News
 
Mess Wright

 

If you read my personal blog, you've already heard: The Lab at Lakewood is closing on August 26. This is purely a financial decision. We have received many questions about the future. Please understand that I am in a sort of "limbo" today. However, here are a few things I can report at this time:

-There is a Montessori School moving into the space on Junius Street. 

-We are negotiating an agreement with the owner of the school. It is our hope that we will offer limited camps there in the Fall, Winter and Spring. As soon as we have reached an agreement, we will update The Lab website, and we will send out an email and post the details on Facebook. If anyone wants to offer us temporary, affordable space further North for "pop-up camps," I am interested.

-The Lab will be going mobile! Most of our experienced staff has graduated high school and college and are moving away. For this reason, We will be offering PARTIES AT YOUR LOCATION, but the offering will be very limited. If you are planning a party September - December 2013, and you think you would like Canaan and Me to come host a science party, we will only be available TWO DAYS A MONTH. For the most part, we will be available on 1st and 3rd Saturdays. (If you need a Sunday for religious/family/sports reasons, just ask.) The best thing you can do is email us a date and time now. As always, party times are 10:00am, 1:00pm, 4:00pm. Pricing is as listed on the website's Party Page.

I have said this a million times, but I am extremely grateful for our customers and supporters. This was a difficult decision, but it was the best decision for my family and our future. (I'm not finished, though!)

 

Melissa "Mess" Wright
Proprietor, The Lab at Lakewood
Mess Wright

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."

-Dorothy Parker

Let's keep Lab Rats (big ones and small ones) busy this Summer. Friday Night "Block Parties" are my best idea to curb warm weather boredom. Part camp, part party, part Parent's Nights Out: June Fridays are sure to be a blast!

Drop your school-aged kiddos at The Lab Friday evenings for some loose-parts play: Big Blocks, Life-sized Angry Birds, building with cardboard, Marble Run, Tinker Toys, and Lego sets galore.

June 7, 14, 21 and 28. 7:00pm - 10:00pm $ 30.00, dinner included. (Or pay $100.00 for all four nights. Must pre-pay to reserve a spot. Sorry, no refunds or credits for missed event nights, as availability will be very limited.) 

Call The Lab at Lakewood: 214-901-4280 or email today: info@thelabdallas.com

I cannot wait to spend time with your babies this Summer! ~Mess

Mess Wright

 

The Lab at Lakewood, in partnership with Garden Cafe, is proud to be a stop on this year's "A Peep at the Coops" urban chicken coop tour.

Proceeds from this annual event provide science enrichment and equipment to kids at Stonewall Jackson Elementary for their learning garden.

The Stonewall Gardens project is entirely supported by the community, and The Lab is thrilled to offer our support.

 

 

That's why, this year, we will be having an Open House just for "peepers." 

 

 

Sunshine Moving In, Spring 2012

 

Begin the tour at Stonewall Gardens this Sunday, May 5 (event takes place from 11:00am - 5:00pm), pay $ 5.00 for your map, and enjoy food trucks, demonstrations and shopping in their marketplace.

When you make your way over to Junius Street, you can hang at Garden Cafe for a bit, shop at Little Bean, and stop into The Lab at Lakewood for some hands-on animal science and fluffy, yellow cotton candy (make it yourself, if you dare).

We will also be offering two additional spots in each of our Sold Out Summer Camps  (Sunday only!) as well as special discounts on the four camps that have not sold to capacity yet.

Hope to see you in East Dallas this weekend for this special event!

 

 

 

More fun things you can do:

Run through the garden!

Run through the garden and play in the park!

 

Learn about Insect Life Cycles with our live insects.

 

Cook some fresh eggs in a solar oven.

Mess Wright

Here's a look at next week's Spring Break Program at The Lab at Lakewood. The morning session is sold out; we can take a few more campers in the afternoon session. If you know someone who wants to attend thr re-run of camp the week of March 25th, have them give us a call: 214-901-4280.

