a larger than
life experience
At EdVenture, curiosity is larger than life! Here, in this safe and engaging space, learners of all ages become inspired with hands-on interactivity. So come with us and unlock your curiosity.
a larger than life experience
At EdVenture, curiosity is larger than life! Here, in this safe and engaging space, learners of all ages become inspired with hands-on interactivity. So come with us and unlock your curiosity.
EXPLORE Experiences
All of our experiences below are interactive, hands-on and sure to amaze. Come see them for yourself at EdVenture Columbia! For our Myrtle Beach experiences, use the button below.
Eddie
Meet Eddie—EdVenture’s 40-foot-tall, three-story ambassador and your guide to the human body!
-
- Climb inside his body: travel through his brain, slide down his spine, explore his heart, lungs, and stomach, and exit through the digestive system with fun sound effects.
- Experience a multi-sensory anatomy EdVenture complete with heartbeats, synapse sounds and tummy rumbles.
- Explore accessible interactives that let all children learn about the brain, heart, lungs, and stomach up close.
- Discover how the human body works through hands-on learning, imaginative exploration and play-based science.
- See Eddie’s firefly companion “J,” inspired by a local endangered species and honoring fallen firefighter James Muller.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore human anatomy alongside their children by climbing through Eddie’s larger-than-life body, talking about how organs work and celebrating big “A-ha!” moments together. Adults can point out body systems, ask what children notice inside Eddie or compare their own heartbeat or stomach gurgles to the sounds inside him. With accessible interactives nearby, families of all abilities can learn about health and biology in engaging, hands-on ways.
Dalmation Station
Sound the Alarm for Safe EdVentures!
-
- Climb into a life-size, 24-foot firetruck and take the wheel in an interactive driving simulation.
- Slide down the firefighter pole just like the pros.
- Suit up with kid-friendly firefighter gear and learn what each tool is used for.
- Explore hands-on equipment designed for safe, imaginative fire rescue play.
- Create a personalized family meeting-place plan at the interactive kiosk.
- Meet a real firefighter during select visits and hear firsthand stories from the field.
-
Parents and caregivers can use this space to spark essential, age-appropriate conversations about fire safety. Together, families can talk through what to do during a fire, practice identifying a safe meeting place and use the digital kiosk to create a custom home safety plan. Grown-ups can encourage children to narrate what they’re doing (“I’m checking the hose!” “I’m getting to the meeting spot!”) and build confidence by practicing stop, drop and roll or imagining teamwork with real firefighters.
Little Spot Diner
Order Up! Imagination Served Fresh.
-
- Step into a retro-style diner as a chef, server or hungry customer.
- Cook up pretend pizzas, burgers, desserts, and daily specials behind the counter.
- Take orders, ring them in and serve dishes just like in a real restaurant.
- “Wash” dishes, cleanup workspaces and restock supplies for the next wave of customers.
- Build teamwork and social skills through collaborative restaurant play.
-
Parents and caregivers can join the fun by role-playing as customers, fellow chefs or supervisors in the bustling retro diner. Encourage children to take your order, prepare your “meal” or walk through the steps of serving at the counter. Adults can help little chefs practice sequencing (“What comes first when we cook?”), counting ingredients or organizing supplies. It’s a great space to model teamwork, manners and communication skills while sharing plenty of playful moments together.
Busy Bee Farm
From Seed to Store—Experience the Journey of Food.
-
- Sit on real-life a tractor that even “cranks up” for a pretend ride through the fields.
- Milk a cow (don’t worry—it’s water!) and learn about dairy production.
- Harvest vegetables, place them in crates and move them through a full production line.
- Cool vegetables using the Hydro Immersion Cooler to learn why produce must be kept at 45 degrees.
- Drop veggies into the hopper for cleaning so they stay fresh for the supermarket.
- Store vegetables in cold storage to prepare them for transport.
- Stack boxes for shipping and send the farm-fresh produce off to market.
