The
Impression 5 Science Center is well known for stimulating a love of science in the budding brains of kids and teens. In 2007 the center added infants and toddlers to the fun with the First Impressions. As tiny as the children ages birth through four may have been, they quickly outgrew the space.
“Ever since it was built it’s been not big enough,” says Katie Wittenauer, Communications Manager for Impression 5 Science Center.“ There has been such a demand for that space in the commnity, we knew we needed to make it bigger.”
Construction is now underway for the new, 3,000-square foot First Impression Room, which is triple the size of the original. The $170,000 project is being funded by Impression 5, the Harley Beatty Foundation,
Jackson National Life Insurance, Dart Foundation, the PNC Foundation as part of its Grow Up Great initiative, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The room will include a life-size, crawl-through tree, climbing loft, water table, playhouse, enhanced infant area, multi-user SMART Board and more.
“It’s been this collaborative community project,” says Whittenauer. “The programs that go along with it are science themed, but they are designed a help develop their motor skills and their cognitive development.”
The renovated First Impressions room is scheduled to open in mid-May.
Source: Katie Wittenauer, Impression 5 Science Center
Writer: Natalie Burg, News Editor
Courtesy photo
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