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dVenture Children’s Museum, the dream of mothers Sue Williams and Katherine Frankstoneen, emerged into its fully formed museum on November 8, 2003. Credited with bringing the concept of the museum to life, Catherine Wilson Horne, President and CEO, has been with EdVenture from the beginning.
“The past 10 years have culminated into a decade of record breaking accomplishments and recognitions that we never dreamed we could achieve,” says Catherine. Some of those things include being recognized as one of the top children’s museums in the country by numerous magazines and lists, and being the recipient of the 2011 National Medal for Museum Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, DC. “We have also been embraced by this community and by South Carolina. People know EdVenture, and they know EDDIE!” The largest children’s museum in the South, EdVenture boasts of 92,000 square feet of turbocharged learning and fun. Designed for children 12 and younger, it is perfect for families, teachers, caregivers, and the child in all of us. There are nine spectacular galleries, a library, classrooms and laboratories, the museum store, and last but not least, the world’s largest child. The first thing visitors see upon walking through the doors is EDDIE®, the museum’s centerpiece. A 40-foot, 17.5 ton, hands-on exhibit, EDDIE® is large enough for children and adults to climb through. You can explore the inner workings of the human body as you climb his vertebrae to his brain, crawl through his heart, bounce around his tummy, and slide out his intestines. For the past several years, the imaginative folks at EdVenture have been rebuilding and expanding exhibits, and adding new ones. The Blooming Butterflies exhibit, open May through October, is an outside butterfly garden where kids can witness butterflies emerging from their chrysalises and spreading their wings for the first time. They have also added both human health and pet education exhibits. In Body Detectives, visitors explore the science behind the prevention of chronic disease, specifically heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. In Wags & Whiskers, children learn about responsible pet care by taking on the role of pet owner, veterinarian or groomer. With Farm to Fork exhibits, guests can visit the Speckled Hen Market, The Busy
Bee Farm and the Lil Spot Diner, or they can go to the new cooking lab called Taste Buds. With even more big plans coming up, including a waterfront addition to EdVenture, this fun learning park is sure to be a family favorite adventure for years to come. EdVenture also rents out its space to businesses, associations, and individuals for birthday parties, baby showers, meetings and weddings. “It is amazing how many brides like to come down the slide of EDDIE,” says Catherine with a smile. “I think being a children’s museum in the 21st century is really one of the greatest opportunities in terms of being able to reinforce that learning should be a joy and a passion. The most important lesson we can teach children is one of curiosity, because curiosity is what stimulates someone to work a little harder in a subject that is challenging or they do not feel natural affinity for. So, I think we are creating curious kids who are willing to try different things, building confidence and the willingness to take risks.” The hands-on learning approach at EdVenture offers children and their families the opportunity to explore, and then reflect on what they have done. EdVenture is one of the very few places in South Carolina where the child is the primary audience. At a very basic level, the public goes to EdVenture and has a great time. “It is years later when you think, ‘Oh! I remember extracting my DNA for the first time at EdVenture, and now I am a research scientist,’” says Catherine. “I can remember the museums I went to as a child, and the experiences my family provided for me that bring me to the other thing that is important to us at EdVenture. That is accessibility. Access is not just about location and convenient parking. It is about making sure that we are financially and geographically accessible to audiences. As part of our 10th year, we began a program called Yes, Every Child that allows $1 admission for families receiving SNAP benefits. That touches hundreds of thousands of individuals in South Carolina. All they have to do is present their benefits card for free admission
to EdVenture any day of the week, any time of year. “This is only made possible through donor dollars from people who understand that this type of experience can be life changing for a child and an adult who might not otherwise have this opportunity. So we work to raise money to offset expenses associated with serving each visitor and donors have been very supportive of this effort. To celebrate 10 years, EdVenture is focusing on 10 Things for the 10th Year…exciting additions to their exhibits and programs. Starting in the first part of 2013, the museum began opening new exhibits like the Taste Buds Cooking Lab where families can explore the methods of cooking and nutritious meal preparation under the guidance of a real chef. EdVenture also recently added a gigantic crane to the Building Boom exhibit and are scheduled to open Make Shop in June There will also be major public events, such as Countdown to Kindergarten on August 9 which provides rising kindergartens and their families with a free evening of museum exploration and an opportunity to prepare for the first day of school. EdVenture will also be hosting South Carolina’s first Maker Faire on June 1. During First FriYays at EdVenture, the museum will be staying open late on the first Friday of June, July, August, and September, and a family friendly concert on their terrace will be part of each evening. They are redesigning the popular Dalmatian Station exhibit in the winter, hosting a tenth birthday ball for adults on November 7, and a Story Book Ball for children and their families on November 8. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Visit their website at www.edventure. org to find out more about the fun things going on at EdVenture during this very special year. Even though my family and I are “frequent flyers” at EdVenture, I suspect this year we will be visiting even more often than normal. Happy Birthday EDDIE®!
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