Contact:

Amy Peterson, 268-8580 Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

October 16, 2001

UNM WEMAGINATION CENTER TURNS WASTE TO WONDER

A unique partnership between business, education and the community, the University of New Mexico's Wemagination Center promotes hands-on, play-based learning through the creative reuse of recyclable materials.

Program Coordinator Amy Peterson says news of the center - a special project of the College of Education Family Development Program - is spread "word of mouth."

"The 'We' is open to any adult in the state who works with children," Peterson says, adding that the center is fast becoming a favorite haunt for parents, pre-kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers, grandparents and scout leaders.

Peterson gleefully guides visitors to a roomful of plastic bins filled with rejects, overruns, samples, discontinued and surplus items donated from a national network of businesses. She explains that the only thing standing between artists and the brightly colored objects is an evocative, two-hour orientation "play experience."

"Children learn best by constructing their own knowledge. We afford adults the same opportunity," she says.

Fees are minimal for access to the vast array of materials, which are used to engage children in the process of learning - from math equations to literacy lessons.

A transplant from Chicago, Peterson was recruited to New Mexico five years ago by Family Development Program staff Michael LaFlamme to help launch Wemagination. Peterson completes her master's in elementary education with an emphasis in early childhood multicultural education in the spring. "I asked if I could get it in junk and they said 'no,'" she says.

A founding member of the national Reusable Resources Association, Peterson is serious about improving the world's natural environment. "It's a win-win. The businesses love giving the stuff and the participants love reusing it," she says.

Peterson says a common misconception is that the center's audience is preschoolers. "The materials can be used from birth to age 99," she says, recalling a story about a group of high school students from a local community center. "The student who came in with the biggest attitude was the one who later said 'I would want to go to school if my classes were like this.' It's nice when they make that connection and realize there is more to learning."

The Wemagination Center, 4010 Copper NE, will host a special event Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The prerequisite orientation will be waived. Materials will be available for $10.

Regular hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call 268-8580 or contact wedonate@unm.edu

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The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981