sept. 26; 9:30–10:30am Session 9 Sat., Oct 29; 10:00–11:00am friends get ready for colder for some holiday fun, art Session 2 Tues., Sept. 27; 11:00–Noon days ahead. Before you flap and music! Make a special Session 3 Wed., Sept. 28; 9:30–10:30am Old McDonald your wings to head south, surprise gift for someone you Session 4 Wed., Sept. 28; 11:00–Noon build a snuggly den for love and nibble a delicious Session 5 Wed., Sept. 28; 1:00–2:00pm Had a Farm Mister Bear and change a treat. Session 6 Thurs., Sept 29; 9:30–10:30am E-I-E-I-O what fun we will rabbit’s coat from brown to Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Sessions for 2-year-olds: have as we become farmers white. Session 1 Mon., Dec 12; 9:30–10:30am (With an adult, NO siblings, please.) and harvest our crops! Learn Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Session 2 Tues., Dec 13; 11:00–Noon Session 7 Tues., Sept. 27; 9:30–10:30am about all the animals on a Session 1 Mon., Nov 28; 9:30–10:30am Session 3 Wed., Dec 14; 9:30–10:30am Session 8 Thurs., Sept. 29; 11:00–Noon farm, special equipment Session 2 Tues., Nov 29; 11:00–Noon Session 4 Wed., Dec 14; 11:00–Noon Session 3 Wed., Nov 30; 9:30–10:30am Session 5 Wed., Dec 14; 1:00–2:00pm Saturday Special for 2- to used by farmers and have fun Session 4 Wed., Nov 30; 11:00–Noon Session 6 Thurs., Dec 15; 9:30–10:30am 6-year-olds: making a take home project. Session 5 Wed., Nov 30; 1:00–2:00pm Session 9 Sat., Oct 1; 10:00–11:00am Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Sessions for 2-year-olds: Session 1 Mon., Nov 7; 9:30–10:30am Session 6 Thurs., Dec 1; 9:30–10:30am (With an adult, NO siblings, please.) Ready, Set, Go Session 2 Tues., Nov 8; 11:00–Noon Sessions for 2-year-olds: Session 7 Tues., Dec 13; 9:30–10:30am Session 3 Wed., Nov 9; 9:30–10:30am (With an adult, NO siblings, please.) Session 8 Thurs., Dec 15; 11:00–Noon Planes, trains and automo- Session 4 Wed., Nov 9; 11:00–Noon Session 7 Tues., Nov 29; 9:30–10:30am biles! Let’s talk about things Saturday Special for 2- to Session 5 Wed., Nov 9; 1:00–2:00pm Session 8 Thurs., Dec 1; 11:00–Noon 6-year-olds: that move. Learn about how Session 6 Thurs., Nov 10; 9:30–10:30am an airplane takes flight, trains Saturday Special for 2- to Session 9 Sat., Dec 17; 10:00–11:00am rumble down the tracks and Sessions for 2-year-olds: 6-year-olds: (With an adult, NO siblings, please.) cars zoom down the street. Session 9 Sat., Dec 3; 10:00–11:00am Session 7 Tues., Nov 8; 9:30–10:30am Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Session 8 Thurs., Nov 10; 11:00–Noon Session 1 Mon., Oct 10; 9:30–10:30am Session 2 Tues., Oct 11; 11:00–Noon Saturday Special for ages 2- to Session 3 Wed., Oct 12; 9:30–10:30am 6-year-olds: Session 4 Wed., Oct 12; 11:00–Noon Session 9 Sat., Nov 12; 10:00–11:00am Session 5 Wed., Oct 12; 1:00–2:00pm Session 6 Thurs., Oct 13; 9:30–10:30am Sessions for 2-year-olds: (With an adult, NO siblings, please.) Baby and Me Toddler Session 7 Tues., Oct 11; 9:30–10:30am Come and join us in Discovery Center’s Baby Time Session 8 Thurs., Oct 13; 11:00–Noon Spot as we play, sing and meet with each other. This time is designed for children ages Being one is Saturday Special for 2- to birth to 18 months. Baby and Me is a drop-in FUN! This play- 6-year-olds: group is designed Session 9 Sat., Oct 15; 10:00–11:00am program held on the following Tuesdays: September 20, October 18, November 15 and for children ages 12 December 6 from 10:00–10:45 am. months to 24 months. No registration is required. Sing songs, read stories and explore FUN This playgroup is free materials while meeting new friends! Toddler with admission Time will be on the following Thursdays: to Discovery September 22, October 20, November 17, Center. and December 8 from 9:30–10:30 am. Remember, Advance registration is required. Please children register for the playgroup by calling one and 815-963-6769. Toddler time is limited to 12 younger families. The cost is $6/family or $20/family are FREE! for all four sessions. We will be meeting in the Tot Spot classroom (east end of the building). No siblings please… this time is designed for your toddler and you. 4 Fall 2016 discoverycentermuseum.org Home School Classes Ages: 7 & up Class times: 10:30 am-Noon Fees: $11 Members / $13 Non-members per child per class Advance registration required. Payment must accompany registration. Registration begins August 29 for Members and August 31 for the Public. You can either register online (DiscoveryCenterMuseum. org/education), call 815-963-6769, or stop by our office during normal business hours. Registration closes 4:00 pm Friday the week before class. Cancellation policy: Refunds are available through the close of registration, minus 10%. Discovery Center reserves the right to cancel events; in which case, a full NEW SERIES! refund will be issued. Sherlock Holmes Forensics Wednesday, November 9 Examine the evidence and unlock the mystery in this two part series! Find hidden clues, crack codes, and puzzle Fact or Fiction through riddles as you enter the world Wednesday, October 12 of Sherlock Holmes. Use real forensic Is that really true? Can balloons carry you away? Will pop-rocks science to examine fibers, match finger- and soda make your stomach explode? Put popular science prints, analyze DNA and more! But don’t myths like these to the test in this fiction-busting day of inves- let your eyes deceive you, there are red tigation. Make hypotheses and explore the scientific method herrings lurking and the culprit may be while searching for the facts behind the myths. hiding in plain sight. Rockets of the Sea Dr. Watson’s Lab Wednesday, October 26 Wednesday, November 30 Dissect a squid as you explore this amazing marine invertebrate Examine the evidence and unlock the mystery in the second of inside and out. Make a cephalopod diver and explore under this two part series on forensic science! water trajectory. Light it up with LEDS Wednesday, December 14 Is it a parallel or series circuit? Learn the basics of soldering as you connect simple circuits and switches! Make your own LED flashlight to take home.

