It's been a challenge to find places to go that keep the kids active without being incredibly busy. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the new Science Park at Kopernik Observatory and Science Center (6 years in the making) was finished! It was an easy decision to help my kids pack up a lunch and head for the hills.
| We were in luck and because of just being opened, the park was not busy when we went, although there were other families there the entire time. My boys, 7 and 4, could not believe their eyes when they set eyes on the park and heard the best part - that it was a Science Park! We're big on science in my family, and the only thing that gets them more excited than experiments is getting to learn science while in motion. |  |
I found there to be a large variety in equipment - from the traditional see-saw, slide, and swings, to an electronic tennis game, giant abacus, and an entire world that you can climb into to learn about motion. Kopernik did an incredible job of spreading the park out so that everything has plenty of room, and if you're trying to distance yourself from other families, it's fairly easy to do so. One of our favorite parts was the pond with a bridge to cross. The trail around the pond was perfect for identifying animal footprints, and we discovered that an eagle has a nest nearby and deer must frequent the pond when the observatory isn't busy.
It was such a great time, we stayed for 3 hours. By the time we pulled out of the driveway, there were already plans to go back. Next time, we'll even use the plaques in front of each different play station to help identify the science behind the objects and activities! As much as we love the science portion of every school day, Kopernik has helped to make it that much better. From our family to Kopernik Observatory and the Girl Scouts that helped to make the Science Park- thank you! We love having such a unique, special place to go and learn through fun!
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