Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses
While accompanying her grandchildren on a field trip to an interactive children’s museum, Beth Desch had a lightbulb moment.
She returned and talked to a few people about her idea to create something similar in Pottstown.
“People seemed to think it was a good idea, so we kept doing the next thing,” Desch recalled of her journey, which began nine years ago. Over the years Desch received several grants which helped to kickstart the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center, which she officially opened in June 2024.
The 7,000-square-foot space, which features a costume area and stage for kids to put on skits; a farm-to-table learning room; STEM activities; and a LEGO-building area, is housed at Montgomery County Community College’s Pottstown campus.
“It was purchased to be used as a community involvement building,” Desch said of the space. “We are educating and encouraging the younger kids.”
While the Discovery Center is geared for kids ages 2 to 10, Desch said kids ages 6-7 seem to get the most enjoyment from visits.
“We had all the elementary students come for field trips,” she said. “The teachers said they were going to be able to use some of the experiences there in the classroom.”
Transitioning from concept to reality was a bit of a learning curve for Desch, a former dental hygienist. She leaned on mentors from SCORE TriCounty for guidance on creating a mission statement, assembling a board and conducting meetings for her nonprofit organization.
“I’m kind of an idea person,” she said. “My mentor was very good at pointing me to exactly the next steps.”
The center had been relocated to a temporary space while the college undertook renovations, including a new HVAC system to ensure the space is a more consistent temperature in summer and winter months. Other upgrades included the addition of cabinets to house art supplies and apparatus for experiments, as well as installation of a sink, which comes in handy for cleanup. Improvements concluded recently and the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center has moved back into its original space at 95 S. Hanover St.
Desch began working with SCORE TriCounty mentor Fred Remelius two years ago. Remelius, who worked in facilities management for 42 years, lent his expertise to help Desch understand and navigate.
“He was willing to look at some of the plans that were being done for the building,” she said. “He did some more technical work with us about the actual renovations that they were making on the building and how that would impact us.”
With the center back in its original space, Remelius said marketing is on his and Desch’s to-do list.
“I have to give her credit,” he said. “This has been a dream and a passionate mission of hers for I don’t know how long.”
For the most part, the center is a self-guided experience, but Desch, her two employees, and volunteers are still needed to “reset the rooms” following play. Everyone who works and volunteers at the center is required to have child abuse clearances, Desch said.
Looking ahead, Desch is planning a grand opening on June 21, which will be open to the public and include costumed characters and face painting. Summer will also see the center’s first-ever half-day summer camp. The week-long camp will feature new themes and activities daily and is tentatively scheduled for the first week of August.
Beginning in early summer, Desch is planning to roll out Discovery Club. Similar to passports, kids will receive a book and earn stamps for participating in various programs, which will be focused on literacy. Activities will change weekly, encouraging participants to visit regularly to keep earning stamps and qualifying for prizes.
Also in the works is a stop motion exhibit funded by Pottstown Kiwanis.
“The kids can see a little movie of what they did,” she said. “The older kids will be getting into that.”
With so many activities on the horizon, Desch hopes to expand the space, along with the offerings, in the coming months.
“It’s definitely on our minds,” Desch said. “It brings me joy every time I’m in there seeing kids play.”
About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. SCORE TriCounty serves business owners and entrepreneurs in western Montgomery, northern Chester, and eastern Berks counties. For more information, visit https://www.score.org/tricounty