We tweet! Follow @DiscovCenMuseum Family Class now! Gingerbread House Suggested Sunday, November 27; 1:30-3 pm 4 and up ages: Start the holiday season with Fees: First child per this delectable tradition as you family (includes one fully assembled gingerbread house decorate a Gingerbread House Pin with us! and all materials): Members $16 / Public $20 to take home! We supply the Each additional child: Members $5 / Public $8; adults no house, the tools, all the trim- Discovery Center has lots charge. Additional gingerbread houses are available for $10 mings, and even clean up the of great ideas on Pinterest each mess- you get the family fun on subjects such as STEM One adult required for every two children. and the finished masterpiece. activities; science activities Advance registration required. Payment must accompany registra- Sampling is encouraged for kids; holiday crafts and tion. Class registration starts August 29 for Members and August 31 in this sweet class experiments; science books for the general public. Registration closes 4:00 pm on Wednesday, sure to satisfy for kids; and November 23. Register either online (DiscoveryCenterMuseum. your inner elf. more. org/education), call 815-963-6769, or stop by our office during normal business hours. Discovery Center Cancellation policy: Refunds are available through the close is on Facebook of registration, minus 10%. Discovery Center reserves the right to cancel events; in which case, a full refund will Check us out be issued. and “like” us today! 5 Summer interns a huge help! Messy Mondays Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, Messy Mondays Discovery Center was fortunate to hire four feature special local youth to be interns this summer. theme- These recent high school graduates focused art helped plan, prepare and execute all projects our Family Fridays. They also ran several in our Art of our Messy Mondays and assisted at Studio. Dates Tinkering Tuesdays. And, you may have occur on legal seen them at community events like Rockford City Market, Friday Night and school Flix, Party in the Park, or a Strong Neighborhoods Block Party. holidays and In addition to these four individuals, we also had two college interns. throughout the summer. Messy One worked with our Education department in the summer school Mondays are from 11:00 am to sites and conducting community outreach, while the other worked 3:00 pm and are included with with our Marketing department creating promotional materials and museum admission. maintaining our new website. Fall Dates:

They each did a fantastic job and we are so grateful for all their enthu- September 5 ��Glow in the siasm and hard work over the past three months. We wish Taylor Dark Painting Daniels, Alexander Hills, Grace McKevitt, Garret Wood, Sherdenia We are turning on the black light and Barbary and Ashley McCallum much luck in all future endeavors! getting creative with fluorescent paints!

