Children’s Discovery Center

A few weeks ago, the Bayou Cajun Homeschoolers had a field trip to the Children’s Discovery Center in Hammond, LA.  The center is closed on Mondays but will open if you have a large enough group to reserve it which is what we did.  It was great having it to ourselves.

We divided everyone up into 7 different groups to rotate in 15 min. intervals from station to station.  This helped keep it organized and everyone had an opportunity to enjoy each station.

This Discover Me station was their newest station.

      

 

 

      

Bubble Station

Everyone loves the bubbles.  It gets kind of messy in their with that many kids playing.

 

 

Creative Station

They were making dinosaur feet for the day.  In fact, Ian and one of the other boys in our group, Grayson, had a discussion with the lady about how God created the dinosaurs during creation.  They told her that the flying dinosaurs were created on day 5 with the flying creatures and the land dinosaurs were created on day 6 with the land animals.

  

Grayson with his dinosaur foot.

Preschool area

This area was for children 3 and under to play.

Tummy time for Isaac while Asa played with the train table.

     

Little Rose loving on Isaac and Isaac smiling for the camera.

 Milking the Cow

My sweet friend, Allison and Isaac

(She loves to help me out and wear Isaac for me.)

 Shrimp Boat

 

 

Life-size operation game

Ambulance

 Vet Examining Table 

 

Dr. Ella and Dr. Sarah

A replica of a Cajun restaurant in the area

(They even had table and chairs with menus the kids could pass out and play restaurant.)

Hot Air Balloon

(When you pushed the button, the balloon felt like you were moving.  When you looked over, it looked like you were looking over the city of New Orleans.)

 

 

Sweet Gabbi (Allison’s daughter) taking her turn helping and playing with Isaac.

Construction Zone 

Train table inside the construction zone

Asa loving on his brother, Isaac

 

Theatre and Music

 

Ian racing cars down the track

Lego table

Bonus:

Afterward, Candi, Allison, and I along with our children walked a couple blocks to eat lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.  We called ahead and they had a table set up for us.

(3 adults and 19 children)

The kids did an excellent job.  The food was good and our waitresses were great.

On our way out of the restaurant, Gabe saw a State Trooper eating lunch (he was finished).  They went over and talked to him for a second.  Once he realized there were a lot of children, he went out and moved his car to the side of the restaurant where we were walking out so he could give them stickers. 

Then, the kids got a second field trip for free.  The trooper showed them the inside of his trunk and explained everything to them.  They saw his machine gun, bullet proof vest, his stun gun, handcuffs, etc.  He demonstrated his taser gun without the cartridge in place.  They loved it!

Then, we walked back to our vehicles and headed back home.  It was a great day with friends.  Lots of hands-on learning and time to play.