BY GLENDA WINDERS
The Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting honors the mascots of college and professional teams, and it also gives kids a place to go and lots to do when the weather doesn’t allow them to go outside. In this hub of family fun, kids from 4 to 12 will engage in STEAM-based activities, learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math while they discover what it takes to be a team mascot.
The fun begins at Mascot University, with resident mascot Reggy explaining what they’re about to do at the Fureshman Orientation Theater. From there choices include the Science of Silliness Lab, where they can learn what mascot costumes weigh and how much energy it takes to perform while wearing the heavy gear. They can watch how a costume is made and play interactive games such as “Fit to Be Funny,” where they’ll need to make healthy food choices in order to win a race against a mascot competitor.
“Where Are They From?” challenges young visitors to match mascots with their hometowns, and Mascot Moments, Brushes With Greatness and Through History exhibits enable them to find out more about mascots they’ve only seen on TV. They’ll have the opportunity to design a mascot, take part in an audition that they can record and shoot the T-shirt cannon into the audience, just like real mascots do.
After all that thinking and learning, a workout on the Sports Court will be just the ticket. Here they can play basketball, hockey, soccer, football and baseball. Or they can climb a giant jungle gym at a state-of-the-art playground.
Some days team mascots come to visit. Clark the Cub from the Chicago Cubs will appear on Jan. 7, DIBS from DePaul University will visit on Jan. 21, and others are planned throughout the year.
For more information, check www.mascothalloffame.com, Facebook at mascothalloffame, Instagram at @mascothall and Twitter at @mascothall.