October 10 ��Puff Painting Accessibility improvements Using DIY puff paint, make a textured 3-D picture. made to outdoor park Sponsored by: Discovery Park now has a completely renovated accessible picnic area! Changes include an accessible drinking fountain, new accessible picnic tables, and a new poured-in-place accessible surface. These changes were made possible through the generous contributions of the Blazer Discovery Center Foundation, the Rockford Park District, Rockford earns Trip Advisor ProAm, and the Smith Charitable Foundation. Certificate of Mornings of Fun Excellence We invite children with disabilities and their immediate families to Discovery Center Museum has experience Discovery Center’s multi-sensory exhibits and activities received a 2016 TripAdvisor® free of charge before the museum opens to the general public. Certificate of Excellence award. Join us from 9-10:00 am on Saturday, October 1. Now in its sixth year, the award A healthy snack will be served at 10:00 am and families are welcome celebrates excellence in hospi- to stay and play after the museum opens to the public that day. tality and is given only to estab- lishments that consistently Advanced registration is required. To receive free admission call achieve great traveler reviews on 815-972-2839 or email [email protected] TripAdvisor. To qualify, a busi- Sponsored by:The Blazer Foundation ness must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of Fun and Educational reviews and must Love this museum for kids and adults alike. Lots to do, not crazy have been listed crowded and my kids think they’re playing while they’re actually on TripAdvisor for learning. Total win-win for everyone. at least 12 months. Debbie 6 Fall 2016 discoverycentermuseum.org Grants & Gifts News Join the fun! May 7, 2016 through August 10, 2016 Due to the success of Discover We thank the following donors for their generous support of Discovery Center the Spirits last year, we are exhibits, events, educational programs and operations. recruiting more members to Grants, Sponsorships & Corporate Donations our event planning committee. • United Way – After School Achievement • Thrivent for Lutherans Meetings are held on the third Program – Nelson – $88,551 • United Way – Federated Campaign Tuesday of the month rotating • IL Space Grant Consortium – Discover • JC Penney Cybergrant Employee between Noon and 5:00 pm. If Engineering, Teacher Workshops & YES Donations Volunteer Program – $19,200 you’re unable to attend the meet- • Schnucks E-Scrip Program ings, that’s okay! You can help • Lowe’s Distribution Center – 2017 • Chick-fil-A – In-kind support for Summer Family Free Days – $5,000 Art Intern luncheon out on your own time. For more • Blazer Foundation – Handicap • Meijer – In-Kind support for Happy information contact Sara McKevitt accessibility for bathroom and outdoor Birthday Harry event Science Park – $4,576 at 815-972-2834 or saram@ • Papa John’s – In-Kind support for Pizza discoverycentermuseum.org. • Woodman’s – Tot Spot Grocery – $2,500 Palooza event • UTC – Secret Garden landscape – The next meeting will be held $1,100 Discover The Spirits Sponsors Tuesday, September 20 at 5:00 • Sjostrom & Sons – Build It! Make It! – • Illinois Bank & Trust – $3,000 pm at Discovery Center Museum. $1,000 • SwedishAmerican – $2,500 • Comcast – YES Volunteer Program • Advanced Machine/Hennig – $1,000 Support – $800 • Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren – $1,000 Thank you YES • Danfoss – 2016 Discover Engineering – • Williams McCarthy – $1,000 $500 volunteers! • Rock Valley Credit Union – $1,000 • Greenlee Textron – Spooky Science – This summer $500 • Rockford Bank & Trust – $750 • OSF Healthcare – Spooky Science – • First Benefits Group – $500 Discovery $500 • HolmstromKennedy – $500 Center was • McClelland Blakemore Architects – • CoyleKiley Insurance – $250 fortunate Corporate Donation – $250 • Bill & Audra Capriola – $250 to have 84 youth If you are interested in partnering with Discovery Center to support an event, volunteers program or exhibit, please contact Sara McKevitt at 815-972-2834 or ages 13-17 [email protected]. who gave over 1,100 hours of service Your gift has a lasting impact! helping our staff prepare for Gifts made to the Discovery Center Annual Fund help us keep special events, running stations museum admission prices low. We are firmly committed to making at Family Fridays, assisting at sure every child in our community is empowered to use science to Messy Mondays and Tinkering help shape a better future for themselves and for their world. We Tuesdays, lending a hand at believe this begins with access to exciting experiences in Tot Spot classes and science, technology, engineering, math and the arts. science camps, and much more! Thank Make your gift to the Annual Fund today by visiting our you! We couldn’t website and clicking the DONATE button. www.discovery- do it without you! centermuseum.org Be assured that your gift will have a direct impact in building a better future! Thank you!

Best children’s museum I’ve been to What a great place! I brought my 5 year old and 2 year old twins here on a rainy day. We spent 90% of our time in the tot area and that took up 2 hours! We spent our last 20 minutes in the ag area and they loved that as well. Can’t wait to go back and enjoy the outside area they have too! This is a 3 hour drive for us and we’re planning to go several times per year! Jessie P 7 At Riverfront Museum Park Non-Profit Org. 711 North Main Street U.S. Postage Rockford, IL 61103 P A I D Rockford, IL 815.963.6769 Permit No. 1011 www.discoverycentermuseum.org

AddressN. MAIN Service Requested

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Kids ID and safety seat event Attendance soars The Illinois first six months! Tollway Discovery Center enjoyed record attendance during and Illinois the first six months of 2016. We experienced a State Police 10.6% increase from our previous record in 2015. District 15 are Our on-site public attendance increased almost hosting a Kids’ 10% from last year. Including both on-site atten- Identification dance and outreach programs, we served more and Safety than 153,000 people in January through June this Seat (K.I.S.S.) year. event on Saturday, September 3 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Discovery Center parking lot. Have Thank you to everyone who has visited us this year. experts check your car seats to make sure they are We hope you come again soon! installed properly. You can also have photo identification cards made of your children age 3 and older for free. Turned a rainy day into a fun day! We took a wide range of ages - the youngest being 6 and the oldest being more than 21 years over 21. Everyone enjoyed themselves. We learned so much - including the fact that some of us are better at making corn husk dolls than others. And the guests from GA told us this was the best hands on museum they have ever been too, and they had been to at least 5 others! Timothy

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