The Museum of Discovery & Science (MODS) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new early childhood exhibit, Discovery Spot, presented by JM Family Enterprises, on Friday, August 4.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in front of a packed room of MODS supporters, donors and young children from various field trip programs eager to explore the new exhibit. The ceremony began with remarks by Joseph P. Cox, president & CEO of MODS; Joshua Bass, vice president of JM Family Enterprises and a MODS board of trustees member; John Coates, senior vice president & senior institutional investment advisor with PNC Bank and a MODS board of trustees member; and Russell Weaver on behalf of the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust, followed by the ribbon-cutting.
Designed from the ground up to support the needs of families, the Discovery Spot offers numerous opportunities for adult-child collaboration in the Citrus Grove, Ocean to Air and Everglades areas. This exhibit introduces science concepts through hands-on interactives and role-playing opportunities while allowing guests to splash, climb, tinker and explore.
The exhibit offers innovative experiences, where children can learn by doing, exploring, moving, researching and manipulating environments as they develop and practice essential cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills. The Discovery Spot allows for “playful exploration of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) experiences that lead to lifelong learning.”
Children can role-play as airplane pilots, scientists on a research vessel, veterinarians in the Field Hospital, citrus processors in the Juicing Factory, animal trackers in the Everglades area and more. Art and science converge as children bring Florida native fish and sharks to life by digitally painting their chosen species and then releasing it into a digital ocean, watching as their fish or shark swims by on the Sketch and Release simulated ocean screen.
The Discovery Spot exhibit is free with Museum admission. Tickets can be purchased online at mods.org/tickets or at the Museum box office upon arrival. For more information about the exhibit, please visit Discovery Spot.
High-resolution images can be downloaded here.
Photo IDs:
P1. Joseph P. Cox, president & CEO of MODS and Joshua Bass, vice president of JM Family Enterprises and a MODS board of trustees member cutting ribbon.
P2. Joseph P. Cox, president & CEO of MODS giving opening remarks.
P3. John Coates, senior vice president, sr. institutional investment advisor with PNC Bank and a MODS board of trustees member
P4. Jon Ferrando, Founder, CEO and President, Blue CompassRV; Joshua Bass, vice president of JM Family Enterprises and a MODS board of trustees member; Rick J. Burgess, Esq., partner at Gunster and chairman of MODS’ board of trustees; Meredith Feder, Deputy Director, MODS; Joseph P. Cox, president & CEO of MODS; City of Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Warren Sturman; Austin Forman, president and CEO of American Marketing Management; State Representative Chip LaMarca; and Johnathan Robertson, CEO and Managing Partner, Create Capital and Vice Chair of MODS board of trustees.
P5. Discovery Spot Mascot: Spot
P6. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P6. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P7. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P8. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P9. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P10. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P11. Children enjoying the new Discovery Spot exhibit at MODS
P.12 Discovery Spot Overview
(Photos Courtesy of Michael Murphy Photography)