- Gain a hands-on understanding of South Carolina farming and the journey food takes from field to family
-
Parents and caregivers can guide children through the farm-to-market story by talking through each step of food production—planting, harvesting, cooling, cleaning, and shipping. Ask questions like “What does a farmer do first?” or “How do we keep vegetables fresh?” Adults can role-play as customers, inspectors or fellow farmers to encourage teamwork and reinforce learning about agriculture in a fun, hands-on way.
The Neighborhood Market
Aisles of EdVenture for Mini Shoppers.
-
- Roam the grocery aisles and discover a variety of kid-sized departments.
- Fill a shopping cart with ingredients for a favorite family meal or a new recipe.
- Sort foods by type—produce, dairy, baked goods, frozen items, and more.
- Use bilingual signage to build vocabulary and early literacy skills.
- Practice identifying colors, fruits and vegetables in the produce section.
- Complete their purchase at the checkout register for a full shopping experience.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore the market alongside their young shoppers—talking about nutrition, reading bilingual signs together and discussing what foods help our bodies grow strong. Encourage children to sort items by grocery department, choose ingredients for a pretend meal or compare colors, shapes and food groups. At checkout, adults can practice counting, price comparisons or simple math with their child, turning everyday errands into playful learning moments.
EdVenture Library
Where Stories Spark Big Imagination.
-
- Explore shelves filled with beloved books and new EdVentures waiting to be discovered.
- Step into a world of make-believe as they bring characters to life on the puppet show stage.
- Perform original stories or favorite scenes inside the mini theater, building confidence and self-expression skills.
- Enjoy quiet reading nooks where little learners can settle in with a story and let their imaginations roam.
-
Parents and caregivers can enjoy a calm, screen-free moment with their child—choosing favorite stories, discovering new ones and reading aloud together. Grown-ups can encourage creativity by helping children craft their own tales, asking open-ended questions (“What do you think happens next?”) or joining in on a puppet performance. This space invites families to slow down, connect and nurture a lifelong love of reading and storytelling.
Wags & Whiskers
Learn, Play and Care for Our Furry Friends.
-
- Step into a veterinary clinic as a veterinarian or pet owner.
- Examine furry patients during routine checkups and learn how to keep animals healthy.
- Explore basic animal anatomy and physiology using X-rays and the Pet Scanner.
- Participate in an interactive program to determine which pet best fits their family and lifestyle.
- Build life and career skills, science literacy and an understanding of animal care in a playful, hands-on way.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore responsible pet care with their children—talking about healthy habits, nutrition and hygiene for both pets and people. Adults can encourage children to think through decisions (“Which pet would be best for our family?”), guide them as they use interactive veterinary tools, discuss what makes a pet healthy, and role-play scenarios in the clinic. Families can reinforce lessons about empathy, responsibility and science literacy while having fun together.
MedVenture
Where Future Healers Begin.
-
- Hear from real healthcare professionals through kid-friendly video stories about why they chose their careers.
- Answer an emergency call and “drive” a life-like ambulance to save the day.
- Scrub in and prepare for a larger-than-life operation game that teaches teamwork and precision.
- Play dentist—asking parents to say “Ahhh!” while learning about oral health and examining a giant tooth display.
- Take a closer look inside the eye using hands-on vision and anatomy interactives.
- Treat sprains, strains and injuries in the physical therapy area by wrapping, stretching and helping patients heal.
- Explore the body from the inside out with an oversized x-ray machine and diagnostic tools.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore side-by-side with their young medical professionals—asking curiosity-building questions (“What tool would a doctor use next?” “Why do you think the ambulance needs to get there quickly?”), modeling healthy habits and letting children take the lead in diagnosing, treating and caring. Grown-ups can share stories of their own doctor visits, talk about community helpers and reinforce vocabulary like “healthy choices,” “exercise” and “emergency.” Together, families can also discuss different healthcare careers, sparking early interest and confidence.
Life Cycle of a Plant
From Seed to Harvest—See How Plants Grow!
-
- Step into a larger-than-life garden area featuring giant tomatoes.
