July 18, 2025 • 38 mins
What happens when childhood curiosity meets visionary educational design? Holland Hayden returns to reveal how the Amazeum is transforming Northwest Arkansas through play-based learning and community connection.
Dive into the prehistoric world of "Roar & Explore with Dinosaurs," where massive animatronic creatures roar through lush jungle settings while children build fossils and test their dinosaur knowledge. But that's just the beginning – Holland shares exclusive details about upcoming exhibits including "Namaste India" opening Sept. 27 and a future Mo Willems art exhibition that will delight both children and adults.
The heart of our conversation centers on the Amazeum's groundbreaking $25 million "EXP&ING Futures" campaign. This ambitious project will create three new spaces: an Early Learning Advancement Center focusing on crucial development for ages 0-6, The Hangout providing community connection space, and an expanded Backyard for outdoor discovery. With construction underway after a colorful groundbreaking featuring rainbow sand and tie-dye hard hats, the project promises to revolutionize how families experience learning together.
Whether you're planning to attend Tinkerfest in October (where you can take apart cars with real tools), curious about adult-only museum nights, or wondering how "Priceless Nights" make the museum accessible to all, this conversation reveals why the Amazeum has become the beating heart of creative learning in Northwest Arkansas.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey everybody, welcome back to part two of The
3W Podcast with my friendHolland Hayden from the Amazeum.
Holland, welcome back again.
Thank you Again.
Again, again, again again.
Holland joined us in part onewhich aired a couple weeks ago
and I hope you all joined the10-year birthday bash at the
Amazeum on July 12th.
(00:24):
But now we're going to talk allthings just normal, amazing,
awesome, Amazeum, perfect, loveit.
First and foremost, dinosaursoh yeah, they have been here
since Memorial Weekend.
They've been here a little.
While they roll out, they kindof become extinct.
I guess.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
September 15th, mid-september, yeah, so Roar and
Explore with Dinosaurs is ourlatest traveling exhibit.
It has interactive exhibitportions where you can build
your own dinosaur fossil Super.
You can learn more aboutdinosaurs in a little
interactive quiz, and then wehave these huge animatronic,
(01:02):
loud dinosaurs.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
So when you walk into the Amazeum.
You walk in and you turn to theright past the rainbow
staircase.
Is it kind of back to?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
the left it is.
It's a regular travelingexhibits.
Okay, so it's about 5 000square feet of area that we use
to create this like fun,interactive, almost jungly area.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, so I was telling you off air.
I have not been yet, but Ireally want to go and I want to
take the boys and some of theirlittle friends.
It looks from the photos, thesocial media, it looks very lush
, it is.
It is, oh my goodness, likeyou're in Jurassic Park.
We had some great, which istimely because one comes out at
the beginning of July.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
It does it does.
It's perfect.
I know we worked with a greatplant sponsor, botanical Plant
Company, okay and so they wereable to provide plants which
really made it come alive,absolutely.
We have some great backdrops,we have fun mulch, we have
things, and these animatronicdinosaurs are really cool and
look very I mean, as realisticas we know.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Of course, right.
What do we know?
This was multi-million yearsago.
They're so realistic.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Just like the one I saw last week.
Clearly a scientist in me,paleontologist Indeed, I mean
honestly, you can do a little.
Imagine it to play and pretendyou're a paleontologist, you're
done.
Go get all your notes, yourfield notes, so you can learn
about the velociraptor, theankylosaurus, the T-Rex, the
little T-Rex oh, you have a babyT-Rex.
(02:32):
We do have a baby T-Rex and,like I said, they're loud.
The other day I was walkingthrough the Amazeum with a
co-worker and it was a day thatwe were closed and I didn't
think anything about it.
Which is Tuesday Dark on.
Tuesday Correct, and we walkedpast him going to another
exhibition and I mean it scaredthe pants off.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Roar, I mean so loud Because you're like you're not
dark today.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, we just didn't think we both jumped, so there's
some force behind those roars.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I love it and it's been a really loud.
It is but like but notintimidating, no, but in a new
loud way, like the museum's loudin the best way, right, because
there's a million differentthings happening all at the same
time.
But this is a unique noise.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It definitely is Right, and it's a lot of fun to
hear because you can hear itthroughout the museum, and of
fun to hear because you can hearit throughout the museum.
Um, and, and kids of all ageslike this and parents really
like this one, I'm sure.
So it's really fun to see thekids coming decked out in their
dinosaur stuff oh, we do havethat costume, we have a lot of
cute t-shirts with the dinosaurson even earrings, everything
(03:40):
where kids coming in and they'reready to be their own little
paleontologist and learn moreabout dinosaurs and get there
and go.
It's fun to see these littleexperts come in and go.
Oh yeah, I'll tell you aboutthis ankylosaurus and I'll go
tell me.
Tell me, please do so, and theysay it with massive conviction I
mean, that's all truth, yeahand what's really fun, too, is
(04:02):
we have a lot of things that inthe store that support our
exhibit.
So if you don't have a lot ofdinosaur stuff at home, you can
get it in the store and it makesgreat birthday gifts.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
It sure does.
That's one of my favoritethings from last year's podcast.
Yes, the store has greatbirthday presents.
Yes, and they'll wrap it foryou.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yes, which I love.
