Brabson Library And Educational Foundation Full Grant Proposal Form

DATE: March 7, 2014 1. INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION: Year established: 1995 Name of Organization: WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology Mailing Address: 308 West 4th Street City/State/Zip: Bloomington, Indiana 47404 Contact Person: Catherine Olmer Telephone: 812-337-1337, ext 16 Email: catherine@wonderlab.org 501(C)3 Organization: Yes (X) Tax ID #: 35-1956521 Current total budget: $1,015,917 2. NAME OF YOUR PROJECT: The "Bed of Nails" Exhibit at WonderLab

3. SIZE OF REQUESTED GRANT: $30,000 4. PERIOD GRANT WILL COVER (Generally, 1 July to 30 Jun. How many years?):

One (1) year (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015) 5. WHAT IS THE BASIC PURPOSE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION? WonderLab is an interactive science museum in downtown Bloomington, Indiana, whose mission is to "provide opportunities for people of all ages, especially children, to experience the wonder and excitement of science through hands-on exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity, encourage exploration, foster lifelong learning and explore connections to the arts and everyday life." Located in south-central Indiana, WonderLab is a valued family, education and tourism resource that welcomes over 84,000 visitors each year, including 12,000 children and chaperones on school field trips and other group visits. Visitors to the museum are attracted by its exciting hands-on science experiences that encourage children and adults to discover, explore and learn together. There are over 80 hands-on exhibits aimed at pre-K through middle school, as well as programs, activities and workshops for the public, school groups and scouts. A highlight of WonderLab programming is its Science of Art monthly series, which features regional artists demonstrating their craft (such as limestone carving, glass blowing, opera, hot metal casting, dance), additional activities that focus on the science behind the art, and related activities for visitors to make and take home. WonderLab is a resource for local schools. It offers pre-K and schoolteacher professional development workshops as well as a summer science institute for schoolteachers. In addition to experiences within the museum and the adjoining nature area, WonderLab also offers a wide range of other experiences that extend science enrichment beyond the museum walls, such as hands-on science outreach brought to schools, libraries and other locations throughout central and south-central Indiana; summer science enrichment camp; and after-school science enrichment programs in six Bloomington elementary schools.

2

WonderLab was established in 1995 as a traveling science outreach program coordinated by six volunteers. In 1998, WonderLab opened a small museum in downtown Bloomington. At that time, fundraising was initiated to build a larger, permanent museum on a downtown site donated to WonderLab by the city of Bloomington. The current award-winning museum is a two-story, 15,000-square-foot facility that opened its doors to the public on March 29, 2003. It is located adjacent to Bloomington’s B-Line Trail in the heart of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District. WonderLab enriches community life by bringing together 900 teen and adult volunteers (ages 12 - 91) each year from all parts of the community, who provide over 17,000 volunteer hours at the museum or at its offsite experiences. WonderLab also provides meaningful work and internship opportunities to middle, high school and college students, which expand their academic and career preparation, as well as their personal development. Teens are involved as mentors to younger children in WonderLab's summer science camps and as museum guides assisting the public. To enhance economic accessibility to the museum's many experiences, WonderLab provides free visits for schools and organizations that serve primarily low-income families, scholarships to the summer science camp, discounted admission days throughout the year, and admission fees of only $1/person for eligible Indiana families that receive state benefits such as food stamps. WonderLab has won numerous awards and honors in its history. Some of these are listed below and a complete list is included as an attachment:

• Certificate of Excellence Award from Trip Advisor (2013), presented to the top 10% of all attractions worldwide. WonderLab is the #2 attraction in Bloomington (after Indiana University).

• "One of the 50 Reasons to Love Bloomington," Bloom Magazine (2011). • "Best Attraction" Award, Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau (2011). • "Community Partnership Award" from the Monroe County Community School Corporation

(2010-2011). • "Top 25 Science Centers in the United States," Parents Magazine (2008).