- Explore the different parts of a plant—roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit.
- Learn about the life cycle of plants, from seed to harvest.
- Discover what plants need to grow: water, sunlight and nutrients.
- Connect with nature and experience hands-on, interactive science in a playful environment.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore the plant life cycle alongside their children by talking about plant growth, what plants need to thrive and how humans can help care for nature. Adults can ask questions like, “Which part of the plant do we eat?” or “What happens if a plant doesn’t get enough water?” and encourage observation, prediction and curiosity. Families can reinforce lessons about science, nutrition and sustainability while enjoying hands-on discovery together.
Eddie’s Eco Garden
Dig, Discover and Grow!
-
- Dig in and explore a magical outdoor garden full of plants, vegetables and flowers.
- Discover a special fairy garden hidden among the greenery.
- Learn about plant growth, care and the natural world through hands-on experiences.
- Observe, touch and interact with nature in a playful, immersive way.
- Connect with the environment while exploring creativity and curiosity in a safe outdoor space.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore the garden alongside their children—talking about how plants grow, identifying flowers and vegetables and encouraging curiosity about nature. Adults can ask questions like, “What do plants need to grow?” or “Can you find all the different colors of flowers?” Families can enjoy hands-on exploration while fostering environmental awareness and a love for gardening.
The Great Outdoors
EdVenture Awaits—Just Step Outside!
-
- Make waves at the giant water table—creating lakes, building dams and floating boats through winding rapids.
- Climb aboard a larger-than-life prop plane and let imaginations take flight.
- Discover treasures through hands-on gem mining.
- Splash, explore and enjoy nature-based play experiences all around the outdoor space.
- Experiment with water flow, cause and effect and engineering concepts through interactive water features.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore this open-air space alongside their children, encouraging curiosity about nature, water and the world around them. Grown-ups can ask guiding questions (“What happens if we block the water here?” “How fast can your boat go?”) or join in imaginative EdVentures—piloting the plane, searching for gems or charting waterways together. This is a great place to support problem-solving, experimentation and outdoor play while getting fresh air as a family.
My Backyard
Big Discoveries for Our Smallest Explorers.
-
- Explore a tactile wonderland designed just for toddlers and early walkers.
- Climb a large tree structure, hide underneath and build confidence in gross motor skills.
- Set sail on the Little S.S. Shrimpy tugboat—dropping anchor, pretending to brave storms or steering the seas.
- Jump, stack and play in Pollywog Pond, filled with soft blocks and mats for safe climbing.
- Build towers or imaginative structures with soft materials.
- Discover climbing, sliding, hiding, and exploring in an environment made for tiny EdVenturers.
- Enjoy a dedicated family restroom and a quiet nursing area for comfort and convenience.
-
Parents and caregivers can support toddlers’ exploration by staying close, encouraging sensory play and celebrating new physical milestones. Ask simple questions (“Do you feel the soft blocks?” “Can you climb to the next branch?”) or join in imaginative moments aboard the mini boat. This calm, development-focused area is perfect for connecting, observing growth, and offering reassurance as little ones crawl, climb and explore safely.
The Cube
A Bright Beginning for Little Learners.
-
- Explore a vibrant, colorful, cube-shaped room designed especially for toddlers to learn through play.
- Practice early math concepts like colors, shapes, counting, sorting, and pattern recognition.
- Create with numbers, shapes, blocks, and hands-on materials in stations that inspire curiosity.
- Strengthen school-readiness skills through open-ended play that encourages problem-solving and creativity.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore this colorful space alongside their toddlers, helping them practice early learning skills like identifying colors, counting objects, naming shapes, and building simple patterns. Grownups can guide little hands as they stack, match, sort, and create—turning playful moments into meaningful learning. By encouraging curiosity, celebrating small successes and gently introducing new concepts, adults can help reinforce school-readiness skills while having fun together.
Flight
“EdVenture pilots! This is ground control. You are clear for landing!”
-
- Step into a stunning Boeing 757 cockpit that extends outside the building for a soaring view over the Congaree River and Gervais Street bridge, into West Columbia.