Great birthday presents.
Yes, and they'll wrap it foryou.
Yes, which I love Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So I really do encourage everybody to come
before September 15th before ournext traveling exhibit.
Are you revealing any travelingexhibits?
Sure, I'm happy to talk to youabout it.
Yes, okay.
So this coming one after Roarand Explore is called Namaste
India.
So we're going to be workingwith the Rave Cultural
Foundation to do some really funprogramming about it.
I have even specific notes forit because it's brand new.
(04:49):
I am a note girl because I justwant to make sure I have it all
so you can dine at Adaba, theroadside cafe, you can learn a
little bit about cricket, aboutBollywood, about a day in an
Indian school.
So it's really a submersivetotal exhibition about India.
This is going to be so colorful.
Oh, the colors are gorgeous.
(05:10):
It really is.
Have you seen renderings?
Oh yeah, I've seen renderings.
I've seen all their branding.
Everything is lovely and we'reexcited because it's something a
little bit different for us,totally different, and it also
is so relevant for so manypeople in Northwest.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Arkansas.
We have a huge Indian community.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
We do Huge we do and, honestly, india is such a large
country but we think of verysmall portions of the culture,
so this gives you a little bitmore of an overview.
So if you don't know a lotabout Indian culture, you're not
going to walk in and go, oh, Idon't know anything.
Right, you're going to be ableto relate to something.
You're not going to walk in andgo, oh, I don't know anything.
Right, you're going to be ableto relate to something.
(05:47):
Oh, wow, really, yes,absolutely.
So when does that get here?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So that opens September 27th.
That is a really fastturnaround.
Yeah, we're quick like that.
Yeah, you are.
And then how long does everyoneget to experience that?
That's about three and a halfmonths.
Okay, is that Three?
And?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
a half months, three to four months.
We have about a quarter, yeah,okay, so it's fun to be able to
do that.
Okay, because it is a spacethat continues to change.
I love that.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
One of my favorites was the Mattel Hot Wheels
exhibit.
That was one of my favorites.
That was a fun one that was sofun and I still talk about it,
yeah that was a great one.
But I think once I finally getover to the dinosaurs, that's
going to be right up there.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
I mean Roaring Explorers has been one of our
most successful exhibits ever.
I can see that Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Oh my gosh.
Well, I'm excited for thisIndia one.
Namaste India, namaste India.
I love that.
It's going to be so beautiful.
It will be absolutely beautifuland I like that it's so
different?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
It is, it definitely is.
And then the one after that weare.
Are you saying, yeah, okay, hey, I got to sign a contract.
Okay, like I'm good, I'm good,we are working with the Mo
Willems group.
Okay, to bring in OppositesAbstract, which is an art-based
exhibition.
I'm like, break it down for me.
(06:58):
Mo Willems is a children'sauthor.
Okay, I promise you know who heis A children's author.
I promise you know who he is.
Okay, I believe you.
So he has the Thank you book.
Oh, yes, yeah, I'm with you.
You know, I'm like I know youknow him, and so this is about
his artwork and about thedimensions of art and how you
can get kids into art.
So it's something that I'mexcited about as well, so maybe
(07:20):
we can get him here for anopening.
Oh, how amazing.
Love that we can get him herefor an opening.
Oh, how amazing.
Love that, yes.
And then what do we have?
So he'll cross over into 26?
Like definitely it'll be.
26 is when that starts.
You know, after that I don'tknow if we have any signed
contracts yet.
So we're working on it, so wehave things in the pipeline, but
, um, those are the only ones sofar.
(07:41):
Does that team have to work?
So we try and work almost 18months out, okay, because it
requires so much.
There's so many moving partswith advertising, with getting
funding for it, because, as youknow, and so many people know
and so many people don't, we area 501c3.
(08:01):
And we truly are funded by thecommunity, not just huge donors,
right, so we have to look forfunding for things like that.
So we really do need to try andwork out so somebody can like
name Absolutely Namingopportunity.
Yes, you betcha.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Okay, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
I don't know if I knew that you bet.
And what is there like a web?
Is there like a web?
So this is so ridiculous.
Like a website.
You're like oh, travelingexhibits.
Are you people in the amazing,in the museum world?
Is there just a like travelingexhibits are us?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So a lot of different museums create their own and
rent them out.
So there's a few that are morepowerhouses in that.
You all may have done that.
We have done that.
Okay, we have created our fewexhibits ourselves.
Okay, we have created a fewexhibits ourselves.
Okay, some of the pieces thatwe have created for other
museums are in Tulsa at theDiscovery Lab.
(08:52):
We have something at theScience Museum, oklahoma.
So we've done a few things likethat.
There's, I believe, a fewthings in Pittsburgh.
Wow, yeah, we have a wholestudio team, exhibition team
that fabricates our exhibitions,keeps our exhibitions up and
running, because you can imaginea little wear and tear oh,
daily, I have kids.
(09:14):
I mean, think about it.
It needs to be robust and itneeds to be.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
It does, because you all are.
A hands-on facility 100% we'renot.
Look, don't touch.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
No, this is a please touch.
So we definitely want to makethings at last.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
I think that's interesting, the whole like
searching out the travelingexhibit.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Well, it is a process , because not only do we, does
timing need to work, but does itfit our educational things?
