WonderLab is pleased to announce funding from Rotary Foundation for Sprouts Lab – a laboratory and experiment space for the youngest scientists. Sprouts Lab is adjacent to Science Sprouts Place, the new exhibit area for children birth-3 years of age and their caregivers that opened October 2019. 

Sprouts Lab is a hands-on laboratory and will have daily experiments designed to develop children’s motor skills, cognitive development, communication and social skills. Some potential activities include: artistic based exploration (printmaking, texture painting, finger painting etc.), chemistry explorations (creating polymers, gooey non-newtonian liquids etc.) and natural science explorations (painting with materials like mud, natural sponges, seeds,etc.)

Experiments and materials for Sprouts Lab are generously supported by Rotary district 6580 and the Bloomington Rotary clubs’s Palladium level sponsorship. The Rotary Foundation aims to “unite leaders in every field and to take action to make an ever lasting change.” Some of the key guiding principles of Rotary are friendship, personal development and growth, and citizenship in the community. 

“Rotary Foundation’s aims align nicely with WonderLab’s,” said Karen Jepson-Innes, Wonderlab’s Executive Director. “Support for projects [like Sprouts lab] make an impact in the community. We could not have brought the Sprout lab project to public without the Rotary district 6580 and Bloomington Rotary clubs’ matching grant. This grant was critical in meeting our financial goal.”  

Numerous Rotarians and their families volunteered at WonderLab during the grand opening week of Science Sprouts Place in early October. “Rotarians volunteered as greeters- welcoming families to the Sprouts Lab area. They performed hands-on demonstrations for the Sprouts lab activities. “This generous support is greatly appreciated!” Jepson-Innes said.

Sprouts Lab will be open daily during regular museum hours for children ages birth through three. Sprouts Lab will be open during special times, for children aged 4-5 years.

WonderLab is an award-winning science museum located at 308 W. Fourth St. on the B-Line Trail in Bloomington, Indiana. The museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5: p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. General admission is $9, and children younger than one are free. For more information call (812) 337-1337, or go online to wonderlab.org or WonderLab’s Facebook page.