The campaign will fund the planning and construction of a 2,000-square-foot innovative family-friendly experience that fosters critical thinking, collaboration and creativity.

The museum’s goal is to raise $100,000 by February 2012 for planning and design of the activity area. The total campaign goal is $1 million, with the remaining funds used to construct the exhibit.

“The Discovery Room provides a safe, fun and engaging place for families to explore and learn together about the natural world and more intimately connect to the museum’s collections” said Jaret Daniels, Florida Museum assistant director for exhibits and public programs. “It helps fulfill the museum’s mission—to inspire people to value the biological richness and cultural heritage of our diverse world and make a positive difference in its future.”

Activities and technologies included in the new Discovery Room will be determined during planning and design.

“The goal of a permanent Discovery Room will ensure that future scientists will have an opportunity to explore the natural wonders of our state’s rich ecological history; where young, as well as old will enjoy a lifetime learning experience with the latest in educational and scientific innovation,” said Carrie Lee, president of the Florida Museum Associates Board, which is leading the fundraising events.

“Morning at the Museum” will kick off the campaign from 8 to 10 a.m. Oct. 15 with a breakfast buffet, mimosas, coffee and other drinks supplied by The Flying Biscuit Cafe. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for ages 6-12 and children 5 and under are free. Visitors may explore the current Discovery Room and listen to performances by the “Strings for Things” quartet in the Butterfly Rainforest exhibit.

“An Afternoon at the Museum,” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, features performances by the University of Florida Jazz Combo and No Southern Accent, a female a cappella group. Drinks and hors d’ourves will be provided by The Flying Biscuit Cafe. Tickets are 25 per person.

“A Night at the Museum,” from 7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 24, features a formal dinner and entertainment. Tickets are $100 per person.

For more information visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/passport or to purchase tickets, contact Brittany Snipes, bsnipes@flmnh.ufl.edu, 352-273-2086. To become a sponsor, contact Leslie Ladendorf, llad@flmnh.ufl.edu or 352-273-2047.

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Source: Jaret Daniels, 352-273-2022, jdaniels@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Leeann Bright
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The “Discovery Room,” a family-friendly activity area at the Florida Museum of Natural History, will remain open through Jan. 1, 2012, due to popular demand.

The museum also is considering converting the Discovery Room into a permanent exhibit open year-round.

“We hope to keep the Discovery Room open because of its popularity with our family visitors and to allow us to examine the effectiveness of different components for the larger, permanent exhibit we are in the initial stages of planning,” said Betty Dunckel, director of informal science education at the Florida Museum.

Admission is free and the room is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

The family-friendly room allows visitors to discover natural history through hands-on activities that foster critical thinking.

“Our visitors enjoy spending time in the Discovery Room,” said Florida Museum education assistant Amanda Erickson. “It offers a great opportunity for families to learn about Florida’s diverse ecosystems, environments and wildlife together.”

For more information, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm or call 352-846-2000.

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Source: Betty Dunckel, 352-273-2088, bdunckel@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Leeann Bright
Media contact:  Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Photos available

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History will open its “Discovery Room,” a favorite area for visitors of all ages, at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 28.

Admission is free, and the room is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The activity area will remain open through Aug. 14.

Through hands-on, self-guided activities and scheduled programs, visitors will learn about Florida’s diverse ecosystems, environments and wildlife. Scheduled activities include crafts, story time, puppet presentations, museum exploration with Dr. Discovery and more.

“The “Discovery Room” provides visitors with a place for children to interact and explore natural history while having fun,” said Florida Museum education coordinator Kendra Lanza-Kaduce.

For more information, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm or call 352-273-2061.

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Writer: Leeann Bright
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Florida Museum Discovery Room Summer 2011 Activity Schedule

EcoArt: Natural history-related crafts
10 a.m.-noon Monday and Wednesday
1-2:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday

Talking Tales: Story time with a staff member
11 a.m. Tuesday

Three Musketeers Puppet Show: Discover nature with forest friends
3 p.m. Saturday

Dr. Discovery: Child-friendly presentations and activities
3-4 p.m. Wednesday

Museum Choice: Museum staff select the activity
10 a.m.-noon Thursday and Saturday

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History opens its “Discovery Room” for guests of all ages from June 21- Aug. 22. The room is free and open every day until 4:30 p.m.

The activity space provides an opportunity for children and adults to learn about Florida’s natural habitats through hands-on activities, interactive displays, books, games and various scheduled programs.

“‘The Discovery Room’” provides families with a fantastic place to interact, explore and play during the hot summer months,” said Florida Museum public programs coordinator Kendra Lanza-Kaduce.

Self-guided activities include exploration of a coral reef, puzzling together a prairie, and entertaining crafts like creating creatures from Florida’s diverse ecosystems. Guests may also take part in scheduled programming for stories, puppet presentations, museum exploration with Dr. Discovery and more. For more information, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm or call 352-273-2064.

2010 Discovery Room schedule June 21- Aug. 22:

EcoArt: Natural history-related crafts
10 a.m. – noon Mondays & Wednesdays; 1 – 2:30 p.m. Fridays & Sundays

Talking Tales: Story time with a staff member
11 a.m. Tuesdays

Tree Musketeers Puppet Show: Discover nature with forest friends.
3 p.m. Saturdays

Dr. Discovery: Child-friendly presentation and activities
3 – 4 p.m. Wednesdays

Museum Choice: Museum staff chooses the activity.
10 a.m. – noon Thursdays & Saturdays

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Writer: Vilma Jarvinen
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Adam Kent, board member of the Alachua Audubon Society, serves as a guest “Dr. Discovery” Wednesday and Smokey the Bear will host a party in his honor Aug. 12. Both programs begin at 3 p.m.

