The fun to be had at a place like this can only be measured by the science learned herein. |
If you have an occasion to go through Helena, Montana, and I can't see too many reasons why you would, but I'm not here to judge, only to help you make the most of your time, you should spend at least a few hours at the Exploration Works Museum. It's as great as any of its kind of place, far better than most, and the location just can't be beat.
Unlike many children's museums which are run on a shoestring budget (if not a hamstring budget), these guys have a gorgeous new building with open, green architecture. I know, I know, us kids don't care about that stuff, but it's just an indicator of how much effort they put forth on the whole place.
Downstairs they've got everything from magnetic magic to costumes and all kinds of optical illusions, allusions and delusions. You could spend your whole day down there wandering from one exhibit to the next without even realizing there's an upstairs, but there is!
Upstairs you've got a whole new world of stuff to learn, I mean play with. Not learn, because learning is hard. Playing is fun, but they get you that way because you end up doing both. Oh those wily folk at Exploration Works, how do they do it?
LEFT: Don't let the frown fool you, fun was had by all, even when certain not-to-be-named members of our exploratory crew took it upon themselves to trick other (also un-named) members unto the sad humiliation that is dressing up like a girl -- ah, revenge is so sweet! -- at fantasy camp.
We spent a bunch of time on the interactive origami exhibit, and the geometric madness stuff and it got to the point where the only way the parents could tear us away from learning stuff we didn't even realize we were learning was by promising us ice cream and a carousel ride.
You can see the Great Northern Carousel from the window, so convincing us that it was time to go wasn't too tricky.
So not only did they teach us fun stuff, but they had the audacity to do so right next door to another amazingly fun place to spend some quality time adjacent to our parents!
It was just fun enough that I'm willing to let it slide, this time.
Exploration Works is located in the heart of the newly revitalized downtown area of Helena, Montana at 995 Carousel Way. If you're in the area already and have questions about field trips or birthdays, or if you just want to go there, check them out online at www.ExplorationWorks.org.
And no matter what you do, don't let on that you're actually having fun while you're learning, nor that you're actually learning stuff while you're having fun playing. That only encourages parents to do more of that stuff, and we can't live under their thumbs.
Power to the children!
ABOVE: All I know about magnetism, aside from the fact that my news crew kept all the electronic gear clear of it, is that it's basically awesome, and something you can use to entertain yourself for hours, even if you are accidentally learning stuff along the way, a fact I won't attest to, even though I would if I wasn't so busy being rebellious.
ABOVE: As if there was any lingering doubt as to the awesomeness of Exploration Works in Helena, Montana, let it be put to bed by a look out the front windows. In case you don't know what you're seeing, it's the Great Northern Carousel building. Yeah, I know, like I already said, it's pretty awesome.
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
