DISCOVERY PLACE INC
Programs
Educational Programs and Community Outreach
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXPERIENCES AND EXHIBITS: DISCOVERY PLACE, INC. OPERATES FOUR MUSEUMS SERVING OVER 623,483 GUESTS ANNUALLY INCLUDING NEARLY 69,136 THROUGH AN ECONOMIC ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM CALLED THE WELCOME PROGRAM. SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE ON TWO CAPITAL FACILITIES PROJECTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024: GROUNDBREAKING AND CONSTRUCTION BEGAN FOR THE NEW DISCOVERY PLACE NATURE FACILITY SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN MID/LATE 2026. ADDITIONALLY, DISCOVERY PLACE INVESTED IN A SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION AND UPGRADE OF DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS ROCKINGHAM WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN SPRING OF 2024. WE RECOGNIZED RESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION REVENUES RELATED TO THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF DISCOVERY PLACE NATURE AND RENOVATION OF DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS ROCKINGHAM AND INCURRED INCREMENTAL EXPENSES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS OF CAPITAL FACILITIES PROJECTS. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE REFLECTED IN THE OVERALL REVENUE AND SUPPORT. MARVEL: UNIVERSE OF SUPERHEROS: 64,858DISCOVERY PLACE OPENED MARVEL: UNIVERSE OF SUPERHEROES IN MAY 2023. THIS IS THE FIRST LARGE SCALE TRAVELING BLOCKBUSTER EXHIBITION HOSTED SINCE 2018. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 WE HOSTED THIS EXHIBITION FROM JULY THROUGH JANUARY 2024. DURING THIS TIME WE WELCOMED OVER 64,858 VISITORS TO THIS SHOW FEATURING ORIGINAL ART, COSTUMES, AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. IMAX: 55,326IN FISCAL 2024, DISCOVERY PLACE OPERATED THE ACCENTURE IMAX DOME THEATER FEATURING IMAX LASER PROJECTION, A 12-CHANNEL SOUND SYSTEM, AND DIGISTAR 7 PLANETARIUM SOLUTION. THIS YEAR THE ATTENDANCE MORE THAN DOUBLED. THE PROGRAMMING INCLUDED FIRST-RUN HOLLYWOOD FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES, AND ALTERNATIVE CONTENT SUCH AS MESMERICA. WE CONTINUED TO SEE THESE OFFERINGS ATTRACT NEW AUDIENCES, ESPECIALLY ADULTS.OUTREACH/YOUTH DEVELOPMENT/SUMMER CAMPS/WORKSHOPS: OUTREACH AND THE DIGITAL STUDIO PROGRAMMING SERVED OVER 22,433 STUDENTS IN FISCAL 2024. BEYOND SCHOOL DAY PROGRAMS, THIS WAS A STRONG YEAR WITH MULTIPLE AFTERSCHOOL CONTRACTS ALLOWING US TO SERVE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH STEM HANDS-ON LEARNING OVER MULTIPLE VISITS, WHICH PROVIDES A DEEPER DIVE FOR STUDENTS. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING IN FISCAL 2024 INCLUDED SEVERAL PROGRAMS TARGETING YOUTH IN MIDDLE - HIGH SCHOOL. THE STEM APPRENTICE PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO ONBOARD 273 VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH CAMP AND MUSEUM PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING 4 MAYORS YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INTERNS. GIRLS DAY OUT SUCCESSFULLY SERVED 230 FEMALE STUDENTS OVER 8 ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH ON-SITE PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON CAREERS IN STEM. GIRLS IN STEM HOSTED 7 HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS AND BUILT SEVERAL ROBOTIC PROJECTS. THE STEM PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP RECRUITED 18 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHILE PROVIDING LIFE SKILLS AND ON-SITE WORK EXPERIENCE IN OUR MUSEUMS. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVED OVER 530 STUDENTS DURING FY24.IN FISCAL 2024 WE COMPLETED OUR THIRD YEAR OF PROGRAMMING FUNDED BY THE LEGO FOUNDATION. OUR DISCOVERY THROUGH DESIGN INITIATIVE INCLUDED THE FORMATION OF A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, SUPPORTING NOT ONLY DISCOVERY PLACE EXPERIENCE AND OPERATIONS TEAM MEMBERS BUT ALSO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM GREATER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM OF CHARLOTTE AND OURBRIDGE FOR CHILDREN. