Lynn Meadows Discovery Center

THE LYNN MEADOWS DISCOVERY CENTER (LMDC) WILL LAUNCH “DISCOVERY ON THE GO,” A MOBILE STEM OUTREACH PROGRAM TO SERVE CHILDREN IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST. BY HIRING AN OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND ACQUIRING A SPECIALLY EQUIPPED VAN, LMDC WILL DELIVER HANDS-ON STEM EDUCATION AND BLUE ECONOMY–THEMED EXHIBITS DIRECTLY TO NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH POVERTY RATES AND LIMITED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS. THE INITIATIVE ALSO INCLUDES A PLANNED BLUE ECONOMY STEM CAMPUS EXPANSION TO PROVIDE ADVANCED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES. PROJECT SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED THROUGH INCREASED OUTREACH EVENT ATTENDANCE AND COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, WITH A TARGET OF 10% ANNUAL GROWTH OVER THREE YEARS. THROUGH THIS EFFORT, LMDC AIMS TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL ACCESS AND INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION FOR CAREERS IN THE REGION’S VITAL MARITIME INDUSTRIES.

THE LYNN MEADOWS DISCOVERY CENTER WILL PROVIDE KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS WITH MUSEUM LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THEIR SMARTIES PROGRAM (SCIENCE, MATH AND READING THROUGH INTEGRATED EXPLORATION OF STRATEGIES). THE PROGRAM WILL CONSIST OF TRANSFERRING STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN CLASSES AT TITLE 1 SCHOOLS IN THE GULFPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT, APPROXIMATELY 100 STUDENTS FROM EACH SCHOOL, ONE DAY A MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROGRAM WILL PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERACY THROUGH STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH) HANDS-ON INVESTIGATIONS, PROBLEM SOLVING ACTIVITIES, ART AND STORYTELLING. IN AN EFFORT TO DECREASE THE EDUCATIONAL GAPS THAT MANY YOUNG STUDENTS ARE BURDENED WITH DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE SMARTIES PROGRAM WILL USE THE ENGINEERING IS ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM TO EXPOSE THE STUDENTS FROM A LOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUND TO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT STIMULATES CHILDREN'S NATURAL CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY IN THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM SETTING.

NATIONAL AWARD FOR MUSEUM SERVICE