By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

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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