CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 25, 2026) — As students across the Charlotte region head back to school, Discovery Place is launching a new initiative designed to help young people turn curiosity into pathways toward STEM careers. Built across the Discovery Place museum network, Next Gen Collective reimagines how museums can support lifelong learning, workforce development and stronger communities. 

Youth are first introduced to Discovery Place through school field trips, family visits, camps, classes and special events beginning in childhood. With more than 600,000 annual visitors, including over 64,000 school children, Discovery Place has long served as an entry point to STEM learning for young people across the Carolinas. 
“Discovery Place’s museums are critical early entry points into the STEM pipeline, where play-based learning helps children build curiosity, confidence and belonging,” said Dr. Nikki Hill, Chief Learning Officer at Discovery Place. “Next Gen Collective ensures that young people don’t just visit our museums once—they grow with us over time through mentorship, leadership and real-world STEM experiences.” 

A Continuous Journey of Opportunity 
Through Next Gen Collective, Discovery Place is connecting these early museum experiences to a long-term STEM pipeline that supports youth as they explore interests, build skills and prepare for future careers. The Next Gen Collective model gives youth multiple ways to get involved, with opportunities that grow alongside their interests and skills over time. 

Programs include: 
Next Gen Explorers (Grades 6–12) — Learning opportunities that spark curiosity through camps, monthly workshops and hands-on engagement. Programming kicks off September 19 with a “science of pirates” workshop for middle schoolers, and September 20 with a forensic science workshop for high schoolers. Workshop fees apply, with discounts available for youth members. 

Next Gen Scholars (Grades 9–12) — Mentorship and project-based learning opportunities that help students deepen expertise and develop STEM identity. Three 6-to-8-week afterschool programs are planned for this coming year. Program fees apply, with discounts available for youth members. 

Next Gen Apprentices (Grades 8–12) — Leadership and facilitation experiences that help youth build communication, responsibility and confidence. Apprentice cohorts launch this fall and again next summer. Participation is free. 

Next Gen Fellows (Grades 11–12) — Advanced paid internships and capstone experiences focused on workforce readiness, professional development and career launch. This 12-week program is planned for the 2026-27 school year. Fellows will also complete 100 hours at Discovery Place museums during summer 2027. Participation is free for students who apply and are selected for the program. 

Connecting STEM to the Real World 
As young people advance through the Next Gen Collective ecosystem, they gain access to more specialized environments across the Discovery Place network. At Discovery Place Science, youth engage in experiences connected to labs, research, AI and engineering. At the future Charlotte Museum of Nature, youth will explore animal care, conservation and field science, connecting STEM learning to real-world systems, stewardship and careers. 

“Through Next Gen Collective, we are positioning our museums not only as places of learning, but as powerful community infrastructure for developing the next generation of STEM leaders,” said Dr. Hill. “Our mission is to build a diverse, homegrown workforce, mitigate generational poverty and bridge achievement and profession gaps in the communities we serve.” 

For more information about Next Gen Collective, visit https://discoveryplace.org/visit/youth-development.  
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About Discovery Place  
Discovery Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing science, technology and nature learning to communities across the Carolinas through a network of award-winning museums, educational programs and community partnerships. Through immersive experiences, interactive exhibits and meaningful opportunities to explore, Discovery Place cultivates curiosity, fosters lifelong learning and empowers visitors of all ages to see themselves as thinkers, innovators and stewards of the world around them. Discovery Place’s network includes four distinct museum experiences—Discovery Place Science, Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville, Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham and the future Charlotte Museum of Nature. For more information about Discovery Place, visit discoveryplace.org.