- Fly three interactive Boeing simulators for a hands-on piloting experience.
- Sit in real airplane seats with tray tables and watch looping aerial footage from a plane flying over Columbia and Lake Murray.
- Stand inside a massive Boeing 747 engine cowling to see the scale of modern aircraft.
- Explore a cockpit filled with kid-friendly controls, switches and levers.
- Build and test paper airplanes at an aerodynamics station and see which plane can fly further.
- Discover the forces of flight and learn about aviation careers—from pilots to engineers, ground control, and more.
-
Parents and caregivers can join young aviators as they explore the world of flight—talking together about how planes work, what pilots do and the many careers that make air travel possible. Encourage kids to test out the simulators, make predictions (“What happens if you turn this way?”) or fold and test paper airplanes, adjusting designs as they go. This space invites families to imagine EdVentures, spark curiosity and build early interest in STEM and aviation.
Draw Alive
Where Your Artwork Jumps Off the Page!
-
- Choose from a variety of coloring templates featuring characters, creatures, vehicles, and more.
- Color, customize and decorate their design using traditional art tools.
- Scan their completed artwork into the digital system.
- Watch with excitement as their creation animates instantly on a large, immersive screen.
- See their character interact with other guests’ artwork, encouraging collaboration and imagination.
- Explore the blend of art and technology while creating stories around their living masterpieces.
-
Parents and caregivers can join in the creative fun by coloring alongside their child, choosing templates together or talking through the creative choices their young artist makes. Ask questions like, “What should we name your character?” or “What do you think it will do once it comes alive?” Grown-ups can help with scanning the artwork, celebrate each animated creation on the big screen and encourage storytelling as children watch their drawings move, interact and explore the virtual world.
A-HA! Makerspace
Invent, Experiment, Create—Your Ideas Start Here.
-
- Tinker, invent and explore hands-on STEM activities at open-ended workstations.
- Use recycled materials to build contraptions, sculptures and artistic masterpieces.
- Explore baskets filled with a wide variety of “maker supplies” to inspire imagination.
- Stack giant blocks, experiment with magnets and engineer new creations.
- Follow their own creative path as they design, build and problem-solve independently.
-
Parents and caregivers can join their bigger kids in open-ended STEM play by brainstorming ideas together, helping gather materials or asking curiosity-sparking questions like, “What could you build next?” or “How could we make it stronger?” Adults can model problem-solving, encourage trial and error and celebrate creativity—not perfection. This is a space where families can build side by side, collaborate on inventions or simply explore tools and materials together.
Celebration Circle
Honoring Courage, Hope and Healing. Celebrating the journey of pediatric patients, families and healthcare workers.
-
- This special area was created to honor Prisma Health Children’s Hospital patients and professionals as a part of the museum’s mission of inclusion and accessibility for all.
- Celebration circle includes a Bravery Bell and a Memory Wall to honor the bravery and courage of each patient’s journey no matter where they are in their journey.
- It celebrates these patients, their families, and the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to improving the quality of life for these children.
- EdVenture highlights these healthcare workers and careers in pediatric healthcare as part of their mission of workforce exploration
-
The Bravery Bell is a special bell located inside of Celebration Circle that is lowered during patient ceremonies. Traditionally, the meaning behind ringing a bell is to signify the end of treatment. However, EdVenture wants to redefine that meaning and give everyone the chance to ring the bell to celebrate their journey, regardless of where they are in their treatment. Because everyone who faces a chronic illness deserves to be honored and celebrated.
-
Inside Celebration Circle is a special Memory Wall where patients and their families can write special messages about their journey or experience. We hope this wall demonstrates the courage and bravery these patients and their families face every day during the challenge of a chronic health disease.
EXPLORE EXperiences
All of our experiences below are interactive, hands-on and sure to amaze. Come see them for yourself at EdVenture Columbia! For our Myrtle Beach experiences, use the button below.
