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Discover Construction Festival

Published: August 02, 2011

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DALLAS, Texas – Excitement is “building” for the upcoming two-day Discover Construction event scheduled for Saturday August 13 and Sunday August 14 at the Museum of Nature & Science campus in Fair Park. Discover Construction is the final event for the 2010-2011 season of the popular Discovery Days festival series. The weekend will include construction-themed exhibits, games and activities for all ages.

“The excitement surrounding the building of the new Perot Museum of Nature & Science inspired the Discover Construction theme,” said Stacey Bucklin, family & adult programs manager for the Museum of Nature & Science. “During the festival, families can explore the science behind the construction of skyscrapers, bridges and more! Real life civil engineers will be on hand to answer your questions. We'll also offer exciting stage shows to highlight builders of the animal world and electricity.”

Guest exhibitors include The American Society of Engineers, who will supervise as visitors construct domes out of candy! Representatives from the Urban Honeybee Guild and Dallas Zoo will be on hand to demonstrate some of the most capable builders of the animal world. And visitors will also be able to construct their own skyscrapers, examine arches and see how engineers make buildings earthquake-proof.

Performances of the Museum’s popular Electric Theater are also scheduled. This electrifying and interactive stage show demonstrates the power of electricity and its effects on our daily lives. Electrified magnets, Tesla coils, Van de Graaf generators and plasma balls reveal how the science of electricity affect us both indoors and outside.

While on hand for Discovery Days, guests may also experience the Museum’s newest traveling exhibit, Dallas CityScape, which recreates Dallas landmarks from LEGO® blocks. The LEGO® creations include the American Airlines Center, the Hyatt building and a completed version of the Perot Museum of Nature & Science. The interactive exhibit also provides the opportunity for visitors to build their own LEGO® creations.

“Discovery Days are a great series of events for families because there are activities for kids of ‘all ages,’ so they are a great way for families to learn and have fun together,” says Steve Hinkley, director of education for MNS. “The events allow visitors to get hands-on with the science that exists all around them – the topics we have picked for this year are just a small representation of ways in which science is a part of our everyday lives.”

The entire Discovery Days series is presented by Time Warner Cable, a two-year supporter of the Museum of Nature & Science. Discover Construction is sponsored by Fluor®. Discover Construction and Dallas CityScape are both free for MNS members and included in the price of general exhibit admission for non-members. Regular general exhibit admission is $10 for adults 18-61; $9 for seniors 62+ and students 12-17; $7 for children 2-11; Children under 2 are free. Save time and avoid lines by purchasing advance tickets online. The MNS campus is located in Fair Park. The Science Building is at 1318 S. 2nd Ave., and the Nature Building is at 3535 Grand Ave. Weekend hours are Saturday 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and Sunday noon until 6:00 p.m.

For more information about Discovery Days, Discover Construction, Dallas CityScape, MNS membership and general MNS information, visit natureandscience.org.

About the Museum of Nature & Science
The Museum of Nature & Science – the result of a unique merger in 2006 between the Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place and the Dallas Children's Museum – is an AAM- accredited non-profit educational organization located in Dallas's Fair Park. In support of its mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The facility also includes the TI Founders IMAX® Theater and a cutting-edge digital planetarium. The Museum of Nature & Science is supported in part by funds from the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, the Texas Commission on the Arts and HP. The Museum of Nature & Science also is building a new $185-million museum on a 4.7-acre site in Victory Park to complement the Fair Park facilities. To learn more about the Museum of Nature & Science, please visit www.natureandscience.org.

About Time Warner Cable North Texas
Time Warner Cable is bringing the best in technology, innovation and entertainment to the North Texas community. Thanks in part to a recently completed improvement project, all North Texas residential and commercial customers passed by Time Warner Cable, now have access to the latest technology delivered over a robust fiber rich network. Customers can choose to bundle Digital Home Phone, Road Runner High Speed Internet service and digital video service from one local provider. Plus, Time Warner Cable delivers full-time, local customer service and technical support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, visit www.timewarnercable.com/dallas or call 972-PICK TWC (972-742-5892).

Posted Tuesday, August 02, 2011 in Arts & Entertainment, Visual Arts, Living, Kids,

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