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED DEEP TRAINING ON HOW TO INCORPORATE LEARNING THROUGH PLAY INTO OUR WORK. THROUGH THIS GRANT 175,121 YOUTH WERE SERVED AND 174,817 ADULTS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND VISITORS TO DISCOVERY PLACE MUSEUMS.SUMMER CAMPS SERVED 5,200 CHILDREN ACROSS THREE DISCOVERY PLACE LOCATIONS - SCIENCE, NATURE AND KIDS. IT WAS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON OF LEARNING WITH WEEKLY THEMES FOR CHILDREN IN PREK-8TH GRADE. ADULT PROGRAMMING: 13,455IN FISCAL 2024, DISCOVERY PLACE HOSTED SCIENCE ON THE ROCKS AND ADDED SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS INCLUDING MACABRE MASQUARADE, THE SPEAKEASY, AND SCIENCE STUDIOS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR 21+. SCIENCE ON THE ROCKS IS AN EVENING PROGRAM WHICH FEATURES ACCESS TO MUSEUM EXHIBITS, HANDS-ON SCIENCE EXPERIENCES, LIVE SHOWS, LIVE MUSIC, IMAX OFFERINGS, WORKSHOPS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND MORE. MACABRE MASQUARADE AND THE SPEAKEASY WERE TWO NEW LARGE SCALE EVENTS FEATURING DECORATIONS, COSTUME CONTESTS, THEMED ACTIVITIES AND TALENT SUCH AS AERIALISTS AND CHEF COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, AND MORE. SCIENCE STUDIOS ARE DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT TOPICAL AREAS OF INTEREST SUCH AS SPACE EXPLORATION, FOOD, WELLNESS, AND MORE. TOGETHER THESE EVENTS HAVE ALLOWED US TO REACH NEW ADULT AUDIENCES AND EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO REACH DIFFERENT AUDIENCE SEGMENTS THROUGH DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR OFFERINGS.DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS SPECIAL PROGRAMMING : 1,381IN ADDITION TO OUR DAILY PROGRAMMING, BOTH DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS HOSTED SOME OF OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE, COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN AND NOON YEARS EVE. COUNTDOWN TO THE KINDERGARTEN IS A KINDERRGARTEN READINESS EVENT THAT OCCURS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. ITS GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RISING KINDERGARTENERS TO MEET THEIR TEACHERS AND SEE A FAMILIAR FACE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. BOTH DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS LOCATIONS WERE ABLE TO SERVE OVER 675 GUESTS. DISCOVERY PLACE KID-HUNTERSVILLE CONTINUED THEIR SCIENCE THEMED HALLOWEEN EVENT CALLED GHOULY GALA. IN FY24 EVENT SERVED 145 GUESTS. DISCOVERY PLACE KID-HUNTERSVILLE ALSO LAUNCHED A NEW LITERACY THEMED EVENT CALLED STORYBOOK BALL. THIS INAUGURAL EVENT SERVED 561 GUESTS.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$13.8MProgram 1 [2025]
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXPERIENCES & EXHIBITS: DISCOVERY PLACE, INC, OPERATES FOUR MUSEUMS SERVING 539,951 GUESTS ANNUALLY. THIS INCLUDES 64,384 THROUGH WELCOME, AN ECONOMIC ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM.SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WAS MADE ON TWO MAJOR CAPITAL FACILITY PROJECTS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025. CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHARLOTTE MUSEUM OF NATURE CONTINUED STEADILY AND REMAINS ON TRACK FOR A MID-TO-LATE 2026 OPENING. ALTHOUGH RENOVATIONS AT DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS ROCKINGHAM WERE COMPLETED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, FINAL EXPENDITURES FROM THE PROJECT'S ALLOCATED FUNDS WERE COMPLETED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025. WE RECOGNIZED RESTRICTED CONTRIBUTION REVENUES TIED TO BOTH INITIATIVES AND INCURRED ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE REFLECTED IN OUR OVERALL REVENUE AND SUPPORT TOTALS.IMAX:IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, DISCOVERY PLACE OPERATED THE CHARLOTTE IMAX DOME THEATRE, WELCOMING 69,668 GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART LASER PROJECTION, IMMERSIVE 12-CHANNEL SOUND SYSTEM, AND THE SOPHISTICATED DIGISTAR 7 PLANETARIUM PLATFORM. THE THEATRE'S RICH PROGRAMMING LINEUP INCLUDED FIRST-RUN HOLLYWOOD FILMS, EDUCATIONAL DOCUMENTARIES, CAPTIVATING PLANETARIUM PRESENTATIONS, AND DISTINCTIVE ALTERNATIVE CONTENT SUCH AS MESMERICA. THESE ENGAGING EXPERIENCES CONTINUED TO ATTRACT NEW AUDIENCES, WITH INCREASING INTEREST FROM ADULT VISITORS.OUTREACH:IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, OUTREACH PROGRAMMING ENGAGED 18,285 STUDENTS THROUGH 419 DELIVERED PROGRAMS. THIS STRONG PERFORMANCE WAS DRIVEN IN PART BY MULTIPLE AFTERSCHOOL CONTRACTS, ENABLING THE TEAM TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO YOUTH ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING DELIVERED 14 DISTINCT INITIATIVES, REACHING 620 STUDENTS FROM 54 SCHOOLS. THIS ROBUST PORTFOLIO OFFERS MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS AND PATHWAYS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN STEM EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SIGNATURE PROGRAMS INCLUDE STEM APPRENTICESHIP, MAYOR'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INTERNS, GIRLS DAY OUT, GIRLS IN STEM, STEM PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP, CLUB CODE, STEM YOUTH SUMMIT, AND QC CODE QUEST.SUMMER CAMPS:DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, DISCOVERY PLACE SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS HUNTERSVILLE HOSTED A VIBRANT SEASON OF SUMMER CAMPS. WITH 30 THEMED CAMPS OFFERED OVER 50 TOTAL SESSIONS, THE PROGRAM DELIVERED ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF HANDS-ON LEARNING, FEATURING WEEKLY THEMES DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN FROM PRE-K THROUGH 8TH GRADE.ADULT PROGRAMMING:IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, DISCOVERY PLACE HOSTED A SERIES OF ADULT-ONLY PROGRAMS, WELCOMING A TOTAL OF 8,248 GUESTS. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED SCIENCE ON THE ROCKS, MACABRE MASQUERADE, AND A SCIENCE STUDIO TERRARIUM BUILD WORKSHOP, ALL DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR AUDIENCES AGED 21 AND OLDER.SCIENCE ON THE ROCKS IS AN EVENING EXPERIENCE THAT OFFERS EXCLUSIVE AFTER-HOURS ACCESS TO MUSEUM EXHIBITS, HANDS-ON SCIENCE ACTIVITIES, LIVE PERFORMANCES, MUSIC, IMAX SCREENINGS, WORKSHOPS, AND A VARIETY OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPTIONS. MACABRE MASQUERADE, A SIGNATURE HALLOWEEN EVENT FOR ADULTS, TRANSFORMS THE MUSEUM WITH THEMED ENVIRONMENTS, SPECIALTY COCKTAILS, A VIP LOUNGE FEATURING EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES, COSTUME CONTESTS, IMMERSIVE ACTIVITIES, AND PERFORMANCES BY AERIALISTS, FORENSIC SCIENCE EXPERTS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS. THE SCIENCE STUDIO TERRARIUM BUILD WORKSHOP WAS A UNIQUE BLEND OF INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP AND EXHIBIT, FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION AND INSPIRED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S BECOMING JANE GOODALL EXHIBITION. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ENABLED DISCOVERY PLACE TO ENGAGE NEW ADULT AUDIENCES AND DIVERSIFY OUR OFFERINGS, EXPANDING OUR REACH ACROSS DIFFERENT AUDIENCE SEGMENTS.DPK SPECIAL PROGRAMS:ALONGSIDE DAILY PROGRAMMING, DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS LOCATIONS IN HUNTERSVILLE AND ROCKINGHAM HOSTED A VARIETY OF SIGNATURE EVENTS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, WELCOMING A COMBINED TOTAL OF 4,396 GUESTS. BOTH MUSEUMS FEATURED COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN, NOON YEAR'S EVE, AND STORYBOOK BALL. ADDITIONALLY, DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS ROCKINGHAM PRESENTED WINTER WONDERLAND, WHILE DISCOVERY PLACE KIDS HUNTERSVILLE OFFERED SEASONAL FAVORITES SUCH AS GHOULY GALA AND FROST FEST.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$12.6M
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