Explora

Mission:

Explora: creating opportunities for inspirational discovery and the joy of lifelong learning through interactive experiences in science, technology and art.

Values:

Learning - We value learning through experience that is an active, self-motivated and directed, personal and communal process, that reflectively connects and reevaluates new and old experiences, that uses experiences thoughtfully to do things that give them meaning, that is the means for adaptation and growth leading to and informing new experiences and new mysteriesand that inspires learning to continue.

Activity - We value activity that fosters opportunities for thought, curiosity, imagination, growth and lifelong learning through experiences involving experimental manipulation of material things, interaction of minds, bodies, objects, prior experiences, cooperation with othersand the creation of personal meaning.

Attitudes and Emotions - We value attitudes and emotions, as motivators, shapers and outcomes of experience, that respect all people; that promote curiosity, open-mindedness, patience and confidence to try new things and think for oneself; that support and inspire thoughtful activity and open possibilities for fruitful exploration and communicationand that free people to feel safe and joyful in exploring the known and the unknown, in questioning their perceptions and in changing their attitudes and understandings.

Community - We value community as a source and product of human activity, learning, growth, attitudes and emotions, that creates a sense of comfort and belonging, that welcomes the use of personal experiences with the physical world in which individual differences in experience can be shared with family, friends and colleagues through quiet and easy interaction, exploration and experimentationand we value the diverse community in which we live and to which we strive to make a positive contribution and to create an environment where all members of this community feel welcome and included.

Experience - We value experience that is direct and personal, that inspires curiosity, thoughtful activity and communication, that opens new dimensions and awareness of the world, that contributes to personal growth and the growth of personal meaning, that supports a learning communityand that underlies, encourages and sustains inquiry and lifelong learning.

Growth - We value growth that sustains and develops all the capacities of a whole person, that results from learning and open-minded self-reflection, that reevaluates what is known, that develops confidence and interest for investigating and discovering new ideas and mysteries of the worldand that leads to personal change in thoughtful ways that enhance future experiences.