(Omaha, NE) January 20, 2010 - Omaha Children's Museum, 500 S. 20th Street, will open its new traveling exhibit, Construction Zone, on Saturday at 10 a.m. There will be a 9 a.m. preview for Omaha Children's Museum members.

 

Construction Zone was created by Omaha Children's Museum in partnership with Heartland Scenic Studios and the Carpenters District Council Kansas City and Vicinity and Omaha Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (Carpenters 444, Millwrights 1463). The organizations involved have spent hundreds of hours developing the exhibit and building it in the 10,000 square foot traveling exhibit gallery on the museum's second floor.

 

"To see this exhibit come to fruition with the help of so many members of the community has been truly inspiring," said Lindy Hoyer, Omaha Children's Museum executive director. "All their efforts will be well worth it when children get to enjoy this construction site that will captivate their imaginations and provide a fun and realistic construction experience."

Construction Zone is a kid-powered construction site where visitors can dig, design, build, learn about safety and much more. The exhibit includes the following areas:

BUILDING SITE - Includes a number of building materials to construct a unique creation. Use dominoes, a truckload of KEVA® planks, Legos®, Toobeez® and builder boards that allow for plenty of imagination and teamwork -- and of course, amazing structures.

PULLEY PLACE - Where kids will use simple machines to load and lift blocks, then watch them go down the chute. Pulleys will lift parachutes up into the ceiling where they can be released to float to the ground.

PLAY HARD TO WORK HARD - Burn energy and build gross motor skills in this active play area complete with a Cone Zone obstacle course, crawl tubes a balance beam and large play system.

BIG DIG - Kids can play like they do in the outdoors at the Big Dig where giant dig pits are filled with kid-powered sand diggers, scoops, shovels, dump trucks and more.

DESIGN STATION - Arrange floor plans, learn about basic drafting and interior design in this space that gets creative juices flowing and builds developmental skills in math and science.

SAFETY ZONE - Learn about being safe while working on the site! Try on kid-sized safety gear, work with real hand tools and see how a house is constructed.

 

The opening day activities will include building competitions with KEVA planks throughout the day.

 

Construction Zone is $2 in addition to regular museum admission, which is $7 for children 2 and over and adults, and free for children uner 24 months.

 

Construction Zone is supported by Heartland Scenic Studio, Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc., Millard Lumber, Playtime/Schooltime and Carpenters District Council Kansas City and Vicinity and Omaha Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (Carpenters 444, Millwrights 1463).

 

Additional support in constructing the exhibit was provided by Steamfitters and Plumbers of Omaha 464, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, International Union of Operating Engineers, Plumbers Local 16 Omaha, Laborers International Union Local 1140, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths Forgers & Helpers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

  

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