Giggles of joy, squeals of excitement, oohs and ahhs of wonder. These are just a few of the sounds we expect to hear emanating from the upcoming Early Childhood Exhibit at the VINS Nature Center.
This winter, we will open a new space dedicated to young audiences. The VINS Staff have been hard at work researching, designing, and crafting an exhibit specially tailored for our youngest visitors, from infancy to age three. With generous support from the Butler Foundation, the exhibit will be a place for exploration and learning about one of the most fascinating natural areas: wetlands.
Complementing the Forest Exhibit, VINS is bringing a wetland scene indoors. The central feature will be a beaver lodge with stairs to access an elevated platform with a slide for adventurous explorers. The exhibit will also feature murals and pictures of native species of plants and animals painted by some of our talented staff members.
Children will be able to engage with a variety of manipulative elements aimed to help with brain development, targeting developmental milestones in the areas of physical, cognitive, social-emotional, language, and communication. Features will include pull-up bars for pre-walkers, mirrors for social-emotional engagement, elements for sensory and auditory stimulation, and hanging mobiles for visual stimulation. Young children can practice fine motor skills by opening the latches on small doors to discover images of wetland creatures.
VINS is excited to open this new exhibit and provide a wonderful space for young visitors and their caregivers to explore and build connections to nature.