Eddie
Meet Eddie—EdVenture’s 40-foot-tall, three-story ambassador and your guide to the human body!
-
- Climb inside his body: travel through his brain, slide down his spine, explore his heart, lungs, and stomach, and exit through the digestive system with fun sound effects.
- Experience a multi-sensory anatomy EdVenture complete with heartbeats, synapse sounds and tummy rumbles.
- Explore accessible interactives that let all children learn about the brain, heart, lungs, and stomach up close.
- Discover how the human body works through hands-on learning, imaginative exploration and play-based science.
- See Eddie’s firefly companion “J,” inspired by a local endangered species and honoring fallen firefighter James Muller.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore human anatomy alongside their children by climbing through Eddie’s larger-than-life body, talking about how organs work and celebrating big “A-ha!” moments together. Adults can point out body systems, ask what children notice inside Eddie or compare their own heartbeat or stomach gurgles to the sounds inside him. With accessible interactives nearby, families of all abilities can learn about health and biology in engaging, hands-on ways.
Dalmation Station
Sound the Alarm for Safe EdVentures!
-
- Climb into a life-size, 24-foot firetruck and take the wheel in an interactive driving simulation.
- Slide down the firefighter pole just like the pros.
- Suit up with kid-friendly firefighter gear and learn what each tool is used for.
- Explore hands-on equipment designed for safe, imaginative fire rescue play.
- Create a personalized family meeting-place plan at the interactive kiosk.
- Meet a real firefighter during select visits and hear firsthand stories from the field.
-
Parents and caregivers can use this space to spark essential, age-appropriate conversations about fire safety. Together, families can talk through what to do during a fire, practice identifying a safe meeting place and use the digital kiosk to create a custom home safety plan. Grown-ups can encourage children to narrate what they’re doing (“I’m checking the hose!” “I’m getting to the meeting spot!”) and build confidence by practicing stop, drop and roll or imagining teamwork with real firefighters.
Little Spot Diner
Order Up! Imagination Served Fresh.
-
- Step into a retro-style diner as a chef, server or hungry customer.
- Cook up pretend pizzas, burgers, desserts, and daily specials behind the counter.
- Take orders, ring them in and serve dishes just like in a real restaurant.
- “Wash” dishes, cleanup workspaces and restock supplies for the next wave of customers.
- Build teamwork and social skills through collaborative restaurant play.
-
Parents and caregivers can join the fun by role-playing as customers, fellow chefs or supervisors in the bustling retro diner. Encourage children to take your order, prepare your “meal” or walk through the steps of serving at the counter. Adults can help little chefs practice sequencing (“What comes first when we cook?”), counting ingredients or organizing supplies. It’s a great space to model teamwork, manners and communication skills while sharing plenty of playful moments together.
Busy Bee Farm
From Seed to Store—Experience the Journey of Food.
-
- Sit on real-life a tractor that even “cranks up” for a pretend ride through the fields.
- Milk a cow (don’t worry—it’s water!) and learn about dairy production.
- Harvest vegetables, place them in crates and move them through a full production line.
- Cool vegetables using the Hydro Immersion Cooler to learn why produce must be kept at 45 degrees.
- Drop veggies into the hopper for cleaning so they stay fresh for the supermarket.
- Store vegetables in cold storage to prepare them for transport.
- Stack boxes for shipping and send the farm-fresh produce off to market.
- Gain a hands-on understanding of South Carolina farming and the journey food takes from field to family.
-
Parents and caregivers can guide children through the farm-to-market story by talking through each step of food production—planting, harvesting, cooling, cleaning, and shipping. Ask questions like “What does a farmer do first?” or “How do we keep vegetables fresh?” Adults can role-play as customers, inspectors or fellow farmers to encourage teamwork and reinforce learning about agriculture in a fun, hands-on way.
The Neighborhood Market
Aisles of EdVenture for Mini Shoppers.
-
- Roam the grocery aisles and discover a variety of kid-sized departments.
- Fill a shopping cart with ingredients for a favorite family meal or a new recipe.
