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In less than 100 days, Discovery Place, Inc. will launch a new adventure in learning through play when it opens Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham to the public on Feb. 23, 2013.

The 20,000 square foot museum, located in downtown Rockingham, will offer hands-on activities and exhibits that help children develop cognitive, motor, language, social and critical thinking skills as well as help them to build confidence while trying new things. This will be the second Discovery Place KIDS location, following the successful launch of the museum network in Huntersville in 2010.

“This new museum will expand the reach of Discovery Place learning experiences further across the state and will provide engaging, community-based, educational opportunities to the families of the Sandhills region,” said John Mackay, president and CEO, Discovery Place. “We are so excited to greet the smiling faces of children as they come through the doors and see the new Discovery Place KIDS for the first time.”

Exploring the theme of “I CAN,” Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham will focus on developmentally-appropriate activities for children age 10 and younger that promote imagination, exploration and creativity. The exhibits will encourage experimentation, role-playing and innovation as well as physical activity. Live programming will include story time, puppet shows and lab experiments.

Summer camps and birthday parties will be available, and reservations will begin to be accepted after the New Year. Educational offerings will include school field trips and classes and are currently being booked.

“Discovery Place KIDS will be a place where children — and their caregivers — can tinker and test and try in a space that encourages imagination and creativity,” said Katie Rohleder, director, Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham. “It will be a fun and engaging learning environment, and while it looks like ‘play,’ it is indeed the most important work of childhood.”

Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham will officially open to the public on Feb. 23. Grand opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and the museum will remain open until 5 p.m. Operating hours on Feb. 24 will be noon to 5 p.m. Admission on both days will be half price; $4 for adults and children age one and older (younger than age one are free). Admission proceeds from the weekend will be designated to a fund that will provide future access to the museum to those without the financial means to support a visit. The fund is not available for use during opening weekend.

Discovery Place KIDS–Rockingham’s regular operating hours will be Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m., Monday closed. Admission to Discovery Place KIDS is $8, younger than age one are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout their visit. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more. For more information about the museum, call 910-997-5266, ext. 300, or email info@discoveryplace.org.

The Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham project was launched by the commitment of $6.6 million in funds from the Cole Foundation and the Richmond Community Foundation. Their visionary leadership gifts, which were facilitated by The Foundation For The Carolinas, are intended for the long-term sustainability of the museum.