Wonder Universe Exhibits & Programs
Explorer Packs
Wonder Universe: A Children's Museum is partnering with Friends of the Huckleberry Trail to develop and provide Field Explorer Packs for children to explore the Huckleberry Trail. The geographic nexus of the trail and the museum offers visitors an opportunity to extend their experience from the indoors to the outdoors. Starting Summer 2023, families will be able to check out the explorer packs at the front desk of the museum and head out to the trail to explore the natural landscapes with activity guides and tools for field observations.
Sponsored by The Lester Group
The Meadow
Designed with our youngest guests in mind, the meadow provides an engaging and safe play space for children ages 0-3 and their caregivers.
Explore climbing structures and ride-ons for gross motor skills, as well as supportive manipulatives to aid young children through their developmental growth.
Explore climbing structures and ride-ons for gross motor skills, as well as supportive manipulatives to aid young children through their developmental growth.
Farm to Table
Building on our region's rich agricultural heritage, our Farm to Table exhibit allows kids to plant, harvest, and buy or sell produce, then prepare a fresh meal in the farm kitchen.
Woodland Wonder
Woodland Wonder is a therapeutic sensory environment that's designed to be a safe space for exploration and deescalation. You can even relax and read a book by the fire in a log cabin!
Sponsored by Community Foundation of the NRV, Lions Club of Blacksburg, and Rotary Clubs of Christiansburg-Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Radford Noon, Christiansburg, and the regional district.
Amazing Air Play!
Come play with airways! See how things move through tubes and our bodies, like the circulatory system, the digestive system, and the respiratory system.
Sponsored by: New River Pediatrics
Motor Mile Raceway
Build your own race car and race against your friend. Learn about force, velocity, and speed with our air-car racetrack!
Sponsored by Shelor
Build It Toolbox
Build a house, a skyscraper, or whatever your imagination can dream of using real tools! Practice connecting pipes in wall, laying a roof or a floor.
Our Build It Toolbox is perfect for beginning engineers, architects, and construction workers!
Our Build It Toolbox is perfect for beginning engineers, architects, and construction workers!
Sponsored by Stateson Homes
Energy in Motion
Learn the basics of how plants make food with this interactive game of science tic-tac-toe. Compete with your friend to collect all the pieces of the process, then light up the sun overhead and let everyone know you won!
Sponsored by Center for Educational Networks and Impacts, National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech College of Science, and Virginia Tech Institute for Creative Arts and Technology
Sponsored by Center for Educational Networks and Impacts, National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry, Virginia Tech College of Science, and Virginia Tech Institute for Creative Arts and Technology
Dentist Office
Have a seat in the chair and get ready for a dental exam, or throw on a lab coat and become a dentist yourself!
Explore how braces work and see what it takes to keep teeth healthy.
Explore how braces work and see what it takes to keep teeth healthy.
Sponsored by Real Life Dental and Smiles
Veterinarian Clinic
Sponsored by Town and Country Veterinary Clinic and 24 Hour Emergency Hospital
Choose an animal to care for, whether a dog, a cat, or a snake. Give them a bath, feed them food, check their vitals, and give them an exam.
Post Office
Sort packages and letters, then deliver them to areas around the museum!
Fire Station
Do you have what it takes to be a firefighter? Grab your fire gear and climb aboard our REAL fire truck! You can even turn on the lights!
Spark Space
Let your creativity flow in our open art space that's fully stocked with arts and crafts supplies.
Imagination Playground
Our loved blue blocks are back! Our Imagination Playground ® blocks are the cornerstone of open-ended play at the museum where kids can design, stack, connect and invent a world of possibilities.
These lightweight yet durable cubes, bricks, cogs and curves are sure to delight your little one as they construct their very own playthings. There's no wrong way to play with the Blue Blocks!
These lightweight yet durable cubes, bricks, cogs and curves are sure to delight your little one as they construct their very own playthings. There's no wrong way to play with the Blue Blocks!
Global Express Train
Travel the world on this international train table! Build tracks to locations around the world while learning about different cultures, animals, and architecture.
Sponsored by: Krisha Chachra, Derek & Mina Klinedinst and Up on the Roof
National Bank of Wonder Universe
Who knew going to the bank could be so much fun? Practice money math skills in our kid-sized bank that even has a real vault door!
Sponsored by National Bank
Tractor
Come explore the world of farming. Climb up and play with our REAL Oliver 500 Tractor, named Nelson! Use your imagination, climb abroad, and drive the tractor through the fields that feed everyone.
House
Come set up house in Wonder Universe!! Learn about the exciting world of plumbing, lay a floor, and tile a roof.
Sponsored by Stateson Homes
Appalachian Trail Stage
Let your inner-hiker explore with our Appalachian Trail Stage! Come dress up as an outdoor explorer, enjoy views such as McAfee Knob, dress up as a forest animal, and camp out at an authentic trail shelter all while playing beneath the stars.
Sponsored by Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Fossil Tales
Welcome to "Fossil Tales," an enchanting exhibit that invites you to embark on a journey through time and myth. Immerse yourself in the magic of our dragon-themed reading nook, where ancient legends come to life. Nestled within the exhibit, this cozy enclave beckons visitors to discover the captivating tales of mythical creatures that have fascinated cultures throughout history. Unearth the stories hidden within the pages of dragon-inspired literature, surrounded by artifacts and fossils that reveal the fascinating intersection of fantasy and reality!
Learn more about the Dragon Research Collaborative
Learning Resources
In Collaboration with the Dragon Research Collaborative.
A Special thanks to Virginia Humanities and the Virginia Natural History Museum.
A Special thanks to Virginia Humanities and the Virginia Natural History Museum.