6. WHAT IS THE PROJECT TYPE? (You may check more than one category.) ( ) Arts (Creation) ( ) Education (Creation) ( ) Arts (Education) ( ) Education (Dissemination) ( ) Arts (Operating Support) ( ) Education (Operating Support) ( X ) Other (Please specify: hands-on exhibit) 7. WHAT DOES YOUR PROJECT PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH? A. What is the problem? The problem addressed in this grant is: how can we effectively promote science education, science literacy and a lifelong interest in science? This problem has never been more important than now, and renowned authorities have noted the important role of science museums in addressing this problem:

• "Today, more than ever, science is emerging as an instrumental factor in decisions affecting stability, security, and improved quality of life for the entire planet. Those who employ science for this purpose—those who understand and appreciate the enormous potential, and challenges, of harnessing this knowledge—undoubtedly began with a basic curiosity about all that science has to offer. We [science and technology centers] have a responsibility to fuel that curiosity and to encourage it as a process of life-long learning." [Bud Rock, current CEO of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (of which WonderLab is a member organization) and past Vice President for Global Engagement at Arizona State University]

3

• "In contrast to many classroom settings, museums and science centers are well-suited to provide students with these essential science education experiences for a variety of reasons. They offer flexible learning environments and another context in which students can learn. Museum exhibits and programs illustrate scientific concepts using materials or objects that schools may lack, they encourage inquiry, they present ideas in historical context and highlight the relationship between science and society, and they provide opportunities to engage in scientific activities. They also provide a social context and encourage collaboration among friends, family members, and other museum visitors." [Natalie Nielsen, Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1997]

In addition, this grant addresses a critical core strategy and need as expressed in WonderLab's Strategic Plan to "expand the exhibit collection and increase turnover of new interactive exhibit experiences" so that the museum can be "a leader in museum experience" with "exhibits that are exciting, interactive, educational and continually changing." B. How will your project address this problem? To address this problem, WonderLab is dedicated to making science exciting, interactive, personal and understandable for all ages. With this in mind, WonderLab seeks support from the Brabson Library and Educational Foundation to acquire a new exhibit for the museum, the "Bed of Nails." This exhibit is based on the physics of pressure (defined as force divided by the area over which the force is distributed). Everyone knows that if you step on the pointed end of a nail, you will be injured -- your foot feels a large pressure resulting from the weight of your body pressing down on the tiny point of the nail, and the skin will be pierced. Yet, as you can experience in the proposed exhibit, you can lay your body down on a bed of thousands of nail points, and not experience a single ache or pain. By distributing your weight over the many nail points, the pressure experienced by you at any single nail point is relatively small and not dangerous. This exhibit provides a truly iconic and memorable experience in the physics of pressure. It vividly brings physics to life in an engaging way that no textbook or common example could ever do. Having experienced the Bed of Nails exhibit, visitors will be captivated, with their curiosity piqued and a desire to learn more about why the exhibit works. Through signage at the exhibit, we will expand visitors' understanding of pressure with examples of how pressure occurs in their daily lives, e.g., why the sharp side of a knife blade cuts a tomato but the other does not, why it hurts to press the pointed end of a thumbtack but not the other end, why snowshoes allow us to walk across a deep snowy area that we would sink into if we wore regular shoes, why high-heeled shoes cause dents in a floor, why camels have big feet that help them walk across the desert sand, and why it is difficult walking across a lawn while wearing high-heeled shoes. C. What will be accomplished? Through funding from the Brabson Library and Educational Foundation and leveraged donations to WonderLab, we will purchase the Bed of Nails exhibit from the company Hands On!, an award-winning exhibits fabrication company. This exhibit at WonderLab will be unique in the state of Indiana; the nearest Bed of Nails exhibit is located in Springfield, Missouri (440 miles from Bloomington, IN). The Bed of Nails exhibit will be the highlight of the summer 2015 exhibition at WonderLab. The Bed of Nails exhibit is easy to use, safe, appropriate for all ages (6 and up), and robust to withstand use by tens of thousands of museum visitors each year.

