DENVER―May 27, 2014―The Denver Museum of Nature & Science will open its newest permanent exhibition, the all-new Discovery Zone on Saturday, June 7. The exhibition is made possible by Kaiser Permanente and is located in the Museum’s new wing, the Morgridge Family Exploration Center. In Discovery Zone, kids will do what scientists do: look, ask, discover, make, and share.

The Discovery Zone is an interactive exhibition targeted toward young children and their families, from infants to age five. The gallery provides experiences that expose early learners to basic science concepts in physical science, life science, earth and space sciences, math, and human culture, engaging them in open-ended play and experimentation. The new Discovery Zone is nearly twice the size of the previous one, which was a popular destination for young visitors for 12 years before closing in its old location in early April.

“As we planned the new Morgridge Family Exploration Center, we realized that we were poised to have a greater impact on the science learning of young children,” said George Sparks, the Museum’s President and CEO.

“Discovery Zone was completely reimagined and has developed into an incredibly dynamic experience that I can already tell is going to be a hit with our young visitors and their families for years to come. We are grateful to Kaiser Permanente for helping to make this possible.”

The new exhibition is comprised of six areas, all inspired by real places from the Rocky Mountain Region:

• Dinosaur Gulch: Entering the Discovery Zone, a life-size climbable dinosaur welcomes children to Dinosaur Gulch—a paleontology dig experience where children can excavate fossils amid rock outcroppings based on the famous Kaiparowits dig site in Utah.
• Water Way: Leaping laminar fountains, modeled on City Park’s interactive water feature, animate the Water Play area and provide fun opportunities for children to manipulate and observe water in action.
• Construction Corner: In this area, children experiment with building methods and materials in the context of well-known Denver-area structures, such as Denver International Airport.
• Science Kitchen: A multipurpose science and art lab, the Science Kitchen is a great place to conduct investigations and create art projects.
• Big Backyard: The Big Backyard, based on a scene from the window of a Park Hill home, is an area designed expressly for children under the age of three, providing opportunities for first encounters with nature and science.
• Explorer’s Playhouse: An outdoor clubhouse-themed performance area, Explorer’s Playhouse, is the setting for action-packed science, culture, and dramatic play programs and performances.

“Young children need a strong foundation for learning and those earliest years are critical to their academic success later in life,” said Donna Lynne, DrPH, president of Kaiser Permanente Colorado. “The new Discovery Zone will help inspire an entire generation of Colorado youth to explore the fascinating world of science through interactive exhibits and hands on play. Kaiser Permanente is proud to support this wonderful addition to the Museum.”

The new Discovery Zone, open daily at 9 a.m., is a permanent exhibition included with general admission to the Museum.

A press conference will be held June 3 at 10 a.m. on the second-floor mezzanine of the Morgridge Family Exploration Center at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. Members of the media will be able to preview the exhibition following the press conference.

NOTE: Photos available

Media Contacts
Maura O’Neal: 303.370.6407, [email protected], Denver Museum of Nature & Science

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education. Our mission is to be catalyst and ignite the community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum envisions an empowered community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world. As such, a variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum, visit dmns.org, or call 303-370-6000. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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