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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 18, 2005 Judy Livingood of Medford paints the details on a poem that greets visitors to the Kids Imagination Discovery Space. A three-month trial run for the museum begins today with its grand opening at 11 a.m. at West McAndrews Road and North Ross Lane in Medf Mail Tribune / Jim Craven KIDS begins trial run Families get a taste of what the museum could be By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune In the children’s story "Stone Soup," a traveling peddler visits a small village in a time of famine and encourages the residents to pool their ingredients to make a batch of soup "fit for a king." After seven years of research, fund-raising and good old-fashioned elbow grease, a group of volunteers have cooked up their own "Stone Soup": Kids Imagination Discovery Space. The 16,000-square-foot children’s museum will open at 11 a.m. today in the former Moose Lodge on West McAndrews Road and North Ross Lane in Medford. KIDS’ three-month campaign, "Stone Soup Summer of Fun," will offer a preview of the indoor and outdoor interactive stations planned to promote learning through hands-on fun. "We’re not even open yet and we’ve had people stopping by day after day, wanting to know when we’re going to finally open," KIDS spokesperson Sunny Spicer said Friday. Advertisement "Everyone wants to know what they can do to help. When we give people the tour, they definitely look around and just smile." Exhibits opening today include a miniature hospital, contractors’ loft, grocery store, bakery, pizzeria, restaurant, puppet theater, music and art activities, life-size games and a studio for aspiring architects to design their own getaway. Eventually, the facility could add exhibits such as a recording studio and computer lab to attract older kids and teens and outdoor areas such as a restored wetland attraction and water play space. Spicer said the summer session at KIDS would give Rogue Valley families a taste of what the museum could be, given community support. She did not specify how much was needed to keep the museum’s doors open past September. "What we’re doing right now is we’re opening for the summer to show the community what we’re all about," she said. "Our plan is to close at the end of the summer to launch our capital campaign � if the community comes forward and says, ‘No we don’t want this to close,’ and we have the support to keep it going, at that point we would gladly keep our doors open." Medford Mayor Gary Wheeler said KIDS could become "a significant destination and an important influence in the life of families and children across the region." The seed for KIDS was planted when founder and board president Sharon Bolles, as a parent, realized there was a lack of educational experiences for kids locally and rallied a small band of community members in the late 1990s. Plans for the facility debuted last spring as part of a temporary exhibit at the Rogue Valley Mall. KIDS took possession of the Moose Lodge earlier this year. Spicer said KIDS had an agreement for the building’s $2 million purchase price and mustered a down payment to allow the group to move in. Daily admission will be $5 for kids and $2 for adults. Families can purchase full summer membership for a one-time $35 payment. Today’s event will feature a barbecue hot dog lunch with chips and soda for $3. KIDS is located at 226 North Ross Lane in Medford. For more information, call 772-9922. Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s