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22 JULY 2013 | eu jacksonville monthly
Discovery House
Hands-On Fun in a Hands-Off World
When it comes to kids, we live in a very hands-off world. At stores,
museums and sometimes even in our own backyards, we encourage them
to “look, but don’t touch.” At Jacksonville’s new play studio, Discovery
House, children are given the chance to explore using all of their senses-even
touch!
Discovery House is the brainchild of mother-daughter team Patti and
Amanda Moody. Between them, the duo has over 40 years of experience
working with children of all ages in various settings, making them the perfect
pair to head-up the ambitious project.
We got our first peek at Discovery House during One Spark 2013,
when the enrichment center took over a portion of the Schultz building for
a weekend of hands-on activities, story times, live music and play. The
project won over $800 at the festival. Since then, Discovery House has
gone from an idea to a reality.
In April, the Moodys secured a building--an old auto repair garage,
long ago repurposed into a daycare center--and began the arduous task
of transforming the space into a fabulous play studio. Along the way the
community pitched in by donating essentials, assisting with the remodeling,
lending their expertise to make repairs and spreading the word. When
Discovery House finally opened its doors to the public on June 15 th , over
200 visitors came out to experience the fruits of all this labor and show
their support.
Discovery House is comprised of various stations, designed to allow
kids of all ages an opportunity to learn the way they do best--through
play! An impressive art room makes up much of the left side of the facility.
Decorated from floor to ceiling in a rainbow of bold colors, the space
is fully stocked with every art supply imaginable. Visitors are encouraged
to use them at will to make something new, whether it’s a painting of their
family on paper or a sculpture of a robot using recycled materials.
To the right of the entrance you’ll find a massive room filled with toys
and activities that encourage imaginative play--dress up clothes, a puppet
theater, play kitchens, building blocks and even a pretend “beach,”
complete with a real, vintage kayak. There’s also a corner especially for
toddlers, so even the youngest of little explorers will have a place to play.
Beyond this main room is the science space, which is home to Buddy
the Turtle and a fluffy bunny, whose name I woefully missed during our
visit. Here you’ll also find science books for all ages and a zoo of animal
toys and figurines.
The final room is home to the facility’s music space, which is made
up of a wide variety of musical instruments, and a play station dubbed
“Grandma’s Attic,” which lets kids get a hands-on look at some of the
items that people used before iPhones and the internet.
Though there’s plenty for kids to do now, a second phase of construction
is underway in the facility’s backyard. When complete, visitors
can expect canopy-covered sandboxes, a community garden and pumpkin
patch, chickens and more.
Discovery House is more than just free-play. Camps will be offered
BY KELLIE ABRAHAMSON
during school breaks, and summer sessions are currently underway. The
“Be Kind to the Earth” session came to a close last month, but there’s still
time to register your little camper for one of the facility’s other offerings:
“M.A.D.D. (Music, Art, Drama, Dance)” will be held from July 8 th to the 12 th ,
“Palentology” will be from July 22 nd to the 26 th , and “Strolling Through Italy”
is scheduled for August 5 th to the 9 th . More information on each of these
camps can be found at www.discoveryhousejax.com/Summer-Camps.html.
When summer comes to a close, Discovery House will begin their
enrichment classes. These hour-long sessions are a great way for kids
to flex their creative muscles and to learn something new. Most of the
classes will be held once a week for six weeks beginning in September.
Offerings include Cooking, Yoga, Art, Tiny Tots, Theatre and Lego Club.
Music classes, which will consist of private instruction in a variety of
instruments, will also be available. Visit www.discoveryhousejax.com/Enrichment-Classes.html
for more details.
In addition to the above, the facility is planning to lend a hand to
parents by hosting “support groups” once a month to discuss parenting
struggles and help find solutions. There will also be monthly Parent’s
Night Out events, giving kids a safe place to play while the grown-ups
enjoy some alone time. Date night, anyone?
Discovery House is located at 3602 Park Street in Avondale and is
open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is $4 for
adults and children ages 1 to 3, and $7 for kids ages 4 to 14. Admission
includes unlimited play throughout the facility and use of the fully-stocked
art room. If you love Discovery House you may consider purchasing a
family membership, which gives you unlimited play anytime during business
hours and discounts on party packages and Parent’s Night Out as
well as a discount for any guests you decide to bring with you. The Annual
Family Membership is $120. For more information, visit www.discoveryhousejax.com
or call 388-0606.