4

• Easy to use: The visitor lies down on a flat acrylic tabletop and can see herself in a mirror mounted above the table. When she pushes a button, a pneumatic system engages and a motor slowly elevates 5,000 nails, along with the person, to a height of about 2 and 3/8 inches above the acrylic surface. She sees herself being lifted up on the bed of nails, as can other museum visitors standing around the table. When she is ready to leave the exhibit, she again presses a button and the motor slowly lowers the nails and the person.

• Safe and appropriate for ages 6 and up: The nails are ordinary 30-penny nails with the points adjusted to ensure that all 5,000 nails are exactly the same length. We observed the exhibit in use at the Discovery Place Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina and talked about it with their gallery staff. The exhibit is one of the most popular experiences at the museum. We observed young children successfully using the exhibit without supervision by museum staff or volunteers. Based on our discussions with the Discovery Place staff, we expect that supervision by a WonderLab staff or volunteer person may be needed only when there are very large school field trips visiting the museum; these visits are scheduled well in advance and additional staffing can be planned for accordingly.

• Robust: Greg Belew, executive director of Hands On!, reports that they fabricated a Bed of Nails exhibit for the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The exhibit was included in a traveling exhibition that was rented by many other science museums over a period of 10 years. During this period, it was used 6 million times before its first service checkup and experienced no mechanical failure. The Discovery Place staff person reported no problems with the exhibit over many years of use at their museum, which has more than eight times the annual attendance of WonderLab.

The Kinetic Contraption exhibit, generously funded by the Brabson Foundation in 2003, continues to be extremely popular with visitors of all ages. Based on our research with other museums that have the exhibit, we expect that the Bed of Nails exhibit will be similarly successful with museum visitors. D. Who will receive the funds from the grant? WonderLab will use the funds received from the Brabson Foundation, along with $20,000 in restricted donations to the museum, to purchase the exhibit from the exhibit fabrication company Hands On!, which is located at 689 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg FL, (727) 824-8988 x19, www.hofl.org. Hands On! is one of the best exhibit fabrication firms in the world. With over 25 years of experience in exhibit fabrication, the firm has designed exhibits for over 50 museums in the United States and internationally. An information page on the exhibit is attached. WonderLab has worked successfully with Hands On! on other exhibit projects and looks forward to working with them again. On the Hands On! website, they state: "Through educational innovation, we help museums encourage visitors to experience new concepts and discover the world through exploration. At Hands On!, we celebrate the intersection of learning and play to capture—then unleash—the intellect and imagination of visitors." They share WonderLab's philosophy of hands-on learning through engaging, educationally rich experiences that appeal to all ages. E. Who will be affected by the results of your project? The primary audience that will be affected by the addition of the new exhibit at WonderLab will be museum visitors. This includes general admission visitors (typically families or children with caregivers), group admission visitors (children and chaperones on school, preschool, social service agency (such as Head Start and Boys & Girls Club) or other group field trips), and attendees at on-site birthday parties and after-hour rental events.

5

F. How many will be served/affected? WonderLab welcomes over 84,000 visitors each year. This includes about 69,000 general admission visitors, 12,000 group visitors and 3,000 attendees at birthday parties and after-hour rental events. Based on the popularity of this exhibit at other museums, we estimate that at least 50% of visitors, or 42,000 visitors, will use the exhibit each year. G. What are the geographic and demographic ranges of your recipients? WonderLab is located in Bloomington (Monroe County) and serves a ten-county region in south-central Indiana: Bartholomew, Brown, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange and Owen. Within this primarily rural region is a population of approximately 480,000 people, including 26 public school corporations with a total of approximately 40,000 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as approximately 27,000 preschool-age children. Bloomington (population 81,963) is the largest city in the region. WonderLab is a regional destination. In 2013, 32% of general admission visitors and 72% of group visitors come from beyond Monroe County. Approximately 47,000 of the 84,000 annual visitors, or 56%, are children under the age of 18. 8. WHAT NEEDS OR ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED? How do these needs and issues relate to the

Mission Statement, Vision, and Values of the Brabson Foundation? WonderLab's request directly relates to the mission statement, vision and values of the Foundation.

