The WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology is a

science museum A science museum is a museum devoted primarily to science. Older science museums tended to concentrate on static displays of objects related to natural history, paleontology, geology, Industry (manufacturing), industry and Outline of industrial ...

located in the city of Bloomington,

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It was incorporated in 1995 as a private 501(c)(3)

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

. WonderLab is a member of the

Association of Science-Technology Centers The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a non-profit, global organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States, that provides professional support for science centers, museums, and related institutions. ASTC's g ...

History

WonderLab began operation as a traveling outreach program of volunteers led by Deb Kent, a Bloomington-based magazine writer and mother of two, and Catherine Olmer, a physics professor at Indiana University. In 1998, WonderLab opened a small, interim museum on the north side of the Bloomington courthouse square. At the same time, a capital campaign was launched to build a permanent museum on a downtown lot donated by the city of Bloomington. The current museum opened to the public on March 29, 2003. Currently, WonderLab is in the heart of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD) and is a visitor attraction on the

B-Line Trail The B-Line Trail is a 3.1 mile multi-use trail in Bloomington, Indiana, connecting the city's downtown to outlying neighborhoods. The trail connects with the Bloomington Rail Trail at Country Club Drive, which in turn connects into the Limestone ...

Inside the Museum

WonderLab is an accessible facility with two floors of hands-on science exhibits. Several exhibits are permanent, while others are rotated off and on throughout the year. Some of the highlights are listed below:

First Floor

A popular exhibit on the first floor is the Grapevine Climber, which allows visitors to climb up giant leaves to view the museum from a different perspective. The Bubble-Airium offers multiple exhibits that showcase unexpected ways of forming and using bubbles. The Lego Water Table allows children to dam and divert water flowing down a large lego sheet. The first floor is also home to the Discovery Garden, an enclosed area with age-appropriate science activities for toddlers and preschoolers.

Second Floor

The second floor is home to many of the live animal exhibits at WonderLab, as well as exhibits about southern Indiana's geologic past as interpreted through fossils. In addition, the floor features exhibits relating to health, the human body and the science of sound.

Lester P. Bushnell WonderGarden

WonderLab's WonderGarden is a small nature area set between the museum building and the B-Line Trail. The garden includes a selection of outdoor science exhibits and an amphitheater for science programs. Museum visitors may check out nature packs at the welcome desk to use for exploring the science of the garden in different seasons.

Other Educational Activities

WonderLab presents science programs for all ages, conducts a summer science camp, is a partner in the MCCSC after-school enrichment program, provides outreach services, and offers professional development workshops for teachers. In addition, the museum provides work experiences for

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a state university system, system of Public university, public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. The system has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration o ...

college students, summer internships for high school students, and a variety of volunteer opportunities for hundreds of teens and adults.

Selected awards

*''Certified Wildlife Habitat'' (WonderGarden) — certified by the

National Wildlife Federation The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States, with over six million members and supporters, and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations (i ...

in 2009 *''Best Place to Volunteer'' — awarded by the ''

Indiana Daily Student The ''Indiana Daily Student'' (''IDS'') is an independent, student-run newspaper published for the community of Indiana University Bloomington, since 1867. The ''IDS'' is free and distributed throughout the campus and city. Circulation During ...

'' in 200

*''Top 25 Hands-On Science Center in the United States'' — ranked #17 by '' Parents (magazine), Parents'' (September 2008 issue) *''Community Enhancement Award'' — awarded by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce in 2003 *''Attraction of the Year'' — awarded by the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2003

References

External links

Museum websiteWonderLab Facebook Page
{{coord, 39, 9, 57, N, 86, 32, 11, W, type:landmark_region:US-IN, display=title Museums established in 1995 Science museums in Indiana Children's museums in Indiana Buildings and structures in Bloomington, Indiana Museums in Monroe County, Indiana Association of Science-Technology Centers member institutions Tourist attractions in Bloomington, Indiana