When I first walked into Imagination Station, it brought back memories of my childhood, spent building worlds with blocks and tinkering with simple mechanical toys. Here, more scientific activities and games could be experienced than in my youth.
Unlike my childhood classrooms, where science came from textbooks, here, science was alive and buzzing around me. Kids were engaged, parents were involved, and everyone was having a good time.
A World of STEAM for Curious Mind
Developed by The Association for Science, Space, Engineering, and Technology (ASSET), the mission of Imagination Station is to inspire curiosity in the sciences for kids. It opened in 1999 with astronaut Mark Brown in attendance.
Dee Bishop, the office manager, said the science center is geared for 2 or 3-year-olds up to about 12-year-olds.
It is essentially a science museum. Although the exhibits are regularly updated and rotated, ensuring that each visit feels new and exciting. On the first floor, they have about 10 permanent and temporary exhibits covering a wide range of topics such as technology, science, the universe, nature, personal cognition, etc.
A popular exhibit is to explore the properties of ferrofluid. Ferrofluid is a liquid with tiny magnetic particles. When students turn the handle, the positive side of the magnet attracts it, and the negative side repels it, an interaction that causes the liquid to form unique shapes. Another popular exhibit is a wind tunnel. Students can stand in a tunnel and feel the wind speed. Also, there is a mirror with a row of lights on it, and when students look into the mirror, it’s like they’re in a hallway.
Creative Development for Kids
In addition to cultivating children’s STEAM thinking, the space on the second floor is more about creation. Even though it’s not a big place, it allows children to turn the imagination in the brain into reality.
When I visited, I saw children dragging around large blue buildings blocks to create their own little worlds. There’s a blue building block area, a career play area, and a grocery store checkout lane, among other items. They can use these facilities freely, without interference from staff, and parents can either join in or oversee.
Bishop said Imagination Station wants families to learn together as a family.
Special Events and Activities
In addition to exhibits and creative spaces, Imagination Station hosts regular events such as weekly, monthly, and annual activities and some special events, which are constantly updated. You can see the latest events here.
Sujatha Ramani, the acting executive director of Imagination Station, said, “It is one of this area’s hidden treasures – a wonderful hands-on science center for families and children.”
(The Video of the office manager Mrs. Bishop goes here)
Now for pricing, regular admission for a visit is $7/person. Children under 2 are admitted for free. You can also choose a yearly membership. For additional information, you may contact the Imagination Station at 765-420-7780 during its regular hours, or check the website at imagination-station.org.
If you want to check out other exciting, fun-filled locations in Great Lafayette, visit the Home of Purdue website.
Purdue University Student, Boxiao Dai, shares this blog. This blog is part of a series of articles submitted to Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette through a cooperation with a 400-level travel writing class at Purdue University.