Does it fit in our space?
How are we going to?
How are we going to promote it?
So there's a lot of things thatneed to come together.
So that's why we work.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
So hard and you in marketing do you get to be in on
those, Because that would makemy level go off a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I do.
I usually am not part of theteam looking for them, but I'm
definitely part of the team thatsays here are our options,
let's choose the one that'sgoing to work best for us.
Do you get so excited?
Speaker 1 (10:06):
from a marketing standpoint, it's fun, like, ooh,
that's going to be fun.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yes, ooh, you know a timeliness, yeah, and I look at
it very differently, I think,than the rest of the Amazeum
team For sure, because I see itthrough a marketing lens, A
business, yeah, really areeducation.
They really want to make surethat kids are learning and that
is their first priority.
I want to make sure that kidsare coming in to learn, but we
have to have something excitingfor them to come into.
(10:30):
Oh, I love that.
Yeah, we all work together.
I love it.
Energy oh, absolutely so great.
So much of it at the Amazeum,Okay this is a big one.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Okay, I'm ready.
We have a big capital campaignhappening.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yes, a $25 million A $25 million capital campaign For
expanding futures.
Expanding futures.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And I say it slowly because it's got an ampersand in
the middle, which is so perfectfor the Amazeum, because it's
and.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, we are a yes, and facility, we are a yes, and
organization, we are a yes, andteam.
Yes, we can do that and we cando more.
Yes, yes, that'll work.
Maybe it'll be in the, maybeit'll be farther down the line
and we can do something now.
So that expanding futures withthe ampersand is that yes and
and.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
so colorful, yeah, because you all are so colorful,
yeah, and I feel like you brokeground mid no, early June,
early June, like you brokeground mid no, early June, early
June, early June.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
It was fun talk about it because we had liquid
nitrogen, we had colored smokefireworks, we had pyrotechnics
there we had a panel that wasgreat that was able to give
different insights to the past10 years at the Amazeum.
And being part of thisexpanding futures project,
because you brought in theoriginal um contractor?
Yeah, did we did Rob Dodd fromNamholz?
Yes, yes, chris Siebert fromModa Studio.
And being part of thisExpanding Futures project?
Right, because you brought inthe original contractor?
(11:45):
Yeah, we did, rob Dodd fromNamholz, yes, yes, chris Siebert
from Moda Studios and KayleenGriffiths from Visit Bentonville
and you emceed.
You did a fantastic job.
I did emceed.
It was so much fun.
I loved doing it.
I might have had somemicrophone challenges, but that
did not stop me, but that wasjust because of a pyrotechnic.
It was.
It was the wirelesspyrotechnics interfered with our
(12:05):
wireless microphones.
At one point I just threw itdown and I just yelled who cares
?
Because we got to have likefirework, smoke it was colored,
it was rainbow, it all workedout and I think people were
really excited about it.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
It's wonderful, and at the very end a loader dumped
this rainbow sand that everybodycould make.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
um yeah, make like layers, little almost
hourglasses, hourglasses.
But yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I know the thing with the glass of the jar layers of
the beautiful rainbow sand.
Yes, it was a great keepsake,it really was a lot of fun, so
it was a very interactivehands-on, very amazing, very
amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
We didn't do any of the shoveling dirt, absolutely
not boring it.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It's not us, no, and the hard hats were tie-dye.
So cute, so cute.
I, my husband, works inconstruction and I've already
texted that I'm like listen, Idon't know what you're gonna be
in charge of at any point intime, but y'all need some jazzy
hard hats.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I tell you, we've gotten so much feedback from
people in the construction anddevelopment world about those
specifically and about like oh,this is definitely going on my
shelf.
Oh, I'm going to be wearingthis one to size.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I was talking to Susan Peacock at Crystal Bridges
.
We were standing with the hardhat and I said I know you have
another groundbreaking coming upat some point in time.
You need to do one of thesewith art all over it.
Oh, absolutely.
It would be so cool.
Your rosy and your statues andwhatever all over this hard hat.
It's very cool.
So, like you all are soinnovative.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Well, we like to think so.
We do indeed, we like to beagain very intentional about
what we're doing, and then thatgoes down to the little details.
But we also allow ourselves tokind of be raggedy and make
mistakes.
But you're real.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Y'all are real, which is so great, because you did
have mic issues and it didn'tmatter, nobody cared, I just
kept moving.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
What are you going to do?
What are you?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
going to do, who cares?
You just keep going.
I love it.
So one of my favorite thingswhile I was researching even
though I know about the capitalcampaign, I really had to like
dive in and think about it for asecond.
You have three key componentsto it, which is so fitting
because it made me really happy.
We have the hideout earlylearning advancement center.
(14:21):
I didn't say, I said hideout.
The hangout yeah, I'm sorry, noworries.
And the backyard yes.
The Early Learning AdvancementCenter yeah, it sounds so
magical.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
So it's 11,850 square feet and I don't know why I
remember that stat so well, butI do.
11,850 square feet of space.
It's going to include a cafe,it's going to include a model
classroom, so there's going tobe more space for programming
for our early learners.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Early.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So early learners is a huge deal for the amazing
because that zero to six agegroup is where most of
development happens.
