The Museum's outdoor Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden captivates children with a wide variety of nature-based science activities and exhibits. Interactive exhibits such as the Water Wise Table, Nature Play, and the Pollinator Garden help children of all ages learn to appreciate their surroundings.
Water Wise
Visit this interactive water table to explore buoyancy, water flow, and test your problem-solving skills while constructing pathways and structures.
Freshwater Fun
After your sensory experience at Water Wise, visit Freshwater Fun to learn about sustainability, pollution prevention, and the water cycle. You will see fish and plants not only living together but helping each other thrive.
Base Camp
In Base Camp, children become young archaeologists, paleontologists, and geologists as they learn about people, places and ecologies of the past.
Imagination Playground
These large foam blocks can be used to create an imaginary world. Build towers, houses, and other structures and collaborate with other aspiring architects.
Maker Studio
In the Maker Studio, guests are invited to participate in workshops with Museum Educators and explore daily STREAM Stations connected to the monthly theme. Get ready to use your imagination, build as engineers, create magnificent masterpieces, and so much more.
Edible Garden
The Edible Garden is full of life! Guests can grab watering cans to nurture the growing plants, a magnifying glass to embark on a bug scavenger hunt, or explore with their senses.
Ramps
This collection of rubber and wooden pieces can be combined in many different ways to create a track for a rolling object. Explore and discover how structure affects elevation, speed, distance, and motion while rolling a ball along your track.
Tortoise Enclosure
Meet Sebastian, the 50 year old North American Desert Tortoise! Guests can get an up close look at Sebastian the tortoise and learn about his different adaptations during Tortoise Talk at 10:30 a.m.. North American Desert Tortoises are considered threatened due to destruction of their natural habitat. By fostering threatened animals like Sebastian onsite, our visiting guests not only can learn more about the animal but it increases awareness of ecological issues and fosters support for the preservation of threatened and endangered species. It also encourages children to consider their own actions and how they can contribute to the conservation of species and ecosystems with their long term impact.
Thank you to our Discover area supporters: Price Philanthropies Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Escondido Foundation, Escondido Rotary Foundation, The Heller Foundation of San Diego, The County of San Diego, Bonar Family Trust, Hunter Industries, Grangetto’s Farm & Garden Supply, Escondido Lumber, Omega Turf Artificial Grass, Fine Finish Factory, Inc., Anne Oshman (Mosaic Artist), Buena Vista Landscaping, Butterfly Farms, Tovar Landscaping, San Diego Hydroponics & Organics, Erick Altona, High Tech High San Marcos, Calvin Christian School, Kiwanis Club of Escondido Key Club, Escondido High School, Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club.