• The Brabson Foundation mission states that the Foundation supports "ideas that may have a significant and long-term impact especially in education..." The vision statements include "impact people's lives through education" and "providing opportunities for people to advance and excel ... beyond traditional educational ... paths."[Source: www.brabsonfamilyfoundation.org/about]

• WonderLab and its exhibit experiences have a significant impact on its visitors. In a 2013 survey of museum members, 98% of respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that: "WonderLab has an impact on the lives of the people it serves." Some of their written comments in the survey include:

o "Visitors who come to WonderLab often have transformative experiences where they see the world in new ways, create new memories with their family members, and discover new and exciting aspects of the sciences and technology."

o "I can't imagine having raised my son in this town without it [WonderLab] being a place for him to learn and interact with other children of all ages."

o "Science programs and exposure to science in a fun, hands on way is critical, especially in a town like Bloomington, with so many science based jobs, especially in the life sciences. We need to continue to grow a pipeline of employees for these companies, and early positive science experiences help keep kids interested in science."

• Featured in the nontraditional informal science education environment of the museum, the proposed "Bed of Nails" exhibit will provide a vivid and memorable example of the physics of pressure. The exhibit will spark curiosity and interest in visitors, will encourage exploration and investigation, will help visitors to recognize that related phenomena occur in everyday life, and will help promote a lifelong interest in the sciences.

6

• The National Research Council has highlighted an additional important role of science museums in expanding science education for underrepresented groups: "... experiences in informal settings can significantly improve science learning outcomes for individuals from groups which are historically underrepresented in science, such as women and minorities. Evaluations of museum-based and after-school programs suggest that these programs may also support academic gains for children and youth in these groups." ["Learning Science in Informal Environments," National Research Council, 2009]

9. HOW WILL THIS PROJECT BE SUPPORTED? A. How much of the project support will come from the Brabson Foundation? WonderLab requests $30,000 from the Brabson Foundation. The total project cost is $50,000. B. What have you requested from other organizations? WonderLab will raise the remaining $20,000 from additional donations to the museum that are restricted for this purpose. For each of the last four years, we have successfully raised $15,000 toward new exhibits during an exhibit matching campaign. We believe that expanding the goal of this campaign to $20,000 will not present a problem because of the attractiveness of the exhibit. C. What efforts have you made to leverage your requests? The key to the success of the exhibit matching campaign since its initiation in 2010 has been a particular WonderLab donor who, each year, pledged to provide up to $5,000 as 1:2 matching funds to donations made to the campaign. Each year, from 2010 to 2013, this campaign successfully raised a total of $15,000, including her full pledge. We have already contacted this donor and she has pledged $5,000 toward the 2014 campaign to raise the funds to help purchase the Bed of Nails exhibit. As a result, we will need only $15,000 in donations to the campaign to complete the project. We are confident that we will be able to successfully raise the funds needed to successfully complete the matching campaign. 10. WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEEING THE PROJECT THROUGH TO

COMPLETION? Catherine Olmer, executive director of the WonderLab Museum, will be responsible. A. What is his/her relationship to your organization? Dr. Olmer is the executive director of the WonderLab Museum. In this position, she is responsible for all aspects of museum operations and planning for the future. B. What are his/her credentials? Dr. Olmer received her B.A. (with Honors) in Physics from Boston University and her M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Experimental Nuclear Physics from Yale University. After postdoctoral positions at Lawrence Berkeley Lab and Argonne National Lab, she joined the faculty of the Physics Department at Indiana University (IU). As a physics professor, Dr. Olmer conducted research in experimental nuclear physics and taught a range of physics classes. She specialized in teaching introductory