- Sort foods by type—produce, dairy, baked goods, frozen items, and more.
- Use bilingual signage to build vocabulary and early literacy skills.
- Practice identifying colors, fruits and vegetables in the produce section.
- Complete their purchase at the checkout register for a full shopping experience.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore the market alongside their young shoppers—talking about nutrition, reading bilingual signs together and discussing what foods help our bodies grow strong. Encourage children to sort items by grocery department, choose ingredients for a pretend meal or compare colors, shapes and food groups. At checkout, adults can practice counting, price comparisons or simple math with their child, turning everyday errands into playful learning moments.
EdVenture Library
Where Stories Spark Big Imagination.
-
- Explore shelves filled with beloved books and new EdVentures waiting to be discovered.
- Step into a world of make-believe as they bring characters to life on the puppet show stage.
- Perform original stories or favorite scenes inside the mini theater, building confidence and self-expression skills.
- Enjoy quiet reading nooks where little learners can settle in with a story and let their imaginations roam.
-
Parents and caregivers can enjoy a calm, screen-free moment with their child—choosing favorite stories, discovering new ones and reading aloud together. Grown-ups can encourage creativity by helping children craft their own tales, asking open-ended questions (“What do you think happens next?”) or joining in on a puppet performance. This space invites families to slow down, connect and nurture a lifelong love of reading and storytelling.
Wags & Whiskers
Learn, Play and Care for Our Furry Friends.
-
- Step into a veterinary clinic as a veterinarian or pet owner.
- Examine furry patients during routine checkups and learn how to keep animals healthy.
- Explore basic animal anatomy and physiology using X-rays and the Pet Scanner.
- Participate in an interactive program to determine which pet best fits their family and lifestyle.
- Build life and career skills, science literacy and an understanding of animal care in a playful, hands-on way.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore responsible pet care with their children—talking about healthy habits, nutrition and hygiene for both pets and people. Adults can encourage children to think through decisions (“Which pet would be best for our family?”), guide them as they use interactive veterinary tools, discuss what makes a pet healthy, and role-play scenarios in the clinic. Families can reinforce lessons about empathy, responsibility and science literacy while having fun together.
MedVenture
Where Future Healers Begin.
-
- Hear from real healthcare professionals through kid-friendly video stories about why they chose their careers.
- Answer an emergency call and “drive” a life-like ambulance to save the day.
- Scrub in and prepare for a larger-than-life operation game that teaches teamwork and precision.
- Play dentist—asking parents to say “Ahhh!” while learning about oral health and examining a giant tooth display.
- Take a closer look inside the eye using hands-on vision and anatomy interactives.
- Treat sprains, strains and injuries in the physical therapy area by wrapping, stretching and helping patients heal.
- Explore the body from the inside out with an oversized x-ray machine and diagnostic tools.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore side-by-side with their young medical professionals—asking curiosity-building questions (“What tool would a doctor use next?” “Why do you think the ambulance needs to get there quickly?”), modeling healthy habits and letting children take the lead in diagnosing, treating and caring. Grown-ups can share stories of their own doctor visits, talk about community helpers and reinforce vocabulary like “healthy choices,” “exercise” and “emergency.” Together, families can also discuss different healthcare careers, sparking early interest and confidence.
Life Cycle of a Plant
From Seed to Harvest—See How Plants Grow!
-
- Step into a larger-than-life garden area featuring giant tomatoes.
- Explore the different parts of a plant—roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit.
- Learn about the life cycle of plants, from seed to harvest.
- Discover what plants need to grow: water, sunlight and nutrients.
- Connect with nature and experience hands-on, interactive science in a playful environment.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore the plant life cycle alongside their children by talking about plant growth, what plants need to thrive and how humans can help care for nature. Adults can ask questions like, “Which part of the plant do we eat?” or “What happens if a plant doesn’t get enough water?” and encourage observation, prediction and curiosity. Families can reinforce lessons about science, nutrition and sustainability while enjoying hands-on discovery together.
