The Discovery Center is preparing for its newest exhibit to open to the public.
“Chain Reaction Charlie” opens Saturday, Jan. 16 and will be on display through Saturday, April 3 at the facility, located at 701 N.E. Sanchez Ave. The exhibit is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The new exhibit encourages kids to explore and tinker with items within their world. Children can explore Chain Reaction Charlie’s backyard, go camping at Charlie’s tree house, get hands-on in the garden or test balancing skills at the Creek Cross Challenge.
They also can build inside Charlie’s Workshop, where participants will learn about six simple machines and how they can work together to make incredible new inventions. The exhibit inspires children to become inventors or challenge current inventions.
Discovery Center staff will be implementing increased cleaning protocols for the facility. All guests must wear a face covering while inside buildings and adhere to a physical distance of six feet apart. Hands-on manipulatives will be sanitized with appropriate cleaners during periods of high traffic and following each session.
Use of UV light will be implemented to sanitize the planetarium, and UV sanitization has been installed in Discovery Center air handlers. Items that are not easily sanitized have been removed or replaced. Hand sanitizer stations are available in all areas of the facility.
General admission to the Discovery Center is $8 per person or $28 for a family of four. Annual memberships also are available for individuals and families.
StarLab Planetarium shows are held Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. and tickets are $30 per 10-person group. An alternative Planetarium-like show, NASA Solar System Exploration, also is available for a $3 add-on to the price of general admission.
For more information, call (352) 401-3900 or visit www.mydiscoverycenter.org.