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Explore A World Of Fun, Learning At Hands-On House
Laren Chaby, 3, practices in the Soundworks room.
Cara Lyons, 3, New Holland helps the leaves fall at the
entrance to Not Just Trees.
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y* Spy
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
LANDISVILLE (Lancaster
Co.) Imagine a real big
playroom.
Real big.
Like the size of a whole house,
with nine rooms filled with more
things to do then you’ve ever seen.
Then imagine going to your
friend’s birthday party in this teal
big room.
Travis Chaby, who lives in
Brownstown, did. Twelve of his
Mends surprised him when they
came to his fifth birthday party at
the Hands-On House.
At the Hands-On House (which
runs year-round), kids 3-10 years
old get a chance to leant by doing.
Kids can make some of the neatest
music. Or they can practice on a
big construction set. They can look
through the kaleidoscope in the
Eye Spy room, play doctor with
some real lifelike equipment in
What’s Up Doc? or shop for food
like mom and dad do in the Comer
Grocery.
They can visit the Not Just Trees
room (go on a forest treasure hunt
and listen to a talking tree). They
can paint faces at the Face to Face
room. Or kids can visit the Pack
Rat Habitat and pack their bags full
of neat stuff to build a project at
home.
For Travis and his 12 friends at
the party, cake was served, along
with apple juice and “Pack Rat”
party favors.
The same day, Christopher Col
osi, Lititz, invited eight other
friends over for his fifth birthday.
Saturday is the busiest day for
the Hands-On House, which is
open everyday but Monday. The
house was built in 1900 by Peter
and Priscilla Landis on 30 acres of
farmland. It is a six-bed, one bath
room house, renovated in June
1987 by the Hands-On Children’s
Museum of Lancaster at a cost of
$90,467.
“When it’s raining, a lot of peo
ple visit,” said Elaine Dow, staff
museum aid.
Kyle Hampton, 3, Browns*
town wonders which car will
be first at the finish line at the
track.
Erika Hosteller, 6, Morgantown hoists up blocks at the
Construction Area In Hands-On House.
9f le |> ra ted his fifth birthday with lots of
activities at the Hands-On House.
Many day care facilities bring
kids in for field trips, she said. Vis
itors come from places such as
New York, Reading, and sur
rounding areas.
Recently, the Wickersham
Elementary School visited.
“Here, die kids learn while they
play,” said Dow. “They leam
about ecology and recycling and
other things. Also, special teaching
projects are held, which cover
crafts and games.”
Every month, the house offers a
variety of activities for kids ages 2
and older. Each class explores a
topic with lots of hands-on
activities.
There are 25-30 staff, of which
two are full-time and six work
part-time.
Cost for admission to the house
is $3 for children 2 years of older
and adults. Kids under 2 are free.
Special yearly membership rates
are available.
The hours for the house are
Monday, closed; Tuesday, 11
a.m.-4 p.m.; Wednesday, 11
a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-4
p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.;
Saturday. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Sun
day, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
(Photos by Andy Andrews.)