WonderLab museum teaches through fun

A Red-tailed Hawk picks apart a dead mouse. A peregrine falcon eats a small chicken. All this with local children watching a few feet away.\nWonderLab, 116 W. Sixth St., offers children and their parents hands-on experience with science and fun. \nMuseum employees said volunteers account for a large portion of its success.\nJeanne Gunning, director of volunteers at WonderLab, called the volunteers "discovery coaches."\n"People learn best when volunteers are there to share in the discovery," Gunning said.\nShe said more than 70 percent of the volunteers at WonderLab are students. Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers donated more than 10,000 hours, she said.\nSophomore Andrew Schroeder is one of the volunteers. He said he gives his time because there is something different every week. He said he also enjoys working with the children.\nFreshman Caroline Kiszka said she began volunteering to meet a course requirement, but stayed because it's satisfying. She volunteers most Saturday's and said she likes volunteering so much she would pay to do it.\nKiszka said the adults often participate with their children. "It is refreshing to see adults on the floor playing with blocks," she said.\nWonderLab moved to its current location across from the courthouse in 1998. But, according to its Web site, www.wonderlab.org, it is looking to build a larger building in October, but still needs to raise more money. \nThe museum began in 1995 as a traveling program before public demand caused them to create a permanent location.\nWonderlab is open 2-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. During the rest of the week WonderLab welcomes schools and other groups looking to learn more about science.\nAccording to the Web site, WonderLab is funded with donations from families, individuals, small businesses, corporations, foundations and government agencies. Each week, it offers programs to teach children about science and nature. \nAbout two dozen children and parents showed up Saturday as WonderLab welcomed Mark Booth from Take Flight! Wildlife Education in Indianapolis. Booth, with a falcon on his forearm, told children about the birds of prey. He brought in a red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, great horned owl and a peregrine falcon. \nThe day was a balance between education and fun. Before feeding the falcon, Booth joked that feeding children to the bird is part of the diet. \nSchroeder was there watching the children during the presentation. Watching them learn is part of the fun for him.\n"I love letting the kids learn about science," Schroeder said.