SHEPHERDSVILLE — The PNC Foundation celebrated the opening of the Kentucky Science Center’s Science in Play2Go traveling exhibit at the Bullitt County Public Library’s Central Branch.
Rather than cutting a ribbon, the kids were allowed to knock down a wall of Big Blue Blocks to celebrate.
Kentucky Science Center President & CEO Mike Norman thanked BCPL and executive director Tara O’Hagan for hosting the fun, educational exhibit based on an exhibit at the KSC’s Downtown Louisville location.
Norman said Science in Play2Go has welcomed over 250,000 visitors in 32 separate locations throughout Kentucky, promoting life-long learning.
“This encourages children and families to become discoverers of knowledge,” Norman said. “Parents watch them play, make predictions, and solve problems. It invites children to continue to take an active role in their journey.”
Norman said early childhood education was “critically important” for both children and parents. He said that, as a native Kentuckian, the traveling exhibit was crucial in “meeting people where they are.”
PNC Regional President Kristen Byrd grew up in Louisville attending the Kentucky Science Center and now enjoys it with her children. She credited the PNC Foundation for supporting Science in Play2Go, which is powered by a PNC Grow Up Great $90,000 grant.
“This experience helps build a strong foundation,” said Byrd, “PNC From Up Great helps ages 0-5. Early experiences matter and that’s why we build on those foundations. This support means more opportunities for children across the state of Kentucky, where we’ll continue to spark young minds.”
O’Hagan said BCPL campuses served as “somewhere welcoming” for all community members, while also serving as an educational hub for families. She said the exhibit provided many further opportunities for families to enjoy themselves while strengthening minds.
“When you watch the kids build something, you can watch their confidence grow in real time,” O’Hagan said. “You may not have access to much, but you can always access the library, you just need curiosity.”
O’Hagan reminded that the exhibit was as much for parents and grandparents as it was for their children to learn and enjoy.
“Sometimes you worry that you don’t know how to teach,” she said. “This exhibit shows they already do learn.”
O’Hagan said the best part of the traveling exhibit was providing a free opportunity in the community for families who could not travel as easily.
“This is accessible to opportunities without the cost of time and travel,” she said. “You can play here and work on early science preparation for school and for life.”
“This simply doesn’t happen without partnerships,” Norman concluded. “Thank to the library for hosting, and for being such an important hub for families. Parents and educators, this exhibit is here for you.”
Science in Play2Go features interactive play areas that promote learning skills, along with a Kentucky Science Center play specialist, Ashley Placek, to assist families.
The free exhibit includes Big Blue Blocks for building, Kapla block for building at a smaller scale, a large Light Bright peg board to promote designs and patterns, a Shapes & Stuff Store teaching math, language, and reasoning skills, a Ball Fall featuring a wall with tubes and chutes for balls to travel through to promote engineering and problem solving, and a Science Depot with hands-on learning experiences including X-rays and animal sciences.
Science in Play2Go will be available at the BCPL Central Branch through May 30. The branch is located at 740 Conestoga Parkway. School field trips are encouraged. For more information call (502)543-7675 or visit bcplib.org.