90% of development happensbefore the age of five and I
mentioned earlier kids learnfaster by playing.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
We still did it.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Kids learn actually 20 times faster learning through
play than they do with recitingor trying to memorize.
So just having them exploretheir surroundings from a very
young age is something that's sovery, very critical and,
honestly, something that we'relacking here, in not just
Northwest Arkansas but all over.
(15:32):
I mean there's definitely ashortage of early child
educators.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Right, because we don't think about it.
We think daycare until they goto pre-K, and not
unintentionally, it's survivalof the fittest.
I totally understand,absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
With a child at that age.
So let me break this down foryou, because those times that
they might spend from daycare,that zero to six, before they go
into some type of a structuredlearning environment, is
actually more time than theywill have throughout the rest of
their structured learning time.
So sad.
So if you're not payingattention to those first six
(16:11):
years, then your child willlikely be behind, which is hard,
and it is hard.
And it doesn't mean that theycan't catch up.
It doesn't mean that you can'tdo the work to make sure that
they're on par with everybodyelse.
But if you just play, if youjust put them in different
environments, let them figurethings out on their own.
Let them not be afraid to fail.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
I literally fail at that.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
I can too, because you just want them to just get
to it.
Yes, but they need thatprocessing, they need that time
to figure it out.
Their brains aren't developedlike ours, so they're really
trying to build those synapsestruly and put together those
learning pathways, and byfailure is one of the best ways
to learn.
It's so hard as a mom, it's sohard.
(17:00):
But one of the things and Imentioned earlier with our play
facilitators at the actualAmazeum and on the museum floor,
they ask those open-endedquestions.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
They do, and I don't think like that and I said that
before.
I don't.
Yeah, I think yes, and on themuseum floor they ask those
open-ended questions.
They do.
And I don't think like that,and I said that before.
I don't.
Yeah, I think yes and no.
All my questions are yes and no.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Well, and, to be fair , I've had to be trained on that
.
I've had to go through specifictraining and go okay.
So what do you think wouldhappen if we added more weight
on this side?
What do you think it has to goup and down?
Can it go sideways?
I mean?
No, I don't think like that.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I'm so boxed in on my thinking, probably because I'm
old and I just do.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I do my math, you know what we know, girl Right.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
And so I'm like, oh my gosh, but the 11-year-old
will challenge me and I reallytry to think before I speak,
which is not a skill I own, notbefore I speak, which is not a
skill I own, not my best eitheryou and I are very alike like
that and I try to think, well,what do you think?
Or I try that it's maybe once amonth, do I I understand?
(18:00):
But I love that yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I mean, that early learning advancement center is
going to just be so critical andso wonderful, and one of the
things we'd really like tocreate is an environment where
parents can connect, especiallywith so many people moving to
Northwest Arkansas and havinglittles and when you have a
little, especially if you're astay-at-home mom, you could feel
so disconnected.
Oh, absolutely, we are hopingthat this really becomes an
(18:25):
environment where moms, whereparents, where au pairs, where
everybody can connect and notonly find support in each other
but find support in the Amazeumteam.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Absolutely.
I feel like that's what thisexpanding futures is about.
It's really about communityconnection.
It's about that.
Yes, and it is because there'sa theme in all three of these
yeah, it's all community drivenwith, definitely not a hideaway.
I don't know these.
It's all community driven,definitely Not a hideaway, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah, well, that's okay, well, and you know, you
bring up a really good point,because we do a lot of listening
sessions for the community andwhat do we need?
What are we missing?
Is there something?
In Northwest Arkansas we don'thave parents with Facebook
groups, with people that have areally buy-in for the Amazeum
(19:14):
and what we're doing.
We have to listen to them, wehave to listen to what they need
and you did and we do that.
Yes, talk about the Hangout.
So, like I said, the Hangout isgoing to also going to be part
of that early learningadvancement center.
So having that cafe and havingan area that's not necessarily
behind a paywall, where peoplecan come Right and again, the
(19:35):
community, yes is a really bigthing.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
And it will flow like the.
It's hard to picture, but to melike so you already have a
backyard.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
We do, but we're expanding the back, we are
making it bigger and bigger.
Oh, absolutely yes, we're goingto.
You know, it's been relativelythe same for 10 years Time for a
facelift baby.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
But I feel like we're getting some like mud in there.
I can't remember, Maybe somerock digging, I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I'm probably rejoining it.
We have so many things planned.
And you know, we'll see whatcomes to fruition and what we
have to change a little bitbecause when building starts so
we're hoping that we get to keepall the original plans.
But we'll see.
We'll be flexible.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
We just want a great space when do you think your
space will which?
Do you all have a deadline ofwhen?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I mean, ideally it would be around september,
october in 2026.
Okay, that's the plan.
That's the plan.
That's what I'm.
That's what I'm.
I love that Planning, forthat's not far at all.
Wow, be about a little bit lessthan 18 months from the time we
broke ground.
I love that is so fast, sohopefully we can get it going.
You know, let's just make surethat the weather holds out, if
(20:46):
it will ever quit raining.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
I know Where's the drought.
I'm sorry.
Everybody's going to likeweather.
People are going to come at meon that Camps.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Yes, okay, I know we still have a few, because I
wanted to make sure that westill had a few that we can
register for.
