Exploration Place Inc

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE CREATION OF AN OUTDOOR RIVERFRONT PARK AT EXPLORATION PLACE IN WICHITA, KANSAS. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE THE EXPLORATION PLACE SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY CENTER A SPACE FOR NEW AND EXPANDED EVENTS, BRINGING NEW VISITORS TO THE CITY, ITS BUSINESSES, AND ATTRACTIONS. ONCE COMPLETED, THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ASSIST IN THE REGION'S RECOVERY AND MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT TO FLUCTUATIONS IN TOURISM, WHICH WILL HELP INCREASE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANCE ECONOMIC RESILIENCY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

DESIGN BUILD FLY WILL BE A 5100 SQUARE FOOT EXHIBIT WITH 15 ASSOCIATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR EXPLORATION PLACE, THE PREMIER SCIENCE CENTER IN KANSAS

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

THE OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT (OSTEM) SEEKS TO: 1. ATTRACT STUDENTS TO STEM THROUGH UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SPARK INTEREST AND PROVIDE CONNECTIONS TO NASAS MISSION AND WORK 2. ENGAGE STUDENTS IN AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES WITH NASAS

EXPLORATION PLACE IN WICHITA, KANSAS, WILL CREATE AND IMPLEMENT AN ONLINE AND IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WILL PROMOTE RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY RAISING AWARENESS OF KEY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS CAN USE TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH. THE PROJECT ALSO WILL SUPPORT NATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE UNEQUAL SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACT OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND REDUCE THE STIGMA THAT PREVENTS MANY PEOPLE FROM SEEKING TREATMENT. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF LIVE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, AND GAMES, ATTENDEES OF ALL AGES WILL LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD MENTAL HEALTH, UNDERSTAND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS, AND LEARN HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR DAILY MENTAL HEALTH.

EXPLORATION PLACE WILL IMPLEMENT A DIGITAL AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ITS 13 VIRTUAL EDUCATORS AND PRESENTERS TO BUILD STAFF SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIGITAL AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES TRAINING, DEVELOPING A VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT ROADMAP, DELIVERING NEW PROGRAMS USING THE NEWLY ACQUIRED SKILLS, AND EVALUATING THE NEW PROGRAMS. PROJECT FUNDS WILL SUPPORT ENGAGING A DIGITAL AUDIENCE CONSULTANT WHO WILL GUIDE THE PROJECT TEAM TO CREATE A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER MANUAL, SUPPORT THE INITIAL CREATION OF NEW DIGITAL PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDE TEAM COACHING AND SUPPORT. THE PROJECT WILL BUILD STAFF SKILLS AND PROCESSES TO DELIVER IMPACTFUL AND ENGAGING PROGRAMS CHANGING THE CULTURE AROUND DIGITAL PROGRAMS, ENABLING THE MUSEUM TO REACH EVERY KANSAS COUNTY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT.