CAPITOLA — “I love the puppet I made in the class that lights up in the black room,” said smiling, 3-and-a-half-year-old Aurora holding up her bright green sock puppet fish.
She’s referring to the bio-luminescent room, one of several new exhibits at the nonprofit Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (MOD) located in the Capitola Mall. Created by local artist and puppeteer, Ricki Vincent and his team of artists at The Puppetry Institute at the MOD, the eight-foot square tent is an immersive undersea experience with black lights illuminating fluorescent flora and fauna covering its interior.
Executive Director and Co-founder Patrice Keet said the remodel of the museum, which is celebrating its third anniversary this weekend with a free community day, was a community effort, bringing in local business partners and volunteers who helped do everything from exhibit installation to making handmade, two-foot fabric fish.
“We partner with many local organizations and other nonprofits and are just venturing into the world of business sponsorships,” she said. “Parents have been telling me that they are happy to see us promote local companies in this mutually beneficial way.”
Board member and former educator, Sue Creswell, teaches a weekly class and says she is pleased that she has found a meaningful and fun way to remain involved with families and their young children who learn through their play at the museum.
The museum, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, is hosting a free community day Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the sponsorship of Kids Dentistry in Capitola and North Coast Orthodontics on 41st Avenue. The community is invited to come and experience the museum’s new look free of charge.
Low-income families and qualifying childcare centers and family day care homes can receive free annual memberships through the support of donors. Those who would like to make a donation or would like to volunteering at the museum can visit www.sccmod.org or contact Keet at pa*********@sc****.org.
