(The magical “First Adventure” area.)
I joined a few of my D Magazine cohorts this morning on a preview tour of the Dallas Arboretum’s new Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, and “impressive” does not even begin to describe what we saw. The 8-acre garden/laboratory opening September 21 was designed to meet state and national science education curriculum requirements for grades K-6. To that end, the 17 outdoor and indoor galleries are each designed around a central science theme and will be staffed with accredited science teachers to guide visitors through hands-on exhibits and projects.
While the overarching goal of the garden is to educate, according to our tour guides, there was also a conscious effort to design the space in a way that would foster a love and respect of nature and ignite a sense of wonder in kiddos. As there were no kids on our tour, I can’t report the success of their strategy, but I will say it worked on me, as while my co-workers were pondering the “Cloud Walk, the “OmniGlobe,” an “Energy Island,” and whether the high-powered binoculars on the skywalk could allow you to see inside Mount Vernon (Tim), I couldn’t stop thinking about the little area at the entrance filled with larger than life wooden mushrooms, nests, and acorns. It was total magic. Oh, and it was the area designed especially to appeal to kiddos 4 and under.
I’m not sure what that says about me…
You can see (lots) more sneak peek snaps after the jump.
(Zac looking very small in the “Plants are Alive” area.)
(Ryan and Zac braving the “Cloud Walk” .)
(Tim in full Peeping Tom mode.)
(Ryan getting her learn on at the “OmniGlobe,” only one of five in Texas.)
