Sci-Port Discovery Center

Sci-Port Discovery Center, in collaboration with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department, will expand its Bars without Barriers project, a program which provides work skills training, as well as family and parenting skills, to inmates. Through this collaboration, the project partners will present skills classes for inmates on informal science education theory and methods using a hands-on interactive program and build portable education stations to incorporate into family visits. Once inmates graduate from the program, they will be able to visit Sci-Port with their families with a free membership; engage their families with fun, hands-on, interactive programs at home; and interact with members of the community using their new portable educational stations. Primary activities include presenting weekly educational sessions, which include a mentored family contact visit class with 60 students that prepare participants to engage with their families; design and construction of education stations; and sharing the exhibits and best practices with other correction centers and museums.