http://handsonwnc.org/
I think what was special for me was the fact that it was created by the community, for the community. It seems like quite a grassroots project! Donations were taken from the community and learning centers were sponsored by local business. The favorite area was sponsored by McDonald's. Did you know that McDonald's in the largest consumer of apples? So... they sponsored the from seed to apple pie activity. Ray's favorite activity was the bubble machine. Check out the pictures!
They had a music center, painting and play dough area, a Lego car building table with a great ramp to test the cars on, a stage, a Log cabin, grocery store with a real cash register and conveyor belt. Doctor's office, climbing trees... sooo much stuff!
It was wonderful ~ but not perfect... which made it even more wonderful because it made me think, "Well we could do that!"
All the activities were created by regular (although very creative) people - not commercially designed or built pieces. Well, except for the slide and water feature all built into "stone" very much like the slide and waterfall at River Hills.
When I came home I researched community children's museums. Turns out there are hundreds of these type of non-profit businesses throughout the country. Everything from the most modest to professionally designed and built. What they have in common was this idea - by the community, for the community. There seems to be a formula to getting these things started
I'm just thinking...
Wouldn't a children's museum be the perfect addition to downtown Loveland?
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