Discovery Center group gathering public input

McCOOK, Neb. — Some day, hopefully soon, Southwest Nebraska will be the home of a discovery center for youth.

The plans are already in motion, with a 19-member advisory council meeting regularly for the past year to come up with ideas for a center which will stimulate imagination, spark creativity and inspire a passion for discovery among youth of all ages.

The mission is to provide a joyful place for all ages to explore, discover and grow, said Cathy McDowell and Mary Dueland, the McCook women who came up with the children’s museum idea while visiting over lunch in the early part of 2016.

From that point forward, the idea has mushroomed, with a wide range of ideas under construction for implementation in McCook and Southwest Nebraska.

The sole purpose of the advisory council, said Cathy and Mary, is creating a youth center which they hope becomes ‘The Thinkery of Southwest Nebraska.’

Before going forward with the idea, the advisory council is seeking suggestions from the public. To gather input, a survey sheet was sent to McCook and area schools and a survey sheet was sent to McCook residents in this month’s utility billing statements.

The questionnaire asks if citizens think a discovery center would benefit the people of this region. The survey form also asks if the advisory council should move forward with the idea and, if so, if citizens feel the community will financially support a campaign to create a discovery center.

The survey asks the public to estimate the level of giving they would consider over a three- to five-year pledge period and whether citizens would consider a leadership role in the discovery center campaign.

Surveys may be dropped off at the McCook Library, the McCook City Office or mailed to P.O. Box 43, McCook, NE 69001. Citizens of Southwest Nebraska may also complete an online survey by logging on to https://goo.gl/4JcZwX.

For those wanting more information, the discovery center advisors will have a booth along side the Omaha Children’s Museum traveling exhibit, which will be Thursday, June 8, and Friday, June 9, under McCook’s new parking lot canopy at East First and D streets.

In pursuit of Discovery Center ideas, Cathy and Mary have traveled widely, visiting children’s museums in Nebraska, California, Oregon and Colorado, and attending a national children’s museum conference in Pasadena, California.

The feedback from the public will help shape the effort to move forward with the “Thinkery of Southwest Nebraska.” The first stages may be “a museum without walls,” a concept which would bring exhibits, camps and other activities to McCook and the other communities of Southwest Nebraska.

The ultimate goal is to establish a museum location and a committee is at work to establish a museum location and a committee is at work looking at possible sites.

The committee has partnered with the McCook Community Foundation and the Nebraska Community Foundation for organizational support.