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Quality curriculum that gets kids excited about learning, moving, and connecting.
Discover who we are, what makes our curriculum effective, and how we can help your kids succeed.
Did you or your kids have a good experience with an Active Discovery kit? Let us know!
Meet the dedicated individuals working to bring Active Discovery's mission to life.
Have questions or want to learn more? Reach out to our team for information about our programs.
By supporting after-school staff, mentors, parents, and care-givers, we ensure kids have the opportunity to get moving and explore their passions through meaningful activities.
Active Discovery began with a simple observation by our founder, Mary Ann Sprague-Denison: too many children lack access to the formative experiences that build confidence, curiosity, and connection.
After years of working with children in underserved communities, Mary Ann saw firsthand how limited access to enriching activities created an opportunity gap that followed children throughout their lives.
"Every child deserves the chance to move, to wonder, to connect—these fundamental experiences shape who we become. When we provide equitable access to these opportunities, we change trajectories."
— Mary Ann Sprague-Denison, Founder
In 2021, Mary Ann launched Active Discovery with a mission to close this opportunity gap by creating activity kits that could be distributed through existing community organizations, maximizing impact while minimizing barriers.
Stories from the communities, schools, and families Active Discovery supports.
“Everyone in the neighborhood wanted a box!”
On the day the Active Discovery Kits were given out, one family went home and started playing with the items in it and the Activity Book, and before long the mom walked back to school with a wagon and told us that everyone in the neighborhood wanted a box --would it be possible? Of course we sent her on her way with a wagon full of boxes.
“The kids loved this program!”
The Adventure Club Game was a neat interactive activity which exposed our members to cities around the US while being engaged in physical movement as part of our healthy living initiative. The kids loved this program which allowed them to use technology and their phones with the QR codes as they reached certain destinations. We incorporated this activity into our weekly Triple Play program which encourages development of the mind, body and soul.
“The soccer balls that came in the kits this summer were awesome and the kids loved them.”
Soccer is a HUGE deal at our Club. The soccer balls that came in the kits this summer were awesome and the kids loved them. Even though soccer is popular, many of the kids here don't own their own soccer ball so having one in their bag for them to keep was amazing. That will always be the first soccer ball they got to call their own and it came from you guys!
“They were happy and super tired afterwards.”
Wow the kids loved the Art & Agility kits. I wasn’t sure how the full range of ages would respond to the Pointillism education and projects, but 15 minutes into the first session - they were into it! Everyone was quietly working - it was almost magical seeing them escape into art and be so peaceful. Their finished pictures were amazing too! The agility grids were cool - we played sprinting Tic Tac Toe, and then did lots of different movement patterns - everyone was happy and super tired afterwards. Thank you for coming up with such great kits. The staff and the kids look forward to them.
“We are very appreciative of Active Discovery's incredible generosity!”
I want to thank Active Discovery, for supporting children in poverty at Denver Housing Authority (DHA)! They sent 1500 Active Discovery Kits for children in public housing that included a soccer ball, bilingual soccer activity videos, a kite, sidewalk chalk, a frisbee, a sling sack, and a bilingual Activity Book! They also gave five Discovery Club games and provided relevant training in a few of our neighborhoods! We are very appreciative of this incredible generosity!