Still Okay, but obviously, asthis airs, please check the
website Late July.
Yes, so we still have SpyAcademy, ooh, project Robot or
Project Runway Robots, becausenot only are you going to be
(21:19):
able to create textiles,plastics, little bubbles, but
they're going to learn somecoding on a couple of our
different robots.
So great, so fun.
And then we have a Girls Steam,which is exciting that's fun.
And then we have a girls' steam, which is exciting that's fun.
So that is just for girls andwe're going to just dive into a
number of different steamactivities.
Really, it's just to continueto give girls confidence in that
space.
(21:39):
Yes, because I know that as youget older, as a girl, you get
discouraged from doing that kindof thing.
So we want to continue toreally push young girls to push
through that steam ceiling.
If you will, I'd have thatLiterally, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Yeah, break that ceiling.
What else is coming down thepipe?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
So we always have so many fun events planned, but one
thing that we do every singleyear is Tinker Fest, and that is
going to be in October thisyear.
Yes, it's October 4th.
Yes, that is correct.
Hey, there's a lot of datesgoing around my head right now.
There's a lot of numbers,listen, so yeah, that was
impressive.
Thank you.
Thank you, and that issomething that we've done for
(22:24):
many years, and it'sindoor-outdoor.
It is indoor-outdoor.
And it is so fun.
So if you had to choose one dayI can only come to the Amazeum
one day, tinker Fest I wouldchoose Tinker Fest, tinker Fest.
Not only is it just anexplosion of all things Amazeum
and Steam but there's somethings that you might never get
(22:45):
to do again.
Get to do again ever.
Um, I've never taken apart acar before tinker fest where I
can actually like take realtools and just pull stuff out of
a car.
It's and it won't matter.
I mean it doesn't matter and Ican see what's behind the
dashboard and what these wiresjust pull things.
That's a really fun thing to do.
(23:07):
But not only that, but thenalso be guided by the kids in
the mechanic department that'sat NTI.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
So we have people that really know that know in
the mechanic department andworking with other kids.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Opening up questions and it's so much fun to see that
and see these older kids intheir teens and early 20s
working with younger kids and tosee how excited they get too.
But you might learn how to picka lock.
You might learn how to makeoobleck A skill.
What?
Speaker 1 (23:37):
should it all have.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I mean, honestly, you know, really, picking a lock is
a skill we should all know.
That was a really fun littleactivation last year.
You might be able to createsomething with our laser.
You might be able to createsomething with our laser you
might be able to work on.
I mean, we have so manydifferent things.
I think last year we had 25different activations.
That's a lot.
It's a lot In the best way,absolutely, because there's
(24:00):
something for everyone.
Oh, absolutely yes, and you canstay at one station for an hour
and then another kid's at theother station station.
You have a few different kidsat different ages.
I promise they're going to findsomething.
Yes, oh yes, they're going tofind something that they like,
regardless of their age.
Yes, and it's something that wework on regionally as well,
(24:22):
because not only do we do thetinker best here, but so does
the museum of discovery inlittle rock, so does the Museum
of Discovery in Little Rock, sodoes the Science Museum of
Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, sodoes Discovery Lab in Tulsa.
Did you all start Tinker Fest?
We?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
did not actually.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
That was the Museum of Discovery that started that
in Little Rock and we've been anearly participant and now it's
something that happens all overthe country.
Oh my gosh, um.
But we have this regionalcohort, if you will, that has a
different.
Tinker fest, or discover festis actually in um in oklahoma
city because they have tinkerairbay, so it's getting a little
(24:58):
confusing oh fair, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Yes, we had a cross that bridge this year.
One of the taglines of oklahomais like discover yeah, so, so
yeah, it works for them.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
But we we have something every weekend for four
weeks so you can go To OklahomaCity, you can then go to Little
Rock, you can go.
Everything's really withindriving distance.
So if these people that arejust love making, love tinkering
and tinkering sometimes is aword that people think I don't,
(25:29):
I kind of know what that means.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
But I just think it means I was so happy when this
word came back.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yeah, because what I remember hearing is oh,
grandpa's out tinkering Right,exactly exactly and that's
exactly what it is.
Yes, there's no real end butthere's no judgment to it and
you're just trying differentthings with real tools and
trying to figure things out andyou're just tinkering and you've
had amazing tinkerers come.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
We have almost full circle because now they work for
you.
Some of them work for you.
We have absolutely that.
Came to Tinker Fest andtinkered and just stayed
involved.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yeah oh, absolutely, and now that's their full-time
job.
Yes, this is absolutely true.
I love those stories.
It's really remarkable.
I mean, even a couple of yearsago I was standing at the car
take apart talking to one of thestudents at NTI who was in
bentonville schools and one ofthose programs and he said the
reason he got into the mechanicprogram was because he came to
tinker fest and was able to dothis car take apart and thought,
(26:29):
wow, that's something I coulddo.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
I really like that it's like you're getting this
person their future it's.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
It's remarkable, isn't?
Speaker 1 (26:37):
it, I love it.
Priceless nights.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Yes, yes, thank you so much.
Walker Family Foundation.
Yes, for helping us continuethat going.
So Wednesday nights is our pay,as you like night.
So if you want to pay fulladmission, lovely.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
If you can't pay anything, that's fine too.
