I AM Modern Magazine for Moms

Ashburn’s Curiosity Zone: Rebranding Science as Fun
By Kimberly Finnegan

A crowd of 3-year-olds in white lab coats surround an alligator in a pond, working to move it to a new home using a stick and a block; no one seems concerned about the teeth. Nearby, a small group of 5 and 6-year-olds observe a volcanic eruption, staring in fascination as the red lava runs down the mountain’s side less than a foot away. Again, no one seems worried. They are not young mad scientists allowed to run amok, but are instead groups of young children learning about and more importantly having fun with, science. This is not an unusual scene at Curiosity Zone in Broadlands Village Shopping Center in Ashburn. Lessons like this are taught, and enjoyed, every day at this popular party destination.

Attorney, inventor and entrepreneur, Mary Porter, founded Curiosity Zone in 2004. Her goal was to provide children with a place to explore, discover and learn. Prior to opening the Curiosity Zone, she studied museums and science programs – testing and researching the best available programs. Her classes were initially developed in 2002 as part of the Genius Jones after-school science program, which was taught in private elementary schools and day care centers in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. “The limits of teaching science in a mobile format became obvious and frustrating,” and the concept of creating a kid-sized science lab emerged. She chose an up and coming shopping center in Broadlands for the location of her first kid friendly laboratory.

The Curiosity Zone’s age and developmentally appropriate classes use familiar activities to inspire children to think more creatively about the world around them. “Science is everywhere, and presented in the right way, even the most complex scientific ideas can be understood by small children even as young as 1,” Porter says.

Porter believes she has found the right way. She teaches her programs through arts and crafts, music, movement, imaginative play and sports. Dressed up in real lab coats, kids do fun, hands-on experiments and activities that explore chemistry, physics, earth science, weather, outer space, animals, plants, inventions, entrepreneurship and more. Her goal is not to raise your children’s IQ, although a very likely probability. She wants parents and children to play with and discover science. Porter could have easily named Curiosity Zone, the Play Zone.

For parents of the child who loves to create potions in the kitchen sink, Curiosity Zone can help them create constructively. The “C-Zone” offers several options to slake the curiosity of young learners. Birthday parties, available Wednesday through Sunday, and group events, available Thursday and Friday, are a popular choice, so popular in fact, that dates are booked months in advance. Parties are for 90 minutes, and allow hosts the choice of a hands on theme, and provide all the accessories a great party needs, including decorations, cool drinks the little mad scientists concoct themselves, and goody bags. The group events run 50 minutes, and are designed for school groups, including home schools, scouts, day care and the like.

For the child completely into hands-on learning, a perfect option is Curiosity Zone’s ten-week themed workshops. Class times are convenient, and build on a general theme that adds to the young scientist’s understanding of a variety of concepts, including earth science, physics and chemistry. All events and classes are separated into two groups - one for the toddler set, and one for school-aged children, and everyone gets to wear the cool white lab coat. The sessions are offered quarterly, with the next one runs from November 12, 2007 through February 2, 2008. Parents interested in this option can sign their child up for a complimentary session prior to enrolling in the course.

Are you Curious?

For more information:
http://www.curiosityzone.com/
43135 Broadlands Center Plaza, Suite 123 Ashburn, VA
703.723.9949

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