7

physics for elementary education majors. Dr. Olmer initiated and coordinated for many years the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in the Physics Department. This effort was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and required multiple successful grants over the years, detailed grant administration and careful supervision. Dr. Olmer retired from IU in 2012. In addition to her duties at IU, Dr. Olmer has also been deeply involved with the WonderLab Museum. She was one of the founding members (1995), was president of the Board of Directors (1996-1998) and became its first executive director in 1998. Dr. Olmer oversees a $1M annual budget and a staff of 17 full-time-equivalent employees (22 individuals), and is also responsible for the administration and supervision of several grants. Dr. Olmer has received many awards from IU and the community for her teaching and service, such as: George W. Pinnell Award for Outstanding Service (IU, 2006); Distinguished Service Award (IU, 2005); Herman B Wells Lifetime Achievement Award (IU Student Association, 2004); Bloomington Woman of the Year (Bloomington Commission on the Status of Women, 2002); Women in Technology Award (Network of Women in Business, Women & Hi Tech, and the Lilly Women’s Network, 2000); Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (IU, 1999 and 2000). 11. WHAT IS THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT? (Please include an itemized budget for this project, including a timeline with milestones.) Budget: The total cost of the Bed of Nails exhibit, purchased from Hands On!, will be $50,000 ($48,000 plus shipping, which is estimated at $2,000). This will be paid as follows:

$30,000 Proposed request to the Brabson Foundation $ 5,000 Donation already pledged by WonderLab donor $15,000 Additional donations by WonderLab donors to exhibit matching campaign $50,000 Total expense for purchase of exhibit

Timeline and Milestones:

June 2014 WonderLab exhibit matching campaign begins July 2014 $30,000 received from Brabson Foundation July 2014 Bed of Nails exhibit ordered from Hands On! (30% deposit paid at this time) Sept 2014 Exhibit matching campaign is concluded. A total of $20,000 is raised June 2015 Bed of Nails exhibit delivered to WonderLab. It is featured as the highlight of the summer 2015 exhibition, which starts in June 2015. June 2015 Exhibit evaluation conducted and analyzed

We note that the exhibit matching campaign has historically started in May and lasted about 2-3 months. We have allowed for additional time for the campaign because we will be raising more money than in the past. If the Brabson Foundation finds it acceptable, we would like to start the matching campaign in June in order to avoid a conflict with another fundraising project that starts in July. The start of the exhibit matching campaign will, of course, be predicated on notification from the Brabson Foundation that the grant has been approved. As a result, we respectfully request that you please let us know the result of the grant competition by the end of May, if this is possible.

8

12. HOW WILL YOU EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF YOUR PROJECT WHEN IT IS COMPLETE? The success of the project will be judged by completion of the following: • Fundraising Efforts are Successful: The exhibit matching campaign is able to successfully raise

$20,000 by the milestone above. (Note that $5,000 of this has already been pledged.) • Project Stays on Schedule: The exhibit is built and received by WonderLab by June 2015. (Hands

On! recommends no less than a 6 - 7 month timeframe for their fabrication efforts.) • Visitor Perspective is Positive: A survey is conducted of museum visitors who use the exhibit

during a limited period (e.g., three days). In addition, museum staff or interns will observe visitors at the exhibit during this time. The results show:

Use of the exhibit is easy and intuitive for at least 80% of the people who use it. The exhibit appeals to children, teens and adults. Of the visitors who use the exhibit:

o At least 70% enjoy themselves and learn something new. o At least 70% recommend the exhibit to family and friends. o At least 30% were attracted to come to the museum because of the exhibit.

13. ARE YOU A PAST GRANTEE OF THIS FOUNDATION? When: 2011-2014, “Promoting Excellence in Science Education through Teacher Professional Development Programs and Indiana University Partnerships at the WonderLab Museum” Amount: $98,855 Evaluate the success of previous grants from this Foundation: “Preliminary” Final Report attached This grant was an expansion of the previous cycle to reach a broader audience with teacher training programs, and an expansion of research grant partnerships with Indiana University science faculty. Since the current grant period extends until June 30, 2014, the attached “preliminary” report will summarize accomplishments through March 2014, with projections through the end of the grant cycle. When: 2008-2011, “Science Education Collaborations Between WonderLab Museum and Community Partners: Continuity with Change” Amount: $99,900 Evaluate the success of previous grants from this Foundation: This grant was a major expansion of scope and “put us on the map” as a center for excellent teacher professional development opportunities. When: 2005-2008, “Inquiry-Based Science Education in Indiana” Amount: $88,025 Evaluate the success of previous grants from this Foundation: This grant enabled WonderLab to establish a popular and successful series of teacher professional development opportunities (Summer Science Institutes and school year Workshops for elementary teachers), as well as establish partnerships with area schools and IU faculty as program and grant partners. When: 2003, “Kinetic Contraption” Amount: $49,750 Evaluate the success of previous grants from this Foundation: The following sample visitor comments attest to the success of the Kinetic Contraption: “I would like to buy the kinetic contraption for my room.” “What a great addition to the museum! We have enjoyed it for hours already, and have still not seen all the possibilities.”

