KISSIMMEE, Fla., July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Give Kids The World Village just
became even more WONDERful with the addition of Mayor Clayton's
WonderLab: a one-of-a-kind, immersive STEAM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art and Math) activity center. A focal point for
creativity and exploration, the WonderLab is designed to inspire
curiosity; foster collaboration; and spread childlike wonder to
visitors of the Village, an 89-acre nonprofit resort in
Kissimmee, FL, that provides
children with critical illnesses and their families from around the
world with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost. The venue
will debut during a grand opening celebration on July 10.
From its whimsical architectural elements and ADA accessible
features to its breadth of hands-on experiences, every aspect of
the WonderLab has been crafted to spark the imagination and
facilitate endless opportunities for learning, invention and
creative expression.
Six unique spaces engage families in a wide spectrum of fun and
fascinating activities. Lab Access is the futuristic entrance where
families are welcomed by an animatronic robot dressed like Mayor
Clayton, the Village's six-foot mayor bunny, and learn about the
myriad of activities and state-of-the-art learning tools available
each day. The Hub showcases the energy source of the entire
WonderLab, the Brilliance Bottler, which is powered by kids'
wonder, imagination and possibility.
Tech 101 offers hands-on activities including 3D printing, stop
motion video creation, button and sticker-making, and weaving using
3D printed handlooms. Built for collaboration and discovery, the
Test & Try Lab is highlighted by two Spark-e animatronics
donated by Garner Holt Education Through Imagination which children
can learn to operate. The Test & Try Lab also features paper
airplane R&D, spherical robot obstacle courses, hydraulic
machine building and printmaking. The Puzzle Portal is a 270-degree
round room designed for collaborative games and vertical puzzle
building such as magnetic marble runs. And the Volts &
Bolts Studio is a hands-on exhibit where families can learn how
animatronics are built from the ground up using tools and tiki bird
animatronic kits from Garner Holt.
Imaginative storytelling comes to life in the form of the
"Wonderbots," Wonder (Won), Imagination (Mage) and Possibility
(Bil): three curious, quirky robot friends who created the
WonderLab and keep children's creativity flowing into the
Brilliance Bottler in order to power the Lab. The WonderLab is the
brainchild of Give Kids The World Chief Innovative Officer
Ian Cole; Give Kids The World
Manager of Experiential Education Christie Miga; and Evan Miga, founder of MigaMe, the company
responsible for the WonderLab's original concept and design.
"The WonderLab is designed to spark new interests, excitement
and hope for teens and tweens who visit Give Kids The World Village
as part of our ongoing effort to create magical experiences and
unforgettable memories for every member of the family," says
Cole.
In addition to MigaMe, Garner Holt Productions and Garner Holt
Education Through Imagination, partners who are making the
WonderLab possible include Visual Terrain; Bambu Labs; Alcorn McBride; QSYS; PolyMaker; American
Filament; David Tobin of 3D Printing
Nerd; Interactive Technologies; Adam Cole
Music and Music By Jeffrey
Gardner; Controllino; LEGOLAND; Gamesmen; Matthew Lish
Puppets & Props; Adirondack Studios; GLLS; Environmental
Lights; Acclaim; Altman Birket;
EcoSense Soraa Lighting; Gantom; Klus; Orange Avenue; Bright
Futures; Wildfire; and students from Osceola High School in Kissimmee, FL, who designed and prototyped all
of the pipes in the Puzzle Portal.
One of less than 1% of all U.S. charities to receive Charity
Navigator's highest rating 18 years in a row, Give Kids The World's
mission is to create happiness, inspire optimism, and ignite an
enduring sense of hope in the hearts of children with critical
illnesses and their families. For more information,
www.gktw.org.
Media Contact:
Cindy Elliott
5628961177
380182@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Give Kids The World Village