We still love you.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Because this is about access, yes, and those people
that might not be able to comeand pay the $12, $14, which we
know can add up, which is why amembership is so good it is.
But, yeah, come on out on aWednesday night after 4.30 and
it goes until 7.30.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
So you have a few hours after school or during the
summer, obviously it's aperfect time and then think
about it in a year and a half,when the hangouts open and the
cafes open, yeah, it'll beperfect.
And then your priceless nightsand dinner, everything,
everything wrapped on.
You know what I mean.
Yes, you bet I know.
Yes.
Thank you to the Walker FamilyFoundation.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
And we see tons of people that come through on
priceless nights.
That that's when they come.
You know that's when they come.
You know that's the eveningthat they come.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
And sometimes that's just easier for family and
schedule-wise.
Yeah, you betcha, yes.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Yeah, from a schedule perspective and there's so much
energy that happens on aWednesday night because it is an
open-arm evening, it's probablymore family-focused, yeah,
instead of just the mom and allthe kids?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Sure, yes, I love that.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Okay, what about let's see Amazeum UnGala oh, I
already have a date for nextyear.
Of course I do april 24th, 2026and we don't have our honorary
chairs yet.
Okay, we're a theme yet, butyou know it's gonna be big,
(28:18):
because it always is it's goingto be huge.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
It's always a fun time.
So much fun.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
It's hard to explain almost to people that haven't
been before, because it is sounlike other events in Northwest
Arkansas.
It's an un-gala.
It's an un-gala, I know.
I told you we do the un, yes,un-gala A little.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
V12.
A little V12.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Oh or 24-volt racers Of 24.
Yeah, you've got to double that.
You've got to go faster than 12.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Or the turtling.
I'm so sorry, no turtling.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
But there's always so many activations there and it's
adults only and it's our onlyfundraiser throughout the year.
That's an event, so we reallyrely on that.
But you also have adult nights.
Yes, now that is like a youknow, miniature version, if you
will, yes, of ungala.
So 25 bucks, what like, for acouple hours.
(29:13):
So, yes, on um.
So we have three um adultnights a year in an ungala.
So we have four very specificadult programming every year.
Our next one is October 7th,right after Tinker Fest.
That's not right.
It's October 17th, it is.
I was close until you saidright after Tinker Fest.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
I was like three days later no, it's.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
October 17th, just kidding.
So I was almost there 13 dayslater.
It's fine quick.
It's still quick and it'sfaster it's a fun night for the
girls to go out on this day inIndia is gonna be absolutely
there yeah, so you'll be able tosee it, and testic is the
budget and the entire museum isopen.
It's fun date night, fun girlsnight out.
(29:57):
We had such incredible umactivities and even our catering
was amazing at our cowboysversus dinosaurs adult night,
which was a huge success lasttime.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
So early summer.
It was okay.
Yeah, and it was, it was a tonof fun so do people dress up for
these things?
They?
Speaker 2 (30:17):
we had so many people on theme for the dinosaurs
versus cowboys, I think we'll dosomething a little spooky
science or neon for October.
We're working on that right now, but I'll have a theme in the
next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Oh, my gosh, that's going to be so fun.
I hope that we push people needto wear costumes or just be on
theme.
Don't let it stop you, but it'smore fun to be on theme.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
it is more fun to be on themes yeah, oh my gosh, so
you might even get an extradrink ticket if you're on thing
I love that right.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Who doesn't need another pass?
Yes, absolutely.
What have we not touched on?
Speaker 2 (30:55):
gosh, we've touched on so many things, but there's
one thing I'd love to talk about.
It is our Youth Maker Program.
Okay, and it is something thatjust continues to have a lot of
momentum behind it.
It is for our teen makers, soit's actually like oh, there's a
market coming up, we just hadour market.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Okay, I lied and it's okay, but I saw something about
it.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
But we have our next cohort that will be accepting
applications right now in thefall time, because it's, like I
said, a great program.
So kids come in.
They'll start with a workshop.
That's like how do you becreative, how do you find
something that you want to make,that you want to possibly sell,
(31:37):
to make that you want topossibly sell?
And then we narrow it down thatpeople apply for the actual
program and they'll have openmake times.
They'll have a mentorshipprogram.
We'll come in and talk to themabout marketing and branding and
price structure and packaging.
And how do you then create awebsite?
(31:58):
These kids are so lucky.
And how do you sell theseeffectively?
What is your spiel whensomebody walks up to your table
and they practice it?
And then it all culminates witha youth maker market.
So how many cohorts a year?
So we do about two a year, andso there's a spring, summer and
then, like a fall, winter.
Okay, and that program needsthat amount of time.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
It does to develop.
I was gonna say two.
I was hoping it wasn't just onelike because no, there's.
You can lose focus if it's toolong, right?
Yes, you can.
Yeah there's.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
There's two, because there are different workshops
that they need to go through.
There's different times where,like I said, they have open make
time so they come in.
They get to use our equipment.
Right, what's their commitment?
Do that when they apply.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Um, what do you mean?
So I apply.
I assume it's like we ask youto be yeah, I did certain open
makes.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Hey, you need to at least come to so many.