Eddie’s Eco Garden
Dig, Discover and Grow!
-
- Dig in and explore a magical outdoor garden full of plants, vegetables and flowers.
- Discover a special fairy garden hidden among the greenery.
- Learn about plant growth, care and the natural world through hands-on experiences.
- Observe, touch and interact with nature in a playful, immersive way.
- Connect with the environment while exploring creativity and curiosity in a safe outdoor space.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore the garden alongside their children—talking about how plants grow, identifying flowers and vegetables and encouraging curiosity about nature. Adults can ask questions like, “What do plants need to grow?” or “Can you find all the different colors of flowers?” Families can enjoy hands-on exploration while fostering environmental awareness and a love for gardening.
The Great Outdoors
EdVenture Awaits—Just Step Outside!
-
- Make waves at the giant water table—creating lakes, building dams and floating boats through winding rapids.
- Climb aboard a larger-than-life prop plane and let imaginations take flight.
- Discover treasures through hands-on gem mining.
- Splash, explore and enjoy nature-based play experiences all around the outdoor space.
- Experiment with water flow, cause and effect and engineering concepts through interactive water features.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore this open-air space alongside their children, encouraging curiosity about nature, water and the world around them. Grown-ups can ask guiding questions (“What happens if we block the water here?” “How fast can your boat go?”) or join in imaginative EdVentures—piloting the plane, searching for gems or charting waterways together. This is a great place to support problem-solving, experimentation and outdoor play while getting fresh air as a family.
My Backyard
Big Discoveries for Our Smallest Explorers.
-
- Explore a tactile wonderland designed just for toddlers and early walkers.
- Climb a large tree structure, hide underneath and build confidence in gross motor skills.
- Set sail on the Little S.S. Shrimpy tugboat—dropping anchor, pretending to brave storms or steering the seas.
- Jump, stack and play in Pollywog Pond, filled with soft blocks and mats for safe climbing.
- Build towers or imaginative structures with soft materials.
- Discover climbing, sliding, hiding, and exploring in an environment made for tiny EdVenturers.
- Enjoy a dedicated family restroom and a quiet nursing area for comfort and convenience.
-
Parents and caregivers can support toddlers’ exploration by staying close, encouraging sensory play and celebrating new physical milestones. Ask simple questions (“Do you feel the soft blocks?” “Can you climb to the next branch?”) or join in imaginative moments aboard the mini boat. This calm, development-focused area is perfect for connecting, observing growth, and offering reassurance as little ones crawl, climb and explore safely.
The Cube
A Bright Beginning for Little Learners.
-
- Explore a vibrant, colorful, cube-shaped room designed especially for toddlers to learn through play.
- Practice early math concepts like colors, shapes, counting, sorting, and pattern recognition.
- Create with numbers, shapes, blocks, and hands-on materials in stations that inspire curiosity.
- Strengthen school-readiness skills through open-ended play that encourages problem-solving and creativity.
-
Parents and caregivers can explore this colorful space alongside their toddlers, helping them practice early learning skills like identifying colors, counting objects, naming shapes, and building simple patterns. Grownups can guide little hands as they stack, match, sort, and create—turning playful moments into meaningful learning. By encouraging curiosity, celebrating small successes and gently introducing new concepts, adults can help reinforce school-readiness skills while having fun together.
Flight
“EdVenture pilots! This is ground control. You are clear for landing!”
-
- Step into a stunning Boeing 757 cockpit that extends outside the building for a soaring view over the Congaree River and Gervais Street bridge, into West Columbia.
- Fly three interactive Boeing simulators for a hands-on piloting experience.
- Sit in real airplane seats with tray tables and watch looping aerial footage from a plane flying over Columbia and Lake Murray.
- Stand inside a massive Boeing 747 engine cowling to see the scale of modern aircraft.
- Explore a cockpit filled with kid-friendly controls, switches and levers.
- Build and test paper airplanes at an aerodynamics station and see which plane can fly further.
- Discover the forces of flight and learn about aviation careers—from pilots to engineers, ground control, and more.
