By VINCE REMBULAT
209 staff reports
It wasn’t too long ago that Lynn Villoria Damouny took her children to the World of Wonders Science Museum in Lodi.
Mikki, Ellie and Scotty are of the perfect age for this place located a stone’s throw away from the historic downtown Mission Arch. They’re currently attending elementary school and couldn’t get enough of the fiber-optic display, brain-teasing puzzles or the plasma ball, to name a few.
The more than 50 exhibits at the WoW are hands-on and designed to inspire the mind of any young person.
“It reminded us of the Exploratorium (in San Francisco) only on a smaller scale,” said Lynn, who took the kids there for a special event.
Interesting in that Dan Ingrum of Lodi took his family drew his inspiration on the WoW after taking his family to Exploratorium back in 2004.
About a year later, he managed to rustle up a small group of dedicated visionaries with the goal of bringing a science museum to the Central Valley. These volunteers not only manage to raise over $600,000 just from local communities but came across an empty 9,000 square foot building at 2 N. Sacramento St.
The WoW opened in 2009 and has become a popular destination for field trips, birthday parties, summer camps and other special events.
The Damouny children recommended passes to the WoW as ideal for the holidays.
FAST FACTS
WoW Science Museum
Admission: Children (2-17), $4; Children under 2, free; adults (18 & older), $6; Seniors (60 & older), $5; Students (18 & older), $5 with ID; teachers, free (ID also required).
Direction: From Highway 99, take exit 266 (Central Lodi / East Highway 12), turn left on Cherokee nad right on Pine Street and continue west to the railroad track /Mission Arch. Turn right on Sacramento Street.
Information: Ph. 209.368.0969 or click on to www.wowsciencemuseum,org.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF STOCKTON
Younger children can’t get enough this place born out of tragedy.
The Children’s Museum came as a result of the 1989 Cleveland School shooting in which five students were killed and 30 others wounded by a gunman firing an assault weapon.
Included was Janet Geng, who was a teacher and later founder of the museum. She was in Washington D.C. where she visited a children’s museum. Geng wanted to bring a safe and violence free place to learn and play for youngsters and their families.
Thanks to the support of the private and public sectors the Children’s Museum of Stockton was made possible in the mid 1990s.
This was a place for young children that became KIDSWORLD- a child’s version of a miniature city with over 30 exhibits, including a bank, hospital, grocery store, recycling center, art center, TV news studio and a post office.
It’s here that they take part in the hands-on exhibits, exploring the function of a city.
FAST FACTS
Children’s Museum of Stockton
Location: 402 W. Weber Ave.
Directions: From Highway 99, take the Highway 4 crosstown freeway to downtown Stockton. Turn right on El Dorado Street and head north to Weber Ave. From there, go left and travel west, passing Center Street and going four blocks before Lincoln Street.
Hours of operation: Wednesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.
Admission: $6 per person. Children under 1 are free.
Information: www.childrensmuseumstockton.org.
