Child's play
Kids center hopes to open but needs to find a space
By JENNIFER HUFFMAN
Register Business Writer
With activities such as a Bernoulli Blower, Sniff-o-Rama and Grape Stomp, a Napa couple hopes to invent a whole new kind of fun for local children.
Marcy and Jonathan Deeds came up with the idea for the kids play space called Scientopia Discovery Center Inc.
“I’m a say-at-home mom and my husband and I are children’s museum junkies,” said Marcy Deeds. After traveling all over the Bay Area to their favorite kid hangouts, “it clicked with me that the thing that Napa needs is some sort of hands-on discovery center,” said Deeds.
Scientopia will be “designed to encourage children’s love of science, math, art and music through hands-on exhibits, creative play spaces and fun-filled events,” according their Web site.
Children who play at Scientopia will experience a blend of discovery exhibits and creative play spaces. For more in-depth learning, Scientopia will offer a variety of events including classes, camps, educational field trips and themed parties. Exhibits, play spaces, and activities are designed specifically for children to age 12 and open to the public.
Part of their research led the family, which includes Andrew, 1, and Claire, 3, to visit kid-centered facilities all over California and the southwest.
“We’re trying to blend ideas from the children’s museums and the children’s play spaces we’ve seen,” said Deeds.
“In the meantime Jon has been building all kinds of exhibits,” said Deeds.
Jonathan Deeds is a chemical engineer. “He’s the one with the science background.” Marcy Deeds has experience in office management, sales, marketing and graphic design.
An e-mail survey of local moms provided additional input — even more than expected. “We thought we’d get 100 to 125 responses,” she said. Instead, they got 300.
People loved the concept, said Deeds. The most common question was “when are you going to open?”
That’s a good question.
“This whole time we have been looking for a space. It’s been tougher than we thought,” said Deeds. “Not being able to afford a more expensive place has limited our choices.”
“We’re hoping for some kind of warehouse space with some parking,” said Deeds. With a kid clientele, the location must meet certain assembly and other code guidelines.
“We’d like to stay in the Napa area,” she said. “We looked at Walnut Street along California. Even out at Kaiser Road area. We are pretty much willing to go anywhere in Napa where we could get the type of use we’d need.”
In the meantime, locals can experience Scientopia in a number of temporary settings including the Oxbow Public Market every other Tuesday night starting June 17, the Napa 20/30 Club Fun Fest Youth Activities Fair at Napa Valley College on June 21st or the Chefs Market on Thursday nights.
In the kid’s area of the Chefs Market, Deeds and her husband have set up a booth with some of their exhibits.
A large bin full of dry beans provides a sensory experience at the Scientopia booth. Pieces of white PVC pipe let kids use their imagination to build their own structure. A bubble bin allows dipping and blowing fun.
“We’d like to let people know we are trying to do this and get a space,” said Deeds.
Scientopia has already talked with other kid-oriented businesses in the valley about collaboration.
“We see this business as a business that can and will benefit the community,” wrote Deeds. “We have already sort of partnered with non-profits like NapaLit, Community Resources for Children and Napa Valley Music Associates to see how our business can benefit their agencies.”
“We think there is a way that we can help each other out,” said Deeds.
“I think Scientopia will be of real benefit to the residents of Napa,” wrote Roberta Goodin of NapaLit, a local literacy support resource.
“Children from all over the valley will be able to spend time there. Local families won't have to drive to Marin County or San Francisco to go to similar museums. Tourists with children will use it to entertain them adding to Napa Valley's reputation as a destination that has it all,” wrote Goodin.
Local business owners Bob and Wendy Miller, who created and run Napa play spaces PB&J’s and Rockzilla, turned out to be another resource for the fledgling business. “They are an amazing couple, they’ve mentored us along the way,” said Deeds.
Their advice to Deeds? “Don’t give up. The more things for kids the better.”
Friends of Scientopia
Other play spaces and museums Scientopia recommends:
Kidspot Imagination Center, Sebastopol
Shop owner Michelle Potter bought the business a year ago and has made it over. Her husband also builds the majority of the exhibits.
Studio Grow Children’s Play Space, Berkeley
It’s very clean and is terrific.
Explorit Science Center, Davis
A small hands on discovery center that is really cool and inspirational.
Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
Fantastic for younger kids ages up to age 7.
Exploratorium, San Francisco
We think this is the best in the Bay Area for hands on learning.
For more information contact Marcy Deeds at marcy@scientopiadiscoverycenter.com
At the booth
The Scientopia Chefs Market booth offers only a small slice of what Scientopia has planned. Other exhibits will include:
Bernoulli Blower — Watch and learn how a ball can float in a stream of air.
Magnet Tables — Learn about magnetic forces.
Van de Graaff Generator – Demonstrates static charge.
Sniff-o-Rama — Use your senses to identify scents.
Gravity Well — Learn about planetary motion with coins.
Water/River — Learn about the Napa River and habitat.
Catenary Arch — Build an arch with blocks.
Shadow Wall — How to freeze your shadow.
Little Grocery & Fruit Stand — Use math while shopping.
Grape Stomp — Fun ball pit in a large wine barrel.
Little Raceway — Indoor raceway for the 5 and under crowd.
Little Dig — Rubber gravel, buckets, shovels and trucks galore.
NV Trains — Giant train table.
Big Kids Zone — Great science and math projects for 7 years and up.
Art Zone — Projects for all ages.
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