-
Parents and caregivers can join young aviators as they explore the world of flight—talking together about how planes work, what pilots do and the many careers that make air travel possible. Encourage kids to test out the simulators, make predictions (“What happens if you turn this way?”) or fold and test paper airplanes, adjusting designs as they go. This space invites families to imagine EdVentures, spark curiosity and build early interest in STEM and aviation.
Draw Alive
Where Your Artwork Jumps Off the Page!
-
- Choose from a variety of coloring templates featuring characters, creatures, vehicles, and more.
- Color, customize and decorate their design using traditional art tools.
- Scan their completed artwork into the digital system.
- Watch with excitement as their creation animates instantly on a large, immersive screen.
- See their character interact with other guests’ artwork, encouraging collaboration and imagination.
- Explore the blend of art and technology while creating stories around their living masterpieces.
-
Parents and caregivers can join in the creative fun by coloring alongside their child, choosing templates together or talking through the creative choices their young artist makes. Ask questions like, “What should we name your character?” or “What do you think it will do once it comes alive?” Grown-ups can help with scanning the artwork, celebrate each animated creation on the big screen and encourage storytelling as children watch their drawings move, interact and explore the virtual world.
A-HA! Makerspace
Invent, Experiment, Create—Your Ideas Start Here.
-
- Tinker, invent and explore hands-on STEM activities at open-ended workstations.
- Use recycled materials to build contraptions, sculptures and artistic masterpieces.
- Explore baskets filled with a wide variety of “maker supplies” to inspire imagination.
- Stack giant blocks, experiment with magnets and engineer new creations.
- Follow their own creative path as they design, build and problem-solve independently.
-
Parents and caregivers can join their bigger kids in open-ended STEM play by brainstorming ideas together, helping gather materials or asking curiosity-sparking questions like, “What could you build next?” or “How could we make it stronger?” Adults can model problem-solving, encourage trial and error and celebrate creativity—not perfection. This is a space where families can build side by side, collaborate on inventions or simply explore tools and materials together.
Celebration Circle
Invent, Experiment, Create—Your Ideas Start Here.
-
- This special area was created to honor Prisma Health Children’s Hospital patients and professionals as a part of the museum’s mission of inclusion and accessibility for all.
- Celebration circle includes a Bravery Bell and a Memory Wall to honor the bravery and courage of each patient’s journey no matter where they are in their journey.
- It celebrates these patients, their families, and the healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to improving the quality of life for these children.
- EdVenture highlights these healthcare workers and careers in pediatric healthcare as part of their mission of workforce exploration
-
The Bravery Bell is a special bell located inside of Celebration Circle that is lowered during patient ceremonies. Traditionally, the meaning behind ringing a bell is to signify the end of treatment. However, EdVenture wants to redefine that meaning and give everyone the chance to ring the bell to celebrate their journey, regardless of where they are in their treatment. Because everyone who faces a chronic illness deserves to be honored and celebrated.
-
Inside Celebration Circle is a special Memory Wall where patients and their families can write special messages about their journey or experience. We hope this wall demonstrates the courage and bravery these patients and their families face every day during the challenge of a chronic health disease.
Birthdays are Big at Edventure!
It’s a party at EdVenture and YOU’RE INVITED! Celebrate your child’s special day with an epic party at EdVenture! Kid-tested. Grownup-approved.
EdVenture is not just for Kids!
EdVenture has extensive rental space suitable for corporate meetings, reunions, and even weddings! We invite you to explore our rental facilities below and contact us for more information or to book your event today!
Birthdays are Big at Edventure!
It’s a party at EdVenture and YOU’RE INVITED! Celebrate your child’s special day with an epic party at EdVenture! Kid-tested. Grownup-approved.
EdVenture is not just for Kids!
EdVenture has extensive rental space suitable for corporate meetings, reunions, and even weddings! We invite you to explore our rental facilities below and contact us for more information or to book your event today!
ready to let
your curiosity fly?
OUR PARTNERS
OUR PARTNERS