One place, endless discoveries: Inside Discovery World’s unique events
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - At Discovery World, no two visits look the same and that’s exactly the point.
One weekend, visitors might be building robots, creating and experimenting with hands-on activities. The next, they could find themselves stepping outside their comfort zones maybe even eating bugs.
That wide range of experiences is intentional, according to CEO John Emmerich.
“We have a wide range of events. They rotate on a month-to-month basis,” he said. “We always seek to answer the question: what’s new at Discovery World?”
While the events may look very different, Emmerich said they all share a common goal.
Discovery World
“These are students that are designing, building, creating, and bringing to life the next generation of Milwaukee,” he said.
At Discovery World’s Girls and STEM event, that goal centers around inspiration - connecting young girls with women already working in science-related fields.
Meghan Langmyer with Discovery World said representation plays a key role.
“When you see yourself in the person across the table who's leading you through this activity you feel connected,” she said. “You feel like this is something I can do in the future. Having someone who looks like you sitting across the table from you is really inspiring.”
For 10-year-old Genevieve Salowitz, that impact is already clear.
“It makes me want to become an astrophysicist even more,” she said.
Ruth Dobberpuhl with the MSOE Lunabotics Team said hands-on experiences help make those dreams feel achievable.
“Go for it. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s worth it,” she said. “There’s not a lot of women in engineering, but you have a leg up because you think differently and we need more women in engineering.”
But not every Discovery World event looks like a science lab.
During Gross Out Day, families are encouraged to embrace the strange sometimes by trying things they’ve never considered before.
Sadie McAninch said she stepped outside her comfort zone.
“I’ve never eaten a bug before,” she said. “I tried a chocolate chip cookie that actually had crickets in it.”
After trying it, her perspective changed.
“I’m finding that bugs actually aren’t that strange,” she said. “It’s just the country we live in; we don’t really eat a lot of bugs so it’s a little weird.”
Whether it’s inspiring future engineers or challenging what visitors think is “gross,” Emmerich said each event is carefully designed.
“These experiences need to do different things. They need to attract, they need to engage, and they need to inspire,” he said. “That attract piece needs to be fun, inviting, and approachable not just for kids but for all audiences.”
He said a dedicated team works behind the scenes to continuously develop new ideas.
“Staff will create experiences and curate unique events at Discovery World on an ongoing basis,” he said.
For Emmerich, success isn’t just about attendance it’s about impact.
“When I have a family member come up to me and tell me that they wake up at five in the morning every single year… that’s how I know that the event is successful,” he said.
Discovery World focuses on reaching younger audiences and their families.
“That first through eighth grade is really our sweet spot,” Emmerich said.
He added that the goal goes beyond a single visit.
“We really are seeking to have that generational impact, and it starts with that first visit and it starts when you’re young,” he said.
From future astrophysicists to first-time bug tasters, Discovery World aims to show there’s more than one way to spark curiosity.
“These are really unique experiences with technology, with hands on science, and hopefully inspiration for kids and their families,” Emmerich said.