9

When: 2000, "George and Evelyn Brabson Discovery Garden" Amount: $100,000 Evaluate the success of previous grants from this Foundation: This was a lead gift during WonderLab’s capital campaign phase and provided a designated early childhood education area for the museum that features age-appropriate science experiences for very young children. The great success of Discovery Garden is demonstrated on a daily basis by its continuing popularity with increasing numbers of preschool-age visitors. 14. You may include additional information sheets or brochures here. Enclosed (X) The following items are included as attachments:

• 2013 WonderLab At-a-Glance • 2013 List of Awards • Pictures of the Bed of Nails Exhibit • Information Sheet on Bed of Nails Exhibit (document from Hands On!)

In addition, the Preliminary Final Report on the 2011-2014 Grant from the Brabson Foundation is included as a separate attachment.

10

WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology 308 West Fourth Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47404

www.wonderlab.org, writeus@wonderlab.org (812) 337-1337

WonderLab's mission is to provide opportunities where people of all ages, especially children, can experience the

wonder and excitement of science through hands-on exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity, encourage exploration foster lifelong learning and explore connections to the arts and everyday life.

WonderLab was established in 1995 as a traveling science outreach program coordinated by six volunteers. In 1998, WonderLab opened a small museum in downtown Bloomington. At that time, fundraising was initiated to build a larger, permanent museum on a downtown site donated to WonderLab by the city of Bloomington. The current award-winning museum opened its doors to the public on March 29, 2003. The two-story 15,000-square-foot facility features exhibit galleries, a flexible programming space, gift store and an adjacent outdoor garden. It is located adjacent to Bloomington’s B-Line Trail in the heart of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District.

WonderLab At-a-Glance

• Incorporation Date and Status: 1995 as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization

• Total people served between 1995 and December 2013: 1,006,986

• Museum visitors in 2013: 84,083 (43% members, 38% nonmembers, 14% groups, 4% rentals/parties)

• WonderLab is a regional destination: 72% of school fieldtrips and 44% of nonmember visitors came

from beyond Monroe County. The top Indiana counties were Monroe, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Johnson, Greene, Owen, Hendricks, Hamilton, Daviess, Bartholomew, Brown, Orange, Martin, Putnam and Vigo Counties.

• Total served in 2013 by off-site outreach programs and summer WonderCamp: 5,553

• Membership: 1,859 member families, with approximately 82% residing in Monroe County as of Dec. 31.

• Volunteers: 892 people volunteered 17,093 hours during 2013

• Exhibits: The gallery features over 80 hands-on science exhibits for visitors of all ages. Exhibit areas

include the Oliver Winery Grapevine Climber, George and Evelyn Brabson Discovery Garden for preschool children, Bubble-Airium, Fitzgerald Hall of Natural Sciences and “How Things Work” with exhibits on everyday phenomena such as air, electricity, human body, light, magnetism, motion, sound and music.

• Activities and Programs: WonderLab offers a host of educational and interactive programs, workshops demonstrations and presentations.

• Award-Winning Museum: WonderLab has won numerous awards. In 2008, WonderLab was selected by

Parents magazine among the top 25 science centers in the US. Hours of Operation: Open to the public Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9:30 am - 5:00 pm; Sundays, 1:00-5:00 pm. Open from 5 - 8:30 pm at reduced admission fees on the first Friday of each month. Closed Mondays and some holidays. The entire museum is available after close of public hours for private functions. Admission Fees: General Admission: Free for museum members / $7 per child / $7 per adult Group Admission: $5 per child, with separate fees for adult chaperones.

