History

Imagination Station (formerly known as COSI Toledo) is a hands-on science center located on the riverfront in downtown Toledo that has welcomed over 3 million visitors since originally opening in 1997. The science center has faced some serious financial challenges, but it is with great anticipation and excitement that we will be reopening in the fall of 2009. The passage of a .17 mil operating levy in Lucas County on November 4, 2008 is one component of our newly secured funding. In addition, local business leaders, including Buckeye CableSystem, First Solar and British Petroleum have pledged funding for new experiences inside the facility. This places Imagination Station in a unique position to reopen in our community featuring all the experiences that visitors came to love with the addition of new exhibits to excite a new generation of learners. The science center will still be structured around Learning Worlds, distinctly themed areas that immerse visitors in a multi-sensory experience that engages all levels of understanding. Partnerships with area businesses will feature new experiences focused on topics such as alternative energy, the health sciences and energy efficiency. Imagination Station is currently working with our partners in the business community to design and implement these new experiences for our guests. In addition the monetary support of local businesses, we are also excited for their leadership support as well. Chip Hambro, former Chief Operating Officer of First Solar, is generously donating his time as interim Chief Executive Officer for Imagination Station. Volunteering his time as interim Chief Financial Officer is Dan Frick, retired Toledo Office Managing Partner at Ernst and Young, Toledo office.

The following are programs and experiences offered at the science center prior to closing. These are experiences that align with our mission of inspiring wonder in children about science and technology to prepare them for lives and jobs in our knowledge-based economy.

Community Outreach

Due to transportation and budgetary challenges, the field trip has become less accessible for educators. Imagination Station has responded to this challenge with our educational outreach programs. We offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of grades Pre-K through 12. Our Extreme Science Day is a full day experience for an entire school. This program features an hour-long demonstration that covers a variety of topics including combustion, physical and chemical changes, sound and laboratory safety. After the demonstration, students have the opportunity to visit inquiry-based activity stations to explore different scientific concepts on their own. We also offer a more intensive classroom workshop for grades Pre-K through 12 in a variety of different topics including chemistry, fossils, forces and motion, structures and alternative energy. These programs are all aligned to Ohio Academic Content Standards and teachers are provided with pre and post activities.

Interactive Distance Learning

IDL sessions were also delivered to students all over the world. In fact, our programming has been delivered on every continent, even Antarctica! This program was acknowledged in 2006 and 2007 as a Teachers’ Choice Award Winner for Top Science Museum Content Provider. In addition, this program was awarded the New Links to New Learning Favorite Content Provider for 2006-2007. Since opening in March of 2007, our outreach programs have served over 200,000 students in Northwest Ohio and around the world.

Science Studio

An exhibit space with a rich supply of enticing and creative materials and tools for science experiments. Operated by team and volunteers trained in the techniques of guiding science inquiry and fostering small group collaboration and discussion, families are engaged in open-ended exploration that leads to asking their own questions and, through support and facilitation, systematically answering these questions. The Science Studio is an ever-changing space and offers diversity for the frequent guest. The open format of the Studio allows for visitors to pose questions and receive an answer through his or her own hands-on exploration. It also serves as a forum for the community to discuss current topics in the sciences. Through projects, activities and presentations by invited guests, this space connects science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the community.

Inquiry Institute

In partnership with districts such as Toledo Public Schools, Lucas County Schools and Springfield Local Schools, the science center provided teacher professional development and curriculum enhancement support in critical hands-on and inquiry based science learning methods. The spirit of collaboration created by Project ISIS enabled us to develop our partnership with Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and The Northwest Ohio Center of Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education (NWO). ISIS partnered with NWO to provide hands-on, inquiry outreach opportunities for schools participating in this high quality, inquiry math and science program.

As we reopen on October 10, 2009, Imagination Station is committed to providing the best possible experience to our visitors. In an effort to remain fiscally prudent and grow slowly, the science center will open offering limited programs in relation to our previous offerings. Certain experiences, such as our Community Outreach and Science Studio, will be an important component of our opening. Other programs, such as UPCLOSE and the Inquiry Institute, will not be offered when we initially reopen. We are currently in the process of hiring grant writers to secure funding sources for these programs so that we can offer a broader catalog of programs in the near future.