The Discovery Cube Science Center in Sylmar, California, a town in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles, is a state of the art learning center with educational games and activities for young children. Completed in 2014, it is broadening the future opportunities for the local youth in a low-income neighborhood with a history of such events like the Rodney King riots.

The science center is an attraction that brings people from around Los Angeles for field trips or other day activities, improving the local economy. The venue hires celebrities such as Justin Timberlake to perform and interact with the kids. All of this was made possible by city spending and a large donation from Tori and Bruce Corwin.

The Science Center’s mission is to: “inspire and educate young minds through engaging science-based programs and exhibits to create a meaningful impact on the communities it serves.” The core initiatives of the center are encouraging STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) proficiency, early learning, healthy living and environmental stewardship. The center is grooming young minds with the information necessary to sustain and improve life on our planet in the future.

STEM proficiency is achieved by various educational games, exhibits, and interactive videos. These activities are preparing children for school so they can excel in class and get into a good college. The children are being taught the problems and topics the next generation of scientists will face.

The center is also teaching parents techniques on how to teach their children how to read at a younger age along with learning other languages. Shaping young, absorbent minds in a positive way will have a significant impact on their future learning potential.

Mental and physical health is also emphasized. Mental health is often ignored in schools, despite its importance, so the center is making the next generation more comfortable with the topic. By showing children at a young age how to be overall healthy humans, they will be able to have a better quality of life and rely less on forms of medication and avoid the easily accessible fast food in the area.

The center is also informing the next generation about the complex problems that lie in our environment. By having children develop environmentally conscious minds, it will be easier for progress to be made toward having a lifestyle that can sustain the planet.

It is assuring to see the city invest directly in its people, recognizing that the short-term costs will pay off in the future. The Discovery Cube Science center is sparking curiosity in the minds of countless youth. That curiosity will lead these children to be the problem solvers of the future.