Administration & Marketing 8%

Exhibits & Capital Projects 15%

Development & Special Events 12%

Gift Store 6%

Building, Grounds & Facilities 23%

Visitor Services & Programs 35%

Donations, Grants & Investment Dividends 37%

Membership Fees 14%

Special Events 12% Retail Sales

8%

General & Group Admissions 20%

Camp, Birthday Parties, Rentals & Other Earned Revenues 9%

COMMUNITY IMPACT Educational Resource WonderLab provides informal science experiences that benefit thousands of schoolchildren and help schools address Indiana science standards. WonderLab also provides professional development for teachers during the summer and school year, including a summer science institute and in-service workshops. Each summer, the museum offers WonderCamp, week-long science program for children entering grades K - 6. To make WonderLab opportunities more accessible to low-income youth and families, WonderLab's Connecting to the Community program provides free or greatly reduced group admissions to the museum, free admission for Big Brothers Big Sisters participants and selected other local agencies, and free or partial scholarships for camps and workshops. In addition, the museum provides greatly reduced admission on the First Friday of the month, as well as during special days such as Dollar Day, Martin Luther King Day and Real Life Science. Economic Resource In 2013, WonderLab, which is located in an Urban Enterprise Zone, attracted 84,083 visitors to downtown Bloomington from a ten-county region and beyond. WonderLab is a major destination along the B-Line Trail, a downtown greenway. According to a museum survey, WonderLab visitors spend over $450,000 in downtown shops and restaurants annually. All of the surveyed visitors said that WonderLab was “very important or important to the quality of life in Bloomington.” Volunteer Resource Each year, the museum enriches community life by bringing together almost 900 teen and adult volunteers from all parts of the community. WonderLab makes a special effort to offer middle, high school and college students meaningful opportunities to enhance their workplace skills. Teens are involved as mentors to younger children in WonderLab's summer science camps, as museum guides assisting the public, as animal caregivers and as administrative assistants.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT WonderLab relies on earned revenue and philanthropic support. For every $1 spent by visitors in the museum, WonderLab must raise an additional $0.90 through contributions from individuals and businesses, special events, and grants. This reflects a commitment to making WonderLab as affordable as possible to families and schools. WonderLab does not receive annual appropriations of federal, state or local tax monies for operational support. 2013 REVENUES 2013 EXPENSES Total 2013 Operating Revenues = $1,076,033 Total 2013 Operating Expenses = $1,044,668

For information about making a donation to WonderLab, please contact Alison Pitt, development director, at (812) 337-1337, ext. 14 or development@wonderlab.org.

AWARDS AND HONORS RECEIVED BY THE WONDERLAB MUSEUM 2013 Certificate of Excellence Award (top performing 10% of all attractions worldwide) Awarded by: TripAdvisor, 2013 One of the 50 Reasons to Love Bloomington Awarded by: Bloom Magazine (August/September 2011) B Award as "Best Attraction" Awarded by: Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2011 Community Partnership Award 2010 – 2011 Awarded by: Monroe County Community School Corporation, 2011 Internship / Sponsor Award 2010 Awarded by: College Internship Program, Bloomington Center, 2010 "Be More Knowledgeable" Award Awarded by: City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, 2010 "Be More" People's Choice Award Awarded by: City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, 2010 Best Place to Volunteer, 2009 Awarded by: Indiana Daily Student, 2009 Lester P. Bushnell WonderGarden named as "Certified Wildlife Habitat" Awarded by: National Wildlife Foundation, 2009 Winner of "Bloomington in Bloom Curb Appeal Contest" for Lester P. Bushnell WonderGarden Awarded by: Bloomington Board of Realtors, 2009 “Hidden Treasure” Awarded by: Indy’s Child magazine, 2009 “2008 Indiana Achievement Award” Awarded by: Sycamore Foundation, 2008 “Top 25 Science Centers in the United States” Ranked as #17 by Parents Magazine, 2008 “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” Fuse Business Innovation Award Awarded by South Central Small Business Development Center and inVenture, 2007 Outstanding Community Supporter Awarded by: Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council, Inc., 2007

