Ithaca Discovery Trail facts for kids
| Formation | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Ithaca, NY |
| Website | www.discoverytrail.com |
The Ithaca Discovery Trail is a cool group of museums and the public library in Tompkins County, New York. They work together to help you explore and learn!
Its members are:
- Cayuga Nature Center
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Cornell Botanic Gardens
- Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art
- Museum of the Earth
- Sciencenter
- The History Center of Tompkins County
- Tompkins County Public Library
How It Started
Before the Discovery Trail officially began, these museums sometimes worked together. They shared exciting news and promoted each other's events.
The Discovery Trail officially started in 1999. They received a special grant (money) to hire someone to help organize everything. Later, in 2007, they became an official organization. This means they can get special support and work more effectively.
Kids Discover the Trail!
In 2005, the Discovery Trail started a special program called "Kids Discover the Trail!" (KDT). This program helps elementary school students from Ithaca visit the museums and library.
About 2,900 students get to go on field trips each year. They learn about different subjects that connect to what they are studying in school.
Fun Things to Do
The Discovery Trail helps all eight of its member places work together. They call themselves a "33-mile loop of exploration." This means you can explore many different things all around the area!
The Discovery Trail helps everyone know about these amazing places. They make sure people see them as one big, exciting group. They also help with marketing, which includes:
- Creating fun programs together
- Taking part in big community events
- Having a website with lots of information
- Giving out a common brochure (a small booklet)
- Asking visitors what they think to make things better
- Sending out news to newspapers and other media
The Discovery Trail also plans joint events, programs, and exhibits. They work closely with the Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau. This group helps people who visit the area find fun things to do. The Discovery Trail also keeps a calendar of all the events happening at its member locations.
The Discovery Trail gets its funding from the Tompkins County Strategic Tourism Board. Its members also contribute money to help keep it going.
