At the Rochester Museum and Science Center, there is an exhibit that illustrates one of the most important and powerful parts of our environment: water. Water shapes our environment, influences our weather, and is one of the most important parts of how we live. We depend on it for growing food, traveling, and powering our homes. At RMSC, the Wonders of Water exhibit shows all the incredible ways that water affects our environment and how we depend on it. But there is one part of this exhibit that allows you to actually touch and see how interesting water is. The “water table” is a fifteen-footlong interactive part of the exhibit that allows visitors to use their hands and learn about all the fascinating things there is to learn about water. At the water table, water flows from one end to another, like a river. Within the table, there are all kinds of different toys and activities that let visitors get hands-on and explore the use of water across our region. Calvin Uzelmeier from the RMSC talked to (585) Kids about all the exciting things that visitors can do at the water table. “The new water table is filled with all kinds of opportunities to play with water in ways that reflect aspects of how water is important to our community. On one side, the water flows like a river around landforms like rocks and hills that you can move around to change the water’s path,” Uzelmeier says. “At the end of the river is a hydroelectric plant. [Visitors can] change how much water flows through the plant to turn a turbine and generate electricity.” Each and every part of the table features a fun way to learn about water and how it connects to our real world. At the table, visitors can see how water moves around different obstacles, which shows how lakes and rivers shape the landscape. You can also use tubes and hoses to make your own waterpark out of a model fire hydrant, which people in cities often do during hot summers. Also, you get to see how fishing can be fun and relaxing but also important for food. “Each play experience built into the water table reflects an important role water plays in our community,” says Uzelmeier. You get to see how we use water to power our communities and how it influences our environment. It shows how water is crucial to us as a source of food and can also be used for travel. Most importantly, it shows how we need to protect and take care of our water sources. Water takes care of us, so by reducing pollution and spreading awareness we can take care of it too. “Visitors can go fishing at one end of the table and try to catch some magnetic fish. At the other end is a giant storm-drain whirlpool. Everyone loves to place objects like toy fish, boats, or the Lego blocks in the whirlpool, but storm drain markers remind us ‘Keep clean. Drains to lake,’ so you can use some toy nets to scoop out objects.” says Uzelmeier. At the water table, you’ll be able to see, touch, and learn all about the important and fascinating properties of water and how we rely on it.
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