The MacBeth Memo
1
What an exciting year we have had at the Science and Discovery Center!
We are truly fortunate to have such a remarkable resource as the SDC in our community, and it has been here, originally as the Junior Museum of Bay County, since 1967, making it one of the oldest children’s museums in our state. The Center is the option many families choose for a variety of educational as well as entertaining family activities.
One of the highlights of our year was Governor Scott’s visit, with his staff from Florida’s Office of Early Learning, to recognize the Academy of Science and Discovery, our science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM-based preschool, as an exemplary program.
A substantial grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation allowed us to double our capacity in the Academy of Science and Discovery this year, and due to the generosity of several long time local family foundations, and numerous individual donors we have been able to offer scholarships to deserving children to attend the Academy.
We are creating partnerships and relationships with a number of high-tech, science-related community organizations, governmental agencies and private businesses to make our exhibits and activities more reflective of our dynamic community and more relevant and useful to our citizens. In the process we are enriching what the SDC has to offer and creating an ongoing need, and hopefully revenue stream, for our services.
For instance, we are leveraging our limited income and very limited staff by:
* inviting several community organizations to enter into Memorandums of Agreement with the SDC to hold their regular meetings on our campus in return for volunteering their expertise and manpower to benefit the SDC. For instance, the Native Plant Society will maintain our new Butterfly Garden, the Florida Trail Association will help us repair and maintain our quarter-mile trail system, and members of the Emerald Coast Astronomy Club and many current and retired staffers from local natural resources agencies. Association will help us repair and maintain our quarter-mile trail system, and members of the
Emerald Coast Astronomy Club and many current and retired staffers from local natural resources agencies regularly offer technical advice, lead classes and conduct field trips.
* extending our relationship with the Naval Warfare Center for mentorships, technical guidance, and assistance with exhibits;
* creating a hydroponics demonstration project as the result of encouragement and financial support from Lynn Brudnicki and technical advice from the Walt Disney Company’s hydroponics experts;
* teaming with the Advanced Technology Center at Gulf Coast Community College’s sustainable housing initiative;
* partnering with Bay County Schools to provide field trips to support and enrich their harnessing the considerable talents of local artists architects and engineers to refurbish and update existing exhibits and create new ones (Watch for openings for DeeDee Higby and Jay Hall’s upcoming Toddler Room; Jane Perry and Rana Benoit’s Life Cycle of the Butterfly Exhibit);
* teaming with Booz, Allen, Hamilton to provide the first of four Military Appreciation Days during which military families enjoy a variety of science, technology, engineering and math based activities designed around a different theme for each event. The first “Science of Flight”, held May, was attended by more than 350 military families, and we expect to have even more families involved in our September 13th The “Science of Super Hero’s” event;
* writing and securing substantial grants for specific projects and notable contributions from business and individuals in our community.
Currently our Summer Camp is full and going strong with all sorts of exciting STEM-based activities focused around weekly fun-filled themes.
Stay tuned for more exciting news about exhibit openings and grant announcements!
We hope to see you here at the SDC soon…. Your community museum for adventure and learning through play.
Linda Macbeth
Executive Director