"Discover"ing Our Community

One of the best kid sites in our community is The Discovery Center. It's located on the grounds of our local zoo. We went to the zoo a few weeks ago but avoided the Discovery Center because my mom had promised my sister-in-law that we would all go together when they came to visit. So, we all (minus John, again! He had to work...) trooped up there on Tuesday and had a blast!! It was G's first time, but somehow she had premonitions that it would be fantastic, because the moment I got her out of the car she wanted to RUN! to that big, flowery cow out front. (The cow used to be a steer and it was located on the top of a famous local restaurant, The Vestal Steakhouse, which is sadly closed now. It was a local landmark.)

One of the very many neat things about the DC is that it is a mini-version of our community. Each center has been donated by a local business and is representative of things kids see everyday in their neighborhood. It's like a history lesson on Broome County rolled up with a whole lot of fun and discovery. The DC has been around since I was a kid. I remember going (it was located at a different site then) with my grandma and being wowed by the bubble machines, the airplane, the cafe. It was such a treat to share it with my daughter.

Another cool aspect of the DC (this is my professional self talking, I work with kids with developmental disabilities and sensory issues) is that it's a great opportunity for kids to explore in a hands-on way everyday places and activities that they might be frightened of. Many kids, disabled or not, would be terrified of a loud, screeching firetruck, or a fireman who is in full gear (and looks a bit like an alien) barging into their bedroom trying to save them. But if they have had the opportunity to climb all over a real fire truck, work the siren, don the hat and jacket and see the other equipment their fears might be reduced. I love that we have a place in our community where kids can do that. They can also play in the grocery store, the bank, climb in a boat, ride all sorts of bikes, fly an airplane...well, see for yourself:

Payton and Kristin in the multi-level tunnel/maze.

Giuliana and Brayden destroying one of the grocery aisles while my mother and father stand by and watch! Thanks. You KNOW the next time I take G to the grocery store she is going to want to climb out of the cart and pull everything off the shelves!

Brayden and Payton scooping icecream.

My dad helping G on her first tricycle ride.

G flies a real airplane...

and drives a real fire trunk!

Exploring the camping exhibit. She loved the tent!

Giuliana, Brayden and Payton learn about archeology from Kristin.

G colors a picture for Daddy who wasn't able to come :(

We left the Discovery Center to walk down the hill into the zoo to ride the carousel. Our community has been graced with 6 historic, wooden, hand-carved carousels. There is one at the zoo and five more scattered through-out the county at local parks. There is one at the park a block from our house. They were donated by George F. Johnson, of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, between 1919 and 1934. They are all free to ride with the donation (to the garbage can located outside the gate) of one piece of litter. They will always be free to ride, that is part of the legacy. George F. wanted the kids of his employees (which was most of the community at that time) to have places to play and have amusement at no cost because he felt it "contributed to a happy life and would help youngsters grow into strong and useful citizens." I am grateful that my daughter gets to grow up in a community that takes pride in this heritage and that she will be able to enjoy the same carousels that I enjoyed as a kid. My brother's kids will look forward to visiting NY in the summer for the chance to ride the carousels, too, I'm sure. If Tuesday was any indication, anyway. They loved it. Sorry no pictures, I was having too much fun spinning around and around to snap any!