Kent’s presentation is a fun way for children to familiarize themselves with common Florida birds. Participants may play detective as they read facts about birds and match the correct species. They also will have the opportunity to create their own bird.

Smokey Bear will join the Florida Museum on Aug. 12 for his 65th birthday celebration. The Florida Division of Forestry presentation on fire safety includes information for children and parents about wildfire prevention and outdoor burning guidelines.

Since his birth on Aug. 9, 1944, Smokey is the star of the longest-running public service announcement campaign in U.S. history. The Smokey Bear program aims to inform and educate about the dangers of wildfires to animals, people and homes.

Bring a friend and join the museum for these two exciting Dr. Discovery events!

A complete schedule of Discovery Room activities is available online, www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm.

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Writer: Patti Nunez
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

The Discovery Room is a multi-generational activity space where children and adults can learn about Florida’s natural habitats through games, books and interactive displays. Originally scheduled to remain open through the end of the year, the state reductions prevent the Florida Museum from meeting staff and material requirements for the exhibit.

“The University of Florida mandated a 6 percent cut in the Florida Museum’s overall budget for the 2008-09 year,” said Doug Noble, the museum’s Head of Exhibits and Public Programs. “In addition, the state’s Division of Cultural Affairs reduced the funds available through its Cultural Institutions Program by 63 percent. Combined, these cuts translated into a loss of $236,308 in support for exhibits and public programs and also forced the Florida Museum to eliminate six positions.”

Florida Museum Education Program Director Jamie Creola said funding for the Discovery Room pays for staffing and supplies, and to replace damaged or old exhibit components.

“Without monetary support, we cannot maintain a quality experience for families and children in the Discovery Room,” Creola said. “The exhibit has been a summer mainstay at the Museum in past years and is scheduled to open again in June 2009 for the summer only.”

The Discovery Room is open 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 1 – 4:30 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 17. Beginning Aug. 18, Discovery Room hours are 12 to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1 – 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

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Writer: Kelly Donovan
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

Discovery Room visitors may explore a coral reef, create animals from Florida’s diverse ecosystems in self-guided discovery stations, or complete an arts and craft or coloring project. Scheduled programs include story time, puppets and museum exploration with Dr. Discovery.

“The Discovery Room received an outstanding reception last year, and based on the numerous requests of our members and visitors, we’ve decided to offer it through December 2008,” said Florida Museum of Natural History Education Director Jamie Creola. “The expanded schedule will provide opportunities for increased public engagement with Discovery Room resources and allow our education staff to evaluate current, and develop new, programming and exhibits for that space.”

For more information on the Discovery Room, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm or call (352) 846-2000, ext. 246.

Media contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

]]> http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pressroom/2007/07/02/fla-museum-reopens-popular-discovery-room-family-activity-area-today/feed/ 0 http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pressroom/2007/04/11/indian-art-exhibit-closing-to-allow-for-expanded-discovery-room/ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pressroom/2007/04/11/indian-art-exhibit-closing-to-allow-for-expanded-discovery-room/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:05:53 +0000 Gerber,Logan R http://slurm.flmnh.ufl.edu/blogs/pressroom/?p=1360 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History will close its Pearsall Collection of American Indian Art temporary exhibition April 29 to provide additional space for the popular Discovery Room. Previously open only during summer, the improved and expanded Discovery Room will provide ongoing, interactive family activities daily until 4:30 p.m. beginning July 2 through December 2008.

Discovery Room visitors may explore a coral reef, create animals from Florida’s diverse ecosystems in self-guided discovery stations, or complete an arts and craft or coloring project. Scheduled programs include story time, puppets and museum exploration with Dr. Discovery. For more information on the Discovery Room, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm or call (352) 846-2000, ext. 246.

Open since 2003, the “Pearsall Collection of American Indian Art” exhibit features more than 200 of the best objects from the Florida Museum’s Leigh Morgan Pearsall collection. The world-class collection contains more than 3,000 objects, including argillite, horn and ivory carvings, basketry, beadwork, jewelry, peoples, pottery, quillwork, rugs and totems.

Media contact: Paul Ramey, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu

]]> http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pressroom/2007/04/11/indian-art-exhibit-closing-to-allow-for-expanded-discovery-room/feed/ 0 http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pressroom/2006/05/15/fla-museums-free-family-discovery-room-opens-june-12/ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/pressroom/2006/05/15/fla-museums-free-family-discovery-room-opens-june-12/#comments Mon, 15 May 2006 17:57:34 +0000 Gerber,Logan R http://slurm.flmnh.ufl.edu/blogs/pressroom/?p=1508 Photo available

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Looking for something the whole family can do this summer? The Florida Museum of Natural History will offer an interactive “Discovery Room” for guests of all ages from June 12- Aug. 13. The room is free and open every day until 4:30 p.m.

Activities include entertaining crafts, including creating creatures from Florida’s diverse ecosystems, hunts for museum treasures and exploration of a coral reef. Guests also may visit during the following scheduled program times for stories, puppets, museum exploration with Dr. Discovery and more!

Florida Museum 2006 Summer Discovery Room schedule:

Ecoart! — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Talking Tales — Tuesdays 10 a.m.
Green Earth Games — Thursdays, Saturdays 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
Tree Musketeers Puppet Show — Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays 3 p.m.
Dr. Discovery — Tuesdays, Fridays 3- 4 p.m.
Face Painting — Fridays 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.

For more information, call (352) 846-2000 ext. 246 or visit the museum online, www.flmnh.ufl.edu/education/discovery.htm.

Media contact: Paul Ramey, (352) 846-2000, pramey@ufl.edu
Writer: Lauren Williams