Outstanding Partner for Education, 2007 Awarded by: Indiana University/Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, 2007 Downtown Revitalization Award / Quality of Life Award, 2005 Awarded by: Downtown Bloomington Commission, 2005 Outstanding Contribution to Downtown Bloomington Revitalization, 2004 Awarded by: Downtown Bloomington Commission, 2004 "City's Best" Museum, 2004 Awarded by: AOL Cityguide, 2004 Community Enhancement Award, 2003 Awarded by: Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, 2003 Public Service Award, 2003 Awarded by: Bloomington Council for Community Accessibility, 2003 Attraction of the Year, 2003 Awarded by: Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2003 Best Place to Find Unusual Gifts, 2003 Awarded by: Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2003 Best Web Site, 2003 Awarded by: Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2003 Best Place to Take Kids, 2003 Voted by: Readers of the Herald-Times, 2003 Schreck Community Award, 2002 Awarded by: Indiana University, Division of Student Affairs, 2002 Organization of the Year, 2000 Awarded by: Commission for Bloomington Downtown, 2000 Certificate of Recognition, 1998 Awarded by: South Central Association for the Education of Young Children, 1998 Best Special Event: WonderLab Museum for a Day, 1997 Awarded by: Commission for Bloomington Downtown, 1997

The "Bed of Nails" Exhibit

Experience the wonders of pressure and force!

The visitor lies down on the acrylic surface of a stainless steel cabinet. No nails are visible. Once activated by a button, a motor lifts 5,000 nails that slowly move upwards through holes in the acrylic, thereby lifting the visitor. These are ordinary, "30 penny" nails, similar to what is found in hardware stores. The points on the nail have been adjusted as needed to ensure that all nails are of the same length. There is a mirror mounted above the visitor so he or she can see everything!

After watching other visitors use the exhibit, this young visitor scampered up on the table without any assistance from her parents or brother. The exhibit is recommended for ages 6 and up. Her brother pressed the button, causing the nails and his sister to rise into the air. He then pressed the button again, to lower the nails and his sister. She went through this cycle three times before leaving the exhibit, with a broad smile on her face. No assistance by staff was needed and she had a wonderful time!

The ends of the nails are barely visible through the holes in the acrylic surface. Once the button is pushed and the pneumatic system is activated, the nails start to slowly rise through the holes in the acrylic surface. Here, the nails are only partly extended. The nails are now fully extended at a height of 2 and 3/8 inch above the surface.

Hands On! Inc.689 Central AvenueSt. Petersburg, FL33701 USAwww.hofl.org

Contact: Greg Belewtel. (727) 824-8988 x19fax (727) 824-8572gbelew@hofl.org

(Sheet 1 of 2) © Hands On! Inc. 2011

Photo © Oscar Williams

Just how risky is laying on a bed of 5,000 nails?

Visitors soon discover it isn’t the prickly situation they expected.

The visitor lies on a clear Lexan bed mounted on a stainless steel cabinet, then pushes a button that activates a motor that slowly raises the nails through the bed. The nails lift the visitor along with them. Because the visitor’s weight is distributed over thousands of different points, there is not enough pressure on any one point to make the nails dangerous. At any time, the visitor may release the control button and be lowered back down. This experience provides a unique and thought-provoking illustration of the physics of pressure.

Video Link:http://youtu.be/ZF2aEk0enms

Bed of Nails

Hands On! Inc.689 Central AvenueSt. Petersburg, FL33701 USAwww.hofl.org

Contact: Greg Belewtel. (727) 824-8988 x19fax (727) 824-8572gbelew@hofl.org

© Hands On! Inc. 2011(Sheet 2 of 2)

Photo © Hands On! Inc.

Dimensions: 7’-10” D x 30” W x 7’ H

Age Level: 6 and up

Number of Users: 1

Curriculum Connections: Pressure, distribution of mass, gravity

Staffing Requirements: This very popular experience may need to be staffed depending on visitor traffic.

Consumables: None

Special Notes: Cost does not include graphics, shipping, crating, insurance or installation. All exhibits can be shipped blanket wrapped.

Bed of Nails