Weaving for Wellness

Discovery Park of America is launching a new educational program designed to help youth and adults build practical life skills while supporting emotional wellness through hands-on creative learning. 

Weaving for Wellness, made possible through a generous grant from the Juanita H. Fasola Foundation, Inc., is a free program created for youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, learning differences and other disabilities. 

The program will introduce participants to weaving and textile arts in a structured, supportive environment that encourages focus, patience, confidence and independence. 

Participants will learn foundational weaving techniques while developing practical skills such as measuring materials, planning multi-step projects, reading simple patterns and completing a finished item from start to finish. Each participant will create a handwoven scarf to take home. 

Discovery Park developed the program to provide an accessible learning opportunity that promotes independence while offering participants a calming and engaging creative outlet. 

The program will be offered as four separate three-session courses over the next year, with each course limited to 10 participants. 

Participants register by course and are expected to attend all three sessions in their selected course. Classes will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. 

Course Dates

Course 1 
June 22, July 20 and Aug. 24, 2026 

Course 2
Sept. 21, Oct. 19 and Nov. 23, 2026 

Course 3 
Dec. 21, 2026, Jan. 18, 2027, and Feb. 22, 2027 

Course 4 
March 22, April 19 and May 24, 2027 

Participation is free, but pre-registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit this link or contact Lori Inciong at [email protected]. 

Discovery Park of America has announced the finalists for the America 250 Student Creative Arts Contest, with selected artwork to be displayed July 3-9 as part of the museum and heritage park’s “Celebrating 250 Years of Independence” programming. 

The contest invited students from across the region to create artwork inspired by the theme “What Does the American Dream Mean to You?” More than 100 entries were submitted, with a final count of 105 pieces of artwork representing a wide range of ages, perspectives and artistic styles. 

Finalists and their families are invited to attend the America 250 Student Creative Arts Contest Award Ceremony on Friday, July 3, at 2 p.m. at Discovery Park of America. The exhibit featuring finalist artwork will remain on display through July 9. 

The student art display is presented in conjunction with Discovery Park’s Independence Day weekend celebration and America 250 programming, funded in part by a Tennessee America 250 Grant from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. Guests attending the exhibit are also encouraged to enjoy Discovery Park’s July 3 “Celebrating 250 Years of Independence” event and the final Rhythm on the Rails concert of the season featuring Mo Pitney. 

Discovery Park would like to thank the judges who helped review submissions for this year’s contest, including Abi Hellmich from The Art Room in Union City, Kimberly Shaw from Art & Soul of Tennessee and Dylan Schaefer from Discovery Park of America. 

Discovery Park also thanks every student who participated in the contest and shared their creativity, talent and perspective through art. 

Finalists are listed below by grade division. 

Creativity, Competition and a Few Soggy Endings Highlight Cardboard Boat Regatta at Discovery Park

Cardboard, duct tape and plenty of imagination took center stage at Discovery Park of America on Saturday, May 9, as participants of all ages launched handcrafted vessels into the water for the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. 

Families, friends and competitors gathered for a day filled with creativity, laughter and a little suspense as boats made entirely from cardboard raced across the water — with some staying afloat longer than others. 

The event featured youth and adult divisions, along with special awards recognizing creativity, ingenuity and memorable moments on the water. 

Youth Division Awards

First Place: 
Sea Ya – Boone Hart and Gage Hart 

Second Place: 
Modern Art II – Andrew Hackett, Oliver Wright, Felix Wright and Jeb Wright

Third Place: 
Koi-nd of Fast- Samantha Auxier, Kaylin Tucker and Lena Zimmerman

Adult Division Awards

First Place: 
Excel Boats  – Chris Posey and Emma Adams 

Second Place: 
Whaley 2 – Lynn Cox and Reed Logan from the Union City Fire Department

Special Awards

The Cardboard Boat Regatta has become a favorite tradition at Discovery Park, giving participants the chance to combine engineering, teamwork and creativity in a fun, hands-on competition. 

From surprisingly seaworthy designs to dramatic sinkings that had the crowd cheering, the event delivered plenty of memorable moments for guests and competitors alike. 

Events like the Cardboard Boat Regatta reflect Discovery Park’s mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond by encouraging imagination, problem-solving and hands-on learning in an unforgettable setting. 

View the full gallery on Flickr.