The Child Development Center invites the community to partake in child-friendly activities and fun, as well as to learn about child care, in their annual Discovery Day on Oct. 24.

The event, located in the CDC next to the Academic Center, opens with a tour of the facility, then teachers and child development students will host interactive activities, animal encounters and face painting for children.

“It really opens up the door for the community to see what we are all about,” said Child Development Center Supervisor Johanna Pimental.

The center provides childcare services for students, faculty, staff and the community. It also functions as a lab for child development students.

“We try to show our community what is appropriate activity for children,” said Pimental.

The event will mostly be geared for children between the ages of 3 to 5, but older and younger children will present.

Amy Ito-Herrera, a professor who has been participating in coordinating Discovery Day for years, wanted to highlight a local toy maker, Gene West. He is a wooden toy maker who does not sell his toys, but shares them with the community. He will be there to share his toys, as he has before, at Discovery Day.

“It is a fairly inexpensive way to really have a very fun activity for the family and I think those kinds of things really create good memories,” said Pimental. “They set somehow a highlight and almost a tradition in the year.”

During the event there will be a fundraiser to raise money for materials, supplies and programs for the center. Last year, the center raised roughly $6,000 to $7,000, said Ito-Herrera. She hopes to raise as much this year.

Discovery Day will be held Saturday, Oct 24 at the Child Development Center. It will start at 10:30 a.m. and continue until 1:30 p.m. Ticket pricing is $8 for children 12 months to 9 years, and $5 for adults and children over 10 years.