 

THE LAB AT LAKEWOOD SPRING CAMP 2013 OVERVIEW**

Morning Session: Animals LIVE!  9:00am – 12:30pm

Afternoon Session: Cooking is Science 1:30pm-5:00pm

  

MONDAY, MARCH 11

MorningIn the Forest: Animal Tracks and Mold Making, Scat replicas, Begin Birds of Prey, Trail mix prep, Weasels and small mammals, too

AfternoonHot & Cold: Kona Ice Truck Tour, Carbonation, Popcorn & Cotton Candy

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 12

MorningNocturnal Creatures: Continue Birds of Prey, Owl Pellet Dissection, Bats, Iron and Paint Conducts Bat House Building Project, Bat House decorating

AfternoonPlucked from the Garden: Chicken Coop Tour, Baby Chick and Chicken Care, Garden Treat preparation by Mark Wootton inside the Garden Café

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13

MorningInsects and Garden Pests: Slugs, Texas Worm Ranch bins, Edible Insects, Texas Honeybee Guild presentation, life cycles.

AfternoonCoffee and Tea: Making Bubble Tea, Visit and presentation by Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, “Worm Tea” and compost discussion, time permitting

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 14 

MorningReptiles and Amphibians: Hands-On with all (both turtles, dragon, snake, both frogs) snake craft, live feedings

Afternoon –  Health Food: Paul Quinn produce, planting, The Garden Lady visits, picking and drying herbs with Dale Wootton, organic drink making bar

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

MorningAnimal Camp Wrap-Up: other animals, including chickens

AfternoonChemistry in the Kitchen with Chad Houser/Café Momentum; Melissa to demonstrate “Edible Polymers”, kids to make solutions, etc.

 (**subject to change without notice)

Mess Wright

Summer Camps 2013       Choose from 12 week-long Science camps.
 
The perfect Summer Break diversion for your budding science geek!
 
June 3-7         ECO CAMP  – From Oil Spill simulations to powering towns with Solar Energy to real plastics and paper Recycling projects, this camp sends the message that kids can make a difference.
 
June 10-14       ANIMALS: LIVE! - Explore habitats, behavior and history of your favorite friends. Campers will get hands-on with insects, reptiles and small mammals. We will also make animal track molds and build bat houses.
 
June 17-21       CHEMISTRY KIDS – Get mad about molecules! Slime, Dry Ice, and chemical reactions galore. Camp includes lots of cool take-home items, too, like tie-dyed t-shirts, waves in a bottle, and fun polymers.
 
June 24 -28     LET’S GET PHYSICAL!  - Rockets, and Bridges, and Air, oh my! This camp will combine physical science and engineering. Great for math geeks, too!  Campers are encouraged to bring Nerf toys for daily play.
 
July 1-3           SPLASH WEEK – Cool off with all things water! Campers can bring along a swimsuit for a few days of outdoor experiments and plain old “fun in the sun.”  We will work together to make giant bubbles!
 
July 8-12        SCI: Science Camp Investigates – We’ll be collecting evidence, learning how our bodies and brains work and finding out how best to “crack the case.” This camp is great for kids who love spy techniques.  
 
July 15-19       CHEMISTRY KIDS – Get mad about molecules! Slime, Dry Ice, and chemical reactions galore. Camp includes lots of cool take-home items, too, like tie-dyed t-shirts, waves in a bottle, and fun polymers.
 
July 22-26       RYLIE’S CAMP – Inspired by Leonardo DaVinci’s notebooks, campers will make a Water Balloon Catapault, Sugar Cube Castle, hand-made “flippers”, giant Vitruvian selves and more!
 
July 29-Aug 2  SCIENCE OF MAGIC – Explosions! Illusions! Tricks! Campers will learn to perform several  magic tricks, then they will learn the science behind the "magic."                                                     
 
Aug 5-Aug 9    BEST OF CAMP – The Lab Rats’ favorite days of each camp – all in one week! Experience chemistry, physics, art and more. Great take-home items, too.
 
Aug 12-16        SPECIAL FX - Lights, Camera, Action! This camp focuses on the special effects of movies, videos and some of your favorite games and cartoons. Campers will invent an original piece using knowledge gained.
 
Aug 19-23        COOKING IS SCIENCE – Campers will pluck veggies and herbs from the garden to prepare meals and snacks. Special appearances by local chefs and food artisans, heat up this fun camp.
 
