Children

show an amazing capacity for learning. When they are

allowed to learn at their own pace with hands-on

experience, children can understand topics that schools

would not teach them until several years later.

Fort

Discovery, a part of The National Science Center in

Augusta, believes in and aims its brand of scientific

knowledge at children, keeping things interesting and

fun.

There are

more than 270 exhibits, special activities and

demonstrations at Fort Discovery. Starlab, a portable

planetarium, gives a view of the night skies during the

day. The Communications Gallery houses a daily indoor

lightning storm and The Power Station is the place for

hands-on science demonstrations. There is also a high

wire bike ride, which will prove Newton's laws of

gravity.

Fort

Discovery also has a special show running this year in

the Paul S. Simon Discovery Theater; "The

Illuminated Brain." "The Illuminated

Brain" is a 3-D presentation, featuring lasers,

Surround Sound and computer-generated graphics. The

presentation shows how the brain has evolved with 5,000

years of civilization and technology. The show runs

daily, Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5

p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission to the

Paul S. Simon Discovery Theater is $1

There is

also a section of the center dedicated to children 7 and

younger called Kidscape. The Kidscape area has

experiments and materials aimed at younger children as

well as a story time area. Also, scattered throughout

Fort Discovery are selected exhibits with Young Scientist

decals on them. These exhibits are appropriate for

pre-kindergarten through second grade students.

Fort

Discovery is on the Riverwalk in Augusta and is perfect

for one last road trip at the end of the summer. It is

open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and Sunday noon to

6 p.m. Phone 706-821-0200, 800-325-5445 or visit the web

site, www.NationalScienceCenter.org for information.

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