River Legacy Living Science Center’s New Discovery Room Opens Jan. 29
By Susan Schrock
Posted on January 23, 2018, January 23, 2018

River Legacy Living Science Center

Thanks to the generosity of donors, supporters and community, the transformation of River Legacy Living Science Center's Exhibit Hall is now complete!

Guests can experience the amazing transformation when the new River Legacy Discovery Room opens to the public on Monday, Jan. 29. Admission to The Discovery Room will be $3 for children (ages 3 to 12); $5 for adults (13 to 59); and $4 for seniors (60+). The Science Center's atrium with its activity tables, exploration stations and terrariums and the surrounding nature trails will still be accessible to the community at no cost.

The Science Center will also continue to offer free family programs on Saturdays and free family festivals. Access to the Discovery Room will be free during those festivals: Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 17; Earth Day on April 14; and W.A.T.E.R. Festival on September 8.

"We are so excited to finally be able to open the Discovery Room and share with our guests such an amazing, interactive and fun learning experience,"Executive Director Jill Hill said. "We would especially like to thank everyone who helped make it happen and our guests and parents who endured the construction process with us. It has been a growing process, but the new exhibits and experiences are definitely worth the wait."

The River Legacy Discovery Room features two large aquariums, all new engaging exhibits and a large interactive screen where guests can virtually immerse themselves in woodland habitats and seasons, learn fun facts about wildlife and play a variety of games – competing to be the top lizard in a push up challenge; jumping as high as a frog to catch dinner; or posing for a woodpecker selfie and MORE! The environmental stewardship area of the Discovery Room will inspire guests to take action to keep our waters clean, pick up litter and recycle.

A collapsible wall featuring vibrant graphics closes in our learning laboratories providing secure and private access for our field investigations and classes, but can be opened to expand the exhibit area when not in use. This new space also allows more opportunities to host meetings, weddings and traveling exhibits.

The interactive wall was designed by 900lbs of Creative, whose design credits include The Perot Museum and the Dallas Cowboys. The exhibits were created by Split Rock Studios in Minneapolis, who have designed exhibits for nature centers across the country.

To sustain and maintain the integrity of the new exhibits, River Legacy Living Science Center is launching an annual membership benefits plan that will allow guests unlimited access to the Discovery Room as well as other perks such as guest passes, private events and free tickets to special events. To learn more about the membership benefit levels that best suit your family's needs, visit www.riverlegacy.org or call 817.860.6752.

"We are grateful to all of our donors who helped make this transformation possible. Because of them, we are now able to engage more children and families with the natural world by connecting on their level, by integrating technology and nature to further our mission of growing the next generation of environmental stewards,"Hill said.

River Legacy Foundation would especially like to thank the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, the Gene & Jerry Jones Arlington Youth Foundation, Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington, ACP International, the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, the Ann L. and Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust, The Meadows Foundation, Amon G. Carter Foundation, Sedalco Construction Services, Quorum Architects Inc, Republic Waste Services, Arlington Water Utilities Department, Becky and David Moritz, anonymous donors, individuals and the River Legacy Foundation Board of Directors for helping to make this $2.5 million renovation a reality.

River Legacy Living Science Center and the new Discovery Room are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Discovery Room admission tickets and annual membership benefit plans can be purchased inside the Science Center's Gift Shop. For more information on the Center, Discovery Room or educational programs, visit www.riverlegacy.org or call 817.860.6752.

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