Goshen’s beloved family theme park LEGOLAND New York is joining forces with Merlin’s Magic Wand Foundation to celebrate the building ‘bricks’ of knowledge with the launch of a new collaborative Magic Space at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center in Newburgh. The new LEGO-themed classroom will invite children at the center to embrace play and creativity through a 12-week-long LEGO-inspired curriculum led by local volunteers.
Merlin’s Magic Wand is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports children during tough times and enables them to live out their dreams. The organization works globally across all its attractions, which include LEGOLAND, Madame Tussauds, and SEA LIFE Aquariums, to collaborate on its three magical programs: Magical Days Out, Magic on Tour, and Merlin’s Magic Spaces.
View this post on Instagram
As a Magic Space, the Newburgh classroom will bring the magic of LEGOLAND to children and communities who may not be able to experience it in person. The highly themed, interactive space will seek to serve children who need magic the most while also educating in a fun way. The program’s 12th themed space, the Newburgh Armory Unity Center classroom is a collaborative effort between the team at LEGOLAND New York and the Merlin Magic Making Studio.
The Newburgh Armory Unity Center houses educational classes for children every Saturday, featuring courses in culinary arts, robotics, sewing, math, sports, and reading. The center previously had a “LEGO Room” in which volunteers taught STEAM classes with LEGO bricks, so Merlin’s Magic Wand Foundation is working with its fellow creative teams to enhance this existing space into a fully designed and furnished classroom.
View this post on Instagram
As a part of this effort, the new Magic Space will include LEGO educational sets and curriculum, new television sets, desks, chairs, storage, and, of course, more LEGO bricks. Each class will welcome 20 children on average, with four classes to run each Saturday. The classroom will debut its first session at 9 a.m. on February 24, following the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Magic Space. The grand opening of the classroom will also feature a presentation of a mini LEGO replica of the Newburgh Armory Unity Center built by a LEGO master model builder.
The Newburgh Armory Unity Center is located at 321 South William Street in Newburgh.
Related: Mirbeau Inn & Spa Gets Forbes Nod Ahead of Beacon Expansion
