SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Located at 23-25 Main Street in Springfield, VRmont Studios recently launched the Play Lab, an innovative, interactive space where kids can play, build, explore, and learn, in a safe and supervised environment. The new lab is open every Thursday and Friday, from 4-8 p.m., and every Saturday and Sunday, from 12-8 p.m.
Officially opening its doors on Aug. 28, the Play Lab is a hands-on, science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) discovery space for young creators, offering a variety of options including Lego free play, Minecraft, Nintendo Switch, and more.
The hands-on approach of STEAM can be described as a lab atmosphere which focuses on education, technology, corporate team building, and perhaps most importantly, career pathways for students and young adults.
A project of Springfield’s Black River Innovation Campus, VRmont Studios is a 5,000-square-foot learning space designed for learners of all ages, engaging students in artistic creation, problem solving, and career exploration and workforce development.
The studio offers virtual reality escape rooms, arcade games, drone soccer, hands-on workshops, and a makerspace complete with 3D printing, vinyl and laser cutting, and heat pressing.
The self-guided coding and game-design computer lab offers several industry-standard tools, including MakeCode Arcade, Delightex, Scratch, and the aforementioned Minecraft EDU. Play Lab also offers 3D and hardware design and printing, including TinkerCAD and physical electronics using Microbit hardware.
Young people can also dive into the intersection of science and art with Play Lab’s custom installations, through the mixing of digital colors from memory with the RGB color wall. Another favorite is the Lego Zone builder tables, equipped with thousands of colorful bricks for collaborative building and engineering challenges.
There is a small fee per person to access the lab, and a parent or guardian must stay with the child. Additionally, for frequent visitors, an annual family membership is also available, which includes savings on VRmont’s escape rooms, after-school programs, birthday parties, summer camps, workshops, and more. This flexible membership program allows families to enjoy VRmont Studios year-round, and business members save on team-building events and private space rentals.