Previously known as The South Carolina
Children’s Museum, EdVenture opened in The Market Common at 3601 Howard Avenue,
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on February 16, 2019. It features over 3,500 square feet of space
and flight themed exhibits, educational programming, field trips, birthday
parties, etc. It is the smallest in the
EdVenture family, but packed with interactive, educational activities.
According to
Heather Gray, general manager at The Market Common, “EdVenture is the perfect
addition to The Market Common because it provides an exceptional atmosphere for
learning and growth. The leaders of
tomorrow are today’s children and through this partnership with EdVenture, we
hope to provide a positive place where families can come and enjoy the day with
literally something for everyone.”
Dedicated to
creating new generations of lifelong learners through museum experiences,
after-school programming and camps, EdVenture’s mission is to inspire children
and the adults who care for them with the joy of learning. EdVenture has the largest children’s museum
in the Southeast and has been listed among the nation’s top children’s museums
since opening in 2003. “We simply cannot express how excited
we are to bring this new exhibit to the community,” said Interim President
& CEO of EdVenture, Lisa Hailey.
The new
museum has been received well by the public.
According to their Facebook post, “We
have been open for almost two whole weeks now at our new location- and we
couldn’t be more thrilled with the amount of support we have felt from the
Myrtle Beach community-and the amount of kids we’ve been able to share our love
of learning with! Be sure to come out to our new Market Common location and
experience all the fun for yourself!”
MPerrino, an EdVenture patron said,
“We had a great time today. The kids loved the space theme and Mom loves the
inflatable planetarium the most!!! It’s brand new,
in Market Common, you should definitely come out to see it. $8 all day.
EdVenture
Myrtle Beach’s one-of-a-kind educational experience is specifically tailored
towards introducing children to the thrilling fields of aviation and astronomy
through hands-on exhibits incorporating science, technology, engineering, and
math (STEM) concepts, as well as aviation history and childhood skills
development to nurture curiosity and spur interest in the aerospace careers
that compose a significant percentage of the South Carolina workforce.
Exhibit concepts:
- Interactive
space ship climbing structure
- Interactive
“mission control” attached to above structure
- Child
size “house” with 60’s style interior, looping TV of moon landing,
telescope interactive to view
- moon,
and landing sites (library)
- 3
years and under designated area with hands on interactives
- Maker’s
“space” art area (airplane family tree courtesy of Pittsburgh Institute of
Aeronautics)
- Library
to include child literature on flight, space, etc. (in partnership with Chapin
Library)
- Beam-
interactive floor projection
- Coin
Vortex
- Airways
tubes
- Flight
Simulator (in conjunction with Pittsburg Institute of Aeronautics)
- An
actual airplane engine with educational content
- 2
model aircraft and real plan propeller
- Educational
and interactive wall graphics (explained below)
- Graphic
timeline of Myrtle Beach Airport founding and construction (courtesy of
the MBA)
Detailed exhibit concept/ STEM information:
Exhibits introduce children to the forces of flight—lift,
gravity, thrust, and drag—through all exhibits including literature in the
library, wall graphics, interactive experimentation with paper planes in
Maker’s “Space”, and much more.
- Children
are able to develop movement skills in a motion-control projection unit as
well as in an interactive climbing structure resembling a moon lander, and
space ship with attached “mission control” where they enhance
communication and teamwork abilities through remote contact with peers.
- A
1960s-style house replicates the era that bore the beginnings of space
exploration, and inside kids experience the thrill of the moon landing
through recorded footage of the historical event. The house comes complete
with a telescope through which guests can observe distant objects in the
style of Galileo, Kepler, and modern-day astronomers.
- A
three-screen flight simulator allows visitors to test their piloting skill
and feel the sensation of controlling a modern passenger plane.
- Younger
visitors (2 and under) have a designated area in which they can play
safely with flight-themed elements as they develop skills critical to
early childhood.
- A
coin vortex “gravity well” introduces the concept of the centripetal force
that holds our solar system together.
- The
building’s considerable wall space is utilized with child-friendly and
informative graphical content exploring everything from historical
spacecraft, planets of the solar system, landmark missions and events that
shaped our modern understanding of the universe, and even history of the
airmen and aircraft that once lived and worked on the former Myrtle Beach
Air Force Base.
- Partnerships
with Chapin Library, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, and the Myrtle
Beach Airport
Through these exhibits,
EdVenture Myrtle Beach aims to provide a spectacular, cohesive, educational
experience wherein visitors and members can obtain knowledge spanning the
farthest reaches of the universe to the very ground beneath their feet.
(EdVenture.org)
EdVenture
welcomes field trips to their facility or they can bring their educational
programming to your students through Ed-To-Go to help meet the educational
needs of your students while sparking their imagination and sense of discovery.
“EdVenture educators use inquiry, hands-on methods, and
integration of content areas to ensure each SC standards-based
program provides you and your students with an extraordinary learning
experience.” (EdVenture.org)
EdVenture strives to make educational programming accessible
for under resourced children and families, because they understand that even
though many children visit their museum, there are thousands that will not have
the same opportunity. That is why they
have an initiative called “Yes, Every Child”.
“Yes, Every Child is
an initiative to provide accessibility to educational programming for
underserved children and families through targeted community outreach and
reduced museum admission. These efforts are made possible by corporate
sponsorships and individual contributions. Our vision to create the next
generation of lifelong learners was developed with all children in mind.
Regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographic or socio-economic barriers, we
believe that every child should have the opportunity to participate in and grow
from the unique educational experiences of EdVenture. With your support, we can
make a difference in the lives of children most in need of a chance to
experience the joy of learning.”
(EdVenture.org)
How Yes, Every Child Helps:
- Families who receive SNAP, WIC or
Medicaid benefits receive $1 admission per person.
- EdVenture-To-Go makes museum programs
mobile for rural communities across the state.
- Educational material translation allows
bi-lingual educators to take the EdVenture experience to Hispanic and
Latino communities.
- A variety of health programs address
wellness disparities among low-income families.
- Community Events.
- Community-wide health and wellness
events, such as Eddie’s Block Party, are offered free to the public.
- Support for participation in area
community festivals connects EdVenture to families in the community.
- Provide reduced or free admission for
underserved families to attend special literacy, health, or school readiness
events, such as StoryBook Ball and Countdown to Kindergarten.
EdVenture
Myrtle Beach is an exciting new concept in learning merging with Children’s
Museum of South Carolina. Make it a
family outing and take your whole family to see the EdVenture exhibits and
learn about the marvels of space travel first hand.