       
Reserve your spot today! Limited availability.           Camps run daily 9:30am – 2:00pm.  
All camps are $ 250.00 for the week. (Please inquire if you need extended day.)      Snacks provided. 
Campers should bring a lunch each day.     Programming best suited for 5-12 years of age. 
For more information, or to register, call or email:
 
The Lab at Lakewood        5304 Junius Street, Dallas, Tx 75214
214-901-4280      www.thelabdallas.com      info@thelabdallas.com
 

 

 

Mess Wright

We are so grateful to Leslie Minora at Dallas Morning News for a great article about The Lab at Lakewood. Please pick-up a copy of the newspaper today, and check out the Metro section.

If you miss it, the story can be read here.

Please share this article with a friend!

Mess Wright

 

The Lab at Lakewood Announces

2013 Spring Break Programming

 

Registration Begins

Wednesday, January 23

 

Spring Break Camp is our most popular kids camp every year. 2013 will feature a Morning Session, an Afternoon Session, and finally, a Full-Day Option. The Lab is also running Spring Camp twice this year to accommodate all Dallas school children during their holiday. Registration begins Wednesday, January 23, 2013. It will end when all 24 spots are taken.

Morning Session: Animals LIVE!

This session will explore habitats, behaviors and history of critters of all types. Campers will get hands-on with insects, reptiles and small mammals. Camp also features fun activities like animal track mold-making, owl pellet dissection, bat house building, chicken raising and so much more! Special appearances by Texas Honeybee Guild, Stew Cockrell of Iron and Paint and the Texas Worm Ranch worms. Kids will spend one hour a day in an “Outdoor Classroom” which includes a greenhouse, chicken coop, giant compost bin and green space. ($ 200.00)

Monday, March 11 - Friday, March 15      9:00am - 12:30pm

or

Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29      9:00am - 12:30pm

  

 

Afternoon Session: Cooking is Science!

This camp is bound to bring out a child’s “inner chef” and enhance tiny green thumbs. Campers will be plucking veggies and herbs from Dale Wootton’s garden and learning the chemistry behind some of their favorite snacks. Campers will also construct solar ovens, harvest produce, tour the Big D Kona Ice trucks, make boba teas, and more. Part of the camp will take place in the Garden Cafe. Special appearances by Chad Houser of Cafe Momentum, Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, “Garden Lady” Andrea Bithell of Oak Cliff Organics, and of course, a special snack planted, plcked and prepared by chef Mark Wootton. ($ 200.00)

Monday, March 11 - Friday, March 15      1:30pm - 5:00pm

or

Monday, March 25 - Friday, March 29      1:30pm - 5:00pm

 

 

 

 

Please call The Lab at 214-901-4280 or email info@thelabdallas.com to register. Full-day program is $425.00 and requires pre-approval by Melissa Wright and a sack lunch.  

Camp is appropriate for school-aged kids. Visit www.thelabdallas.com for more about The Lab.

 

Mess Wright

Open House, "Meet The Lab Rats"

This Sunday, December 2     11:00am - 3:00pm

at The Lab at Lakewood     5304 Junius Street

Come by for coffee, cocoa and coupons! Meet all of our Lab Rats, old ones and new ones and hear about their personal interests as well as their favorite Lab programs. We will give away a few coupons for Spring and Summer programs, too!

This month's craft is a favorite from DaVinci Camp:FLIPPERS! The potato gun will be launching some homemade parachutes in the park. And of course, there will be slime and snow.

While we typically do not charge for Open Houses, we are asking for $ 5.00 per guest or $ 10.00 per family at the door. We recently suffered some theft, and we need to replace some of our equipment. You can read more about the recent break-in on Melissa's blog.

Mess Wright

Join us this Friday, November 16 for

Parents Night Out!

"An Evening of Chemistry"

6:00pm - 9:00pm

This evening will feature Lab Camp favorites like slime-making, dry ice experiments and more. Campers get to experience these activities and others at their own pace. Kid-friendly dinner included!

$ 65.00 per child.

Please call now to reserve your spot, we cannot take credit cards the night of the event, only cash or check. We would love to see you all!

Mess Wright

Hello, friends!

I miss you all so much. I am thrilled about the upcoming holiday camps because I will see your babies' sweet faces; lucky me!

Our focus this weekend, however, will be on our booth at the Lakewood Home Festival Market. This is the one time a year that we peddle Slime, Water Buddy beads and absorbent "Snow" prepackaged for at-home-play. 

The Lakewood Home Festival is a great opportunity to "Shop Local"; we hope to see you there!

-Mess Wright