Then you need to come to someof these workshops that we have
so that our team can talk to youabout these different things
and then, obviously, just beingpart of that, like being
involved, those kids that are alot more involved, we're going
to be more successful in themarket.
But honestly, we had 15 andthat's a small cohort.
We had a 15 person cohort atour last youth maker market.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
That sounds like a lot to me.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
And they sold over $3,000 worth of product.
This is so exciting.
I went over budget.
When I went to go take picturesI was like, well, I had to get
something here, oh, and I got toget something over here, and so
, yeah, and so I just keptbuying.
So it was.
It's a lot of fun.
It's so fun to not only talk tothese kids and see the
(33:36):
confidence from the first partof the year to the market, but
the stories from their parentswas really amazing and how
they've been so encouraged and,wow, you know, this is something
that my child actually wants todo for a living.
Now, all right that they hadnever considered, and now we're,
we're, we're in it.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
We're already starting it.
What are the?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
ages it's about 11 to 18.
Oh, so we have a very largerange and it works.
It works because we're able toget enough one-on-one time with
each one of them that they getsomething out of it.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
What's the average size of cohort?
Speaker 2 (34:15):
because 15 sounded 15 is, I think, is about where
we're starting.
We we're going to keep them,but the first, the school-based
workshops, are open and I mean Ithink we had 700 throughout all
the workshops.
But then they apply to be partof the program and you know,
we'd love to have more peopleapply to be part of the Youth
Maker program after thoseworkshops, which then does
(34:36):
culminate in that market.
Oh my gosh, I'd love this.
It's great.
What'd you get?
So many things.
I got earrings.
I got a very cute key chain.
I got a leather cord keeperthat looks like a bear no
kidding, adorable.
I got a caricature of Juan andI oh really, Somebody did it.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
I got a photo and it's so cute.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Oh my gosh, I got ears.
Yes, it is adorable and it'sliterally like up on my
refrigerator.
I'm going to frame it.
It's the cutest thing I've everseen.
And I mean, and I got a bunchof greeting cards that were
great.
I'm keeping them specificallyat work because there's a thank
you one, there's a birthday one,there's it's just very perfect
(35:18):
Stickers.
They made it all.
Oh my gosh, this is wonderful.
They made it all.
It is such a great program andalways helped support that this
year and Wingate Foundation did,and Cox Media, oh wow.
So we had a great Three hugesponsors Really good sponsors.
Kudos to you and your team.
I mean, honestly, it's been sofun to watch this program take
(35:39):
off.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
We get to talk about that one more often because I
don't think I realized themagnitude of that program.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
It is remarkable, yeah, I mean we're just starting
to even think about likefinancial impact, like true
financial impact from kids thatare under 18 just at the Amazeum
.
That's pretty remarkable,pretty niche, but like amazing.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
It's so great because you've got kids that are in
public schools, oh yeah, or highschools, public high schools,
except for and well,specifically I'll just talk on
Bentonville, because that'swhere my oldest goes but they've
got this Ignite program right.
This like internship, yourjunior senior year, but I'm like
this is like that, but on adifferent level.
Not it's just like anotherparallel level, but it's
(36:22):
creative and you're bringing inall this mentorship for a
12-year-old and you're settingthem up for success for the
future.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Very few 12-year-olds are going to be like no, I do
need to think about my packaging.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Right?
No, they're not.
My pie structure isn't rightthey're not.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
My price structure isn't right.
They're not.
Uh-uh.
I love that.
It's fun to be able to havethat like real world applicable,
but they're still having fun.
Yes, they're still learning andthey're still making something.
They're in there makingsomething.
In this case, it is about ourend product, because that's the
focus In so many places in theAmazeum.
It's not about that end product, right?
(37:02):
So to have that little bit of ashift for this program and to
see that and see the momentumaround it is really a fun thing
to watch.
How old is this program?
It's relatively new.
It's only been a couple yearsold Okay, I'm not making that up
and it just continues to grow,absolutely.
That's why I was like girl, Igot to bring this up.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
I'm so sad, I didn't.
I saw the advertising for themarket and it didn't.
I didn't really put two and twotogether.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Well, and you know to be fair.
That's something that we needto work on, because we have to
tell that story.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
We do need to tell that story.
Awesome place to end.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, I'll go with that I love that.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Oh, my gosh, that makes me so happy.
Holland, thank you.
Thank you for having me, asalways.
Again, again, again, again,again, again For joining me.
I'm sure she'll be back next.
Oh, yes, I will.
So, yeah, don't forget to stopby your local Walmart and pick
up your Hershey's salty snackswhich are red dye free, by the
way which Holland was telling mea break.
We don't have commercial breaks.
Very nice, you know what I'mtalking about.
(38:00):
We have pirate booty Dotshomestyle pretzels, and skinny
pop Dots homestyle pretzels.
Cinnamon sugar oh, I haven't hadthe cinnamon sugar.
Oh no, I will get you a bag.
They're freaking amazing.
And then I just saw theylaunched a new flavor barbecue
seasoning or something.
I haven't tried them, but Imean the original is.
(38:20):
It's hard to beat so good.
Cinnamon sugar is the snack younever knew.
You knew, oh, I need it.
It's amazing, it's amazing.
So you'll have to.
You'll need those for thedrought in July.
You got it.
Okay, that's all we have.
But thank you for joining us.
