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SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL Southern Oregon Journal: Hands-on play at ScienceWorks Comment By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 6, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 6, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News You know it’s not your average weekday when you walk into a place and find a circle of dancing Barbie dolls illuminated by a strobe light. I felt reassured they were behind Plexiglas. My visit to ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum in Ashland was a deliberate departure from the usual, plus I often look for excuses to act like a kid. Getting paid for it is a plus. I checked out their website and found myself drawn to the Sportsology exhibit, where one could test one’s athletic ability openly and in full view of other people. This was for me. I dragged Lane along, because I felt confident his latent childish tendencies would appear as a match for my shenanigans. I knew he’d be game, even if it meant seeing how long we could dangle from a bar, how high (low, in my case) our standing jump was, and how quick our reflexes were by frantically slapping at flashing lights on a wall. “It’s for kids,” Lane told me as we headed for the door. “Yes,” I answered. We ambled through the creative portion of the set-up, where we could have built straw birds or a rolling ball sculpture, an area in which we might have excelled, but one requiring the most time. It required the kind of time that exists in a genuine kid’s world, not the kind we sensed escaping as we stood there. We moved on through a hall of visuals proving beyond doubt that things aren’t always as they appear to the naked eye, or to one wearing a tri-focal, either. The area marked "Noise!" concerned the science behind what we hear and how. By slapping giant, open PVC pipes with large pads, we played something resembling “Oh! Susanna.” Lane, being a percussionist, played them conga style and came up with something entirely different, but it had a good beat. We checked our hearing by donning headphones and dialing up and down the frequencies. Apparently, the rock-concert din of yesteryear had spared us. Trying to test pitch was another story. This section is best visited on a weekday before school’s out so you don’t have to share. I mean, so you can fiddle around undistracted by outside noise. Lane was a good sport and endured the Momentum Machine with eyes tightly shut and teeth gritted. That one is not recommended for those with motion issues, but it guarantees a seriously dizzy payoff for those who love to stagger. The biggest challenge for me was getting off once I’d had enough. I’d do it again. The Sportsology stations provided a string of physical challenges — not the least of which was reading through and understanding the directions before launching into them. For instance, I considered myself proficient at making basketball hoops until I realized I was being timed as to how many I could sink in 30 seconds. Lane was better than me at throwing a fastball, and I learned to quit when I’m ahead. Good thing there was a net to protect passersby. We proved ourselves rock stars on the flexibility tester, stretching beyond the average for men and women in any age group. When I beat Lane soundly in the wheelchair race, he was beyond perplexed, more like mortified, and suggested we switch chairs and try again. Let’s just say, triumphs are sweet no matter how brief. I knew playing was healthful, but the blood pressure machine there affirmed it. My BP was lower than it’s ever been in a doctor’s office. I prescribe a visit to the ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum with or without small people in tow. Check www.scienceworksmuseum.org for hours and pricing information. Wear loose clothing and don’t carry anything with you, so you can play like you did once upon a time. Peggy Dover is a freelance writer living in Eagle Point. Reach her at [email protected]. By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 6, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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