Fort Bend Childrens Discovery Center Llc

THE MUSEUM TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE, CHILD-CENTERED LEARNING. SEE SCH OFORT BEND CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTER (FBCDC) TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE, CHILD-CENTERED LEARNING BY PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING RESOURCES, LITERACY AND STEM PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS.

THE FORT BEND CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTER (FBCDC) EMPLOYS CREDENTIALLED EDUCATORS WHO MANAGE FIVE BILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) EXHIBIT GALLERIES AND PROGRAMMING THAT CHANGES WEEKLY. THESE EXHIBITS/PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERACY AND ENGAGEMENT IN HANDS-ON, INQUIRY-BASED INVESTIGATIONS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS/DESIGN AND MATH (I.E., THE STEAM DISCIPLINES). DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC THAT RESULTED IN THE CLOSURE OF FBCDC FROM SEPTEMBER 2020 THROUGH MAY 2021, YEAR-OVER-YEAR COMPARISONS ARE SKEWED. IN FY2021, FBDCD SERVED 6,212, DOWN 75,253 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR WHEN FBCDC WAS OPEN FROM JULY 2019 THROUGH MID-MARCH 2020 AND IN JUNE 2020. 3.3% OF VISITORS RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION VIA OPEN DOORS FREE ADMISSION PASSES DISTRIBUTED TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BY COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS AT 100+ LOCATIONS ACROSS FORT BEND COUNTY. OUTCOMES OF MUSEUM VISITS ARE EVALUATED ANNUALLY WITHIN A PROCESS OF CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. VISITORS MIRROR FORT BEND'S DIVERSITY WITH AN ATTENDANCE THAT IS 34% ANGLO, 24% AFRICAN AMERICAN, 22% ASIAN AMERICAN, AND 20% HISPANIC/LATINO.WHILE CLOSED, FBCDC, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON, SWITCHED TO AN ONLINE FORMAT SO THAT THE CHILDREN IT SERVES CAN CONTINUE TO ACCESS LEARNING CONTENT.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDE A) THREE PROGRAMS THAT FACILITATE CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT IN LITERACY AND STEAM-BASED LEARNING DURING THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL HOURS AND SUMMER MONTHS; AND B) THREE PROGRAMS THAT EQUIP PARENTS TO FACILITATE HANDS-ON, EVIDENCE-BASED LEARNING AT HOME USING INEXPENSIVE AND READILY AVAILABLE SUPPLIES THAT CAN BE REPLENISHED AT "DOLLAR" STORES. IN FY21, THESE PROGRAMS ACHIEVED ATTENDANCE OF 1,103 AT 17 LOCATIONS ACROSS FORT BEND. BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT COVID-19, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN LOCATIONS OF 41 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR RESULTING IN A CORRESPONDING DECREASE IN ATTENDANCE OF 27,275. ALL PROGRAMMING IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPANTS IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS THAT INCLUDE TITLE I SCHOOLS, AFTERSCHOOL CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, HEALTHCARE CLINICS, LOW-INCOME HOUSING APARTMENTS, LIBRARY BRANCHES AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCREASE COLLECTIVE IMPACTS WHILE REMOVING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AND EMPLOYING BEST-PRACTICE APPROACHES THAT ENABLE CHILDREN OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO DEVELOP ASPIRATIONAL GOALS FOR SCHOOL COURSEWORK AND CAREERS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE EVALUATED ANNUALLY, WITH TARGETS SET FOR OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES.

VISITOR SERVICES INCLUDING FACILITATION OF EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEERS, SERVICE SUPPORT, AND CONVENIENCES INCLUDING PARKING.

OTHER MUSEUM MERCHANDISE.