Altru Adventure at EdVenture

We often talk about how exciting our clients are – children’s museums, aquariums, gardens, historical societies, art museums – and bragging about the events and programs they create. Well, we were finally able to see one of our clients in action; Jeff and I took an Altru field trip (as his daughter called it) to EdVenture, in Columbia SC.

EdVentureopened in November of 2003 with a vision to create new generations of lifelong learners. Since their opening, they have welcomed visitors from all 50 states and 18 foreign countries. The 92,000 sqaure foot facility hosts eight world-class exhibit galleries, a library, learning laboratories, and two additional outdoor gallery spaces. EdVenture keeps their 200,000 annual visitors endlessly entertained with over 350 individual hands on exhibits.

The most striking exhibit is obviously Eddie, the world’s largest child at 40 feet high and 17 tons. This hands on exhibit lets children examine the inside of the human body; climbing in Eddie’s brain, jumping in his stomach, and sliding down through his intestines.

Body Detectives is invaluable to parents! My niece just went to the dentist for the first time, so when I saw the dentist exhibit, I immediately thought how helpful that would have been to prepare her. Children can perform a dental check up, test their surgery skills (on a life size Operation game), create their own DNA blueprint, and test their response time.

What kid can resist a fire truck? The World of Work lets children climb aboard a fire truck, become a construction worker, stock shelves in a market, or milk a cow on a farm. Safety is incorrporated, preparing kids for a fire emergency and identifying important signs and symbols.

2500 sq ft of the facility has been turned into a Butterfly Garden, showcasing more the 20 species of butterflies. They even have a bloom room, where you can observe butterflies emerging from their chrysalises and opening their wings for the first time.

I will say that Jeff and I had the most fun in the Mission Imagination exhibit. We were able to compose music in the Sounds Good Music Studio, color the walls in the drawing chamber, and anchor the news from the WEDV-TV studio.

Not to be missed is the trip From Here to Timbuktu, where we toured huts in the rainforest, learned a native dance, and even did a little cross country motorcycling.

Our final stop was Moneyville, where we learned about the price of goods, the true cost of a loan, and the stock market. We even learned how to identify counterfeit bills (something I actually ran across at the Music Farm).

The Green Fork Cafe is a really great feature at EdVenture. Employing a local caterer, Green Fork offers healthy breakfast and lunch options. Recycling is everywhere.

While we were there, Jeff and I were able to spend a little time with the Chief Financial Office, Julia Kennard, who let us know about some great options for visitors. On the 2nd Tuesday of every month, EdVenture hosts Family Night, where admission is only $1 per person and Bank of America card holders get in free the entire first weekend of each month. They also support other nonprofits by donating free admission passes for fundraising events that benefit children.

Thanks EdVenture for letting us be kids for a day!

You can keep up with us on Twitter by following @bbsupport; we use the hashtag #bbaltru when we discuss Altru Museum Management Software . Check out the Altru Community to submit ideas, ask questions and network with fellow Altru users.