Discovery Playhouse adds new air maze exhibit

Discovery Playhouse children's museum unveiled a new exhibit Wednesday at its Air-Maze-ing grand opening. Air-themed activities followed throughout the day in celebration of the playhouse's third birthday, complete with cake.

Members got a sneak-peek of the new exhibit at 9 a.m. and about 30 kids, volunteers and excited residents were at the ribbon-cutting at 9:30 a.m.

"They already love it," Glenn said. "There are already squeals and giggles. Lots of people couldn't wait for it to get finished, including me."

Nine-year-old Breanna Breeden was at the playhouse for her birthday. Her aunt bought her a season pass to celebrate.

Breanna put a colorful ball through the opening's flap. She followed it with her eyes and as it bobbed quickly through the loops and twists, a smile spread on her face. Then she looked ahead to see where it would fly out and raced to the side of the room to catch it. She said the Air-Maze-ing exhibit was amazing.

A pair of onlookers stare in awe of the new exhiibit.

Located in downtown Cape Girardeau, the playhouse attracts families for a good time. It began as a not-for-profit organization in 2006 before settling on Broadway in 2010, where its annual attendance numbers have risen each year. Attendance is counted year-round, and so far 2013's totals have already surpassed those of last year by 381 more people, 316 more memberships and 61 more birthday parties.

It offers more than 7.500 square feet of space for educational exhibits and activities for children.

Executive director Pansy Glenn said the new addition was inspired by a few air exhibits she's seen while visiting children's museums around the country, most notably the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, Ark.

The new air maze takes up about 225 square feet of wall and spreads across a slightly larger area on the ceiling. Transparent tubes twist and tangle where balls shoot along, buoyed by air currents along the wall and up onto the ceiling, where they fly out through various tubes.

"There's an opening at the bottom where kids can put in a ball or a scarf and watch it float all over, place to place, being blown by the air," Glenn said. "Then it'll pop out at the top to float down to them."

Glenn said she knew Discovery Playhouse had to have one, but some of the air exhibits can cost up to $75,000.

"I was really stoked about it, but they are so expensive to do," she said. "When I saw the one in Little Rock, I thought, 'We could do this; we can pull this together with community support.'"

Discovery Playhouse depends on community donations, fundraisers and visitors to keep the place running and to add exhibits for the kids.

Instead of trying to raise an exorbitant amount of money for the air maze, Glenn thought the community could get involved and help.

"Everybody's doing something," Glenn said. "It's just really been a community-driven project."

Electrical Contractors Inc. donated and installed the grid for the exhibit on a back wall. Dutch Enterprises and PolyOne Corp., the chemical company that bought Spartech Corp., both supplied materials. Two PolyOne employees donated their services: Kelly Illers, who drew the schematic, and Robert Leible, who engineered parts of the maze. Members of Teen Challenge International of Mid America in Cape Girardeau showed up to paint the wall. Mayor Harry Rediger made a personal donation so the playhouse was able to buy the flexible hose needed for the display. There also was a work day June 10 for volunteers to help put the maze together.

"I just cannot get over the community support," Glenn said. "Cape is amazing when it comes to people wanting to do good things for the community, and with it being for the children, it just kind of blows me away."

Rediger said he and his wife, Fran Rediger, wanted to help out as parents, grandparents and citizens to provide the extra support. When their grandchildren come to town, they always want to go to the Discovery Playhouse.

Rediger appreciates the playhouse both as a part of the success of the development of the downtown area and as a place where he can spend time with his family. He said the playhouse offers grandparents, parents and children the opportunity to have a good time as a family.

Sarah Powell, the program director, had many air-related crafts and demonstrations in store. Children made pinwheels, air canons and balloon rockets. Mini science demonstrations dealt with the properties of air, like how air pressure keeps water from spilling from an upside down cup.

She said each Playhouse birthday will have more things going on.

A firetruck, bank, grocery store and dental clinic, all furnished for educational play, are just a few of the exhibits Discovery Playhouse offers.

"It's such a good, good cause," Glenn said. "You see those kids walk through that door, and they're grinning from ear to ear, and it's so worth it."

botto@semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

502 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO