INK is a hot spot for a variety of school field trips, church groups, mom’s groups, child care centers and homeschool students.
This museum is geared towards visitors ages 2 – 12 and is specifically designed to offer an unparalleled educational experience. They are more than a “destination”, rather, we strive to let your child’s imagination run wild while learning about the world around them. INK’s hands-on, interactive exhibits are structured in a way that lets each visitor touch and feels the “real world”.
INK provides a professional work environment that is challenging, rewarding, creative and respectful of ideas and individuals. They are a one-of-a-kind Museum, serving hundreds of thousands of families, all the while celebrating childhood, family, and community.
Museum Exhibits
GrandPappy Airlines
GrandPappy Airlines features an older full-sized 1955 Aero Commander 560 aircraft that allows your child to experience the inner workings of a real airplane! Visit the check-in counter to create the whole experience of going to the airport and getting on the plane.
Family Playhouse
This 20′ x 20′ colorful modular play system is ready for kids to explore, climb, slide and crawl through the brightly colored maze featuring cargo nets and a cobra copter.
Medical Clinic
Be a doctor, nurse or a patient in our INK Medical Clinic sponsored by Northeast Georgia Health Systems. This exhibit provides a place where children can practice going to the doctor or the dentist. The exhibit also features an examination table, scrubs, and pretend stethoscopes.
Gainesville Radiology Department
Your child can check out real x-rays in our Gainesville Radiology Group exhibit using actual x-rays or radiographs on an x-ray light board or on the PC. Parents and teachers can explain to the children the procedure of how an x-ray is completed. Visitors then can gain a better understanding of and how the Radiologist analyzes the images, reaches a diagnosis and then advises other doctors on necessary treatment.
Dentist Office
Most children don’t enjoy trips to the dentist but with this interactive exhibit, they can be the dentist! Parents can teach children about proper dental hygiene in this non-threatening environment that features a real dentist chair and x-ray light box.
SunTrust For Kids
In our Kids SunTrust branch, your child can interact with a magical talking coin. Children can learn how money doesn’t grow on trees and how an ATM machine operates. Practice handling money as you help your children fill out bank deposit slips, count money, and make deposits. Also, your child can visit the bank’s vault to learn what’s really in the vault. Kids can use the money they cash out from the ATM machine to get a gift in our INK Gift Store.
Jane Green Beauty Salon
Let your child become the hair stylist or stylee in this fun exhibit. Equipped with salon chairs and even a few mannequins, our Jane Green Beauty Salon is sure to be fun.
J&J Foods Grocery Store
Shop and check out groceries in our pint-sized J&J Foods grocery store. Children can fill child-size shopping carts with a variety of food items, pretend to scan their groceries, check out at the register and bag the groceries. Even be a store clerk and reshelve items to their proper places. Parents and teachers can teach children how to pick out healthy foods. Let your child practice their social skills by being the checkout clerk or the customer with this interactive experience.
Post Office
Put on one of our US Postal uniforms donated by the Gainesville, Georgia US Post Office to sort and deliver mail. Drop your letter into our original early 1900’s mailbox!
Castle Room / Preschool Paradise
This carpeted play space is designed for our four-year-old and under visitors. Children can crawl through a tunnel; explore colorful objects, toys, and games, and walk (or crawl) into our castle and slide down to a safe padded area
INK’s Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studio
Create your own pottery masterpiece at Interactive Neighborhood for Kids’ Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studio! For an additional cost, you and your child can paint your own pottery…no experience required. Pick up a paintbrush and get started. Also, if you can’t visit our museum, but are still interested in pottery, we can do that too! INK’s Paint-Your-Own Pottery Studio is also available as part of one of INK’s many birthday party packages and a great addition to any field trip.
Buddy – Building a Healthy Body Exhibit
Created from funds from the 2007 Northeast Georgia Medical Center Foundation Golf Tournament, this exhibit allows your child to experience the inner workings of their own body. Meet BUDDY, our 60′ long boy. His giant smiling face welcomes you to lend a hand to Building a Healthy Body. Featuring organ replicas, a fat versus muscle kiosk, video kiosks and interactive learning about the various food groups, this exhibit is fun for the entire family.
Courtroom
Learn about the Judicial System. Role Play: Judge, Attorney, or Jury Member!
Hall County Sheriff’s Authentic Car
This exhibit features an actual Hall County Sheriff’s Car where your children can be the police officer. Turn on the car’s flashing lights and sirens and drive away with your imagination.
1927 American LaFrance FireTruck
Young and old can climb aboard a real 1927 American LaFrance Fire Truck. This authentic fire truck, known as “Leaping Lena” was the only fire truck to survive the 1936 tornado that destroyed the majority of the Gainesville Town Square (on permanent loan from the City of Gainesville).
Train and Train Set
Hop aboard the INK train for a trip through your imagination! Kids can make belief to be a train conductor. Other features of our train exhibit include two Thomas the Train® tables, a make-believe train, and a large train table with all the bells and whistles of an actual train. Press the buttons to make the city come alive with a car wash, restaurant drive-thru, construction site and more!
50’s Café
Let’s go to the hop! Children can pretend to work in a restaurant as a cashier, a cook, or a waiter/waitress. Parents can sit at a booth or at the lunch counter while children learn how to prepare and serve balanced meals. Everyone can have fun twisting to the tunes on our authentic jukebox. This is one of our most popular exhibits.
Vet Clinic by Animal Medical Care
Pretend to be a vet in our Animal Medical Care Vet’s Office. Learn about animal health and examine our cute animals.
Stage
Ever wanted to be an actor/actress? Let your child do just that with our interactive stage. With a variety of costumes, let your child be the playwright and put on a show just for you!
Restrooms, Water Fountains, Concessions
Our restrooms and water fountains are located at the front of the museum. Don’t forget to pay a visit to our Gift Shop and INK’s Pottery while you are here! Drinks and snacks are for sale at the front admissions desk.
Dairy Farm by Southeast Dairy Association
INK’s Dairy Farm includes Haylee the Hen that talks about all kinds of fun facts about chickens at the push of a button. Be sure and milk Buttercup our own custom milking cow. Then visit the “movie” room to find out the process to get milk from the cow to your table and ready to drink.
Music Room by Sardis Elementary School
I great area to try out all sorts of musical instruments. From drums, shakers, to even a piano and an organ.
Born Learning Trail by United Way of Hall County
You will find this exhibit just outside our front doors. Learn all kinds of ways to stay active with your child.
American Red Cross Exhibit
Emergency preparedness is very important for all of us to learn. The exhibit includes a video which helps us understand better what may happen during a weather emergency and what we need to do to stay safe.
If you are interested in bringing your school or group to Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, click here http://www.inkfun.org/
Author: millie
Front Desk Manager