A new destination for the youngest explorers and their favorite grown-ups will open in Harsco Science Center on March 8, 2008. Designed with a cityscape theme, the new gallery offers an extraordinary collection of friendly exhibits and fun activities for young children ages 0-5 (babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers).

KidsPlace has many features sure to delight and engage children, including a crawling-climbing space for toddlers with an adjoining aquarium. A multi-level waterworks will encourage cause and effect reasoning and hands-on exploration of dams, spouts and water jets. Preschool visitors will be challenged to use their construction skills in the renovation of a child-sized three story home that resembles one of Harrisburg’s fine historic buildings. Young minds will be encouraged to imagine stories with their favorite characters on Storybook Stage, a theater that includes lighting effects, costumes and changing scenery. Finally, KidsPlace would not be complete without an ambulance to handle health emergencies as well as a Midtown Market with bins and shelving to hold a bounty of farm produce.

“Activities throughout the gallery provide a wide variety of age-appropriate mental and physical challenges that have been proven successful in many children’s museums,” said Steve Bishop, vice president of the science center. KidsPlace will immediately offer more than one third of families in Central Pennsylvania a place to call their own, where the youngest children and their parents can explore unique interactive learning experiences together, free from competition from older children.” KidsPlace is located on the Arcade level as guests enter through the science center gateway, permitting easy access for families with children in strollers. Signage offers parent and caregivers some simple tips on how to help their children get the most out of their visit to KidsPlace.

“KidsPlace forms a crucial bridge between young families and a lifelong relationship with Whitaker Center,” said Dr. Michael Hanes,Whitaker Center president and CEO. An important goal of Harsco Science Center’s Exhibit Master Plan is to generate new energy and interest in science. Our intent is to explore ways to create totally new science experiences for all of our visitors—young as well as mature learners.”

KidsPlace Gallery is made possible with the generous support of: The John Crain Kunkel Foundation, Inc., Harold A. McInnes, Dr. Denis J. Milke and Kristen Olewine Milke, The Hershey Company, Lois Lehrman Grass, Tres Bonne Annee, Drs. Michael and Madlyn Hanes, R. Timothy and Mary Webber Weston.