I really appreciate it, andkeep inspiring a culture of
giving.
Hey everybody, welcome back to part two of The
3W Podcast with my friendHolland Hayden from the Amazeum.
Holland, welcome back again.
Thank you Again.
Again, again, again again.
Holland joined us in part onewhich aired a couple weeks ago
and I hope you all joined the10-year birthday bash at the
Amazeum on July 12th.
(00:24):
But now we're going to talk allthings just normal, amazing,
awesome, Amazeum, perfect, loveit.
First and foremost, dinosaursoh yeah, they have been here
since Memorial Weekend.
They've been here a little.
While they roll out, they kindof become extinct.
I guess.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
September 15th, mid-september, yeah, so Roar and
Explore with Dinosaurs is ourlatest traveling exhibit.
It has interactive exhibitportions where you can build
your own dinosaur fossil Super.
You can learn more aboutdinosaurs in a little
interactive quiz, and then wehave these huge animatronic,
(01:02):
loud dinosaurs.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
So when you walk into the Amazeum.
You walk in and you turn to theright past the rainbow
staircase.
Is it kind of back to?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
the left it is.
It's a regular travelingexhibits.
Okay, so it's about 5 000square feet of area that we use
to create this like fun,interactive, almost jungly area.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, so I was telling you off air.
I have not been yet, but Ireally want to go and I want to
take the boys and some of theirlittle friends.
It looks from the photos, thesocial media, it looks very lush
, it is.
It is, oh my goodness, likeyou're in Jurassic Park.
We had some great, which istimely because one comes out at
the beginning of July.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
It does it does.
It's perfect.
I know we worked with a greatplant sponsor, botanical Plant
Company, okay and so they wereable to provide plants which
really made it come alive,absolutely.
We have some great backdrops,we have fun mulch, we have
things, and these animatronicdinosaurs are really cool and
look very I mean, as realisticas we know.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Of course, right.
What do we know?
This was multi-million yearsago.
They're so realistic.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Just like the one I saw last week.
Clearly a scientist in me,paleontologist Indeed, I mean
honestly, you can do a little.
Imagine it to play and pretendyou're a paleontologist, you're
done.
Go get all your notes, yourfield notes, so you can learn
about the velociraptor, theankylosaurus, the T-Rex, the
little T-Rex oh, you have a babyT-Rex.
(02:32):
We do have a baby T-Rex and,like I said, they're loud.
The other day I was walkingthrough the Amazeum with a
co-worker and it was a day thatwe were closed and I didn't
think anything about it.
Which is Tuesday Dark on.
Tuesday Correct, and we walkedpast him going to another
exhibition and I mean it scaredthe pants off.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Roar, I mean so loud Because you're like you're not
dark today.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yeah, we just didn't think we both jumped, so there's
some force behind those roars.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
I love it and it's been a really loud.
It is but like but notintimidating, no, but in a new
loud way, like the museum's loudin the best way, right, because
there's a million differentthings happening all at the same
time.
But this is a unique noise.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
It definitely is Right, and it's a lot of fun to
hear because you can hear itthroughout the museum, and of
fun to hear because you can hearit throughout the museum.
Um, and, and kids of all ageslike this and parents really
like this one, I'm sure.
So it's really fun to see thekids coming decked out in their
dinosaur stuff oh, we do havethat costume, we have a lot of
cute t-shirts with the dinosaurson even earrings, everything
(03:40):
where kids coming in and they'reready to be their own little
paleontologist and learn moreabout dinosaurs and get there
and go.
It's fun to see these littleexperts come in and go.
Oh yeah, I'll tell you aboutthis ankylosaurus and I'll go
tell me.
Tell me, please do so, and theysay it with massive conviction I
mean, that's all truth, yeahand what's really fun, too, is
(04:02):
we have a lot of things that inthe store that support our
exhibit.
So if you don't have a lot ofdinosaur stuff at home, you can
get it in the store and it makesgreat birthday gifts.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
It sure does.
That's one of my favoritethings from last year's podcast.
Yes, the store has greatbirthday presents.
Yes, and they'll wrap it foryou.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yes, which I love.
Great birthday presents.
Yes, and they'll wrap it foryou.
Yes, which I love Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
So I really do encourage everybody to come
before September 15th before ournext traveling exhibit.
Are you revealing any travelingexhibits?
Sure, I'm happy to talk to youabout it.
Yes, okay.
So this coming one after Roarand Explore is called Namaste
India.
So we're going to be workingwith the Rave Cultural
Foundation to do some really funprogramming about it.
I have even specific notes forit because it's brand new.
(04:49):
I am a note girl because I justwant to make sure I have it all
so you can dine at Adaba, theroadside cafe, you can learn a
little bit about cricket, aboutBollywood, about a day in an
Indian school.
So it's really a submersivetotal exhibition about India.
This is going to be so colorful.
Oh, the colors are gorgeous.
(05:10):
It really is.
Have you seen renderings?
Oh yeah, I've seen renderings.
I've seen all their branding.
Everything is lovely and we'reexcited because it's something a
little bit different for us,totally different, and it also
is so relevant for so manypeople in Northwest.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
Arkansas.
We have a huge Indian community.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
We do Huge we do and, honestly, india is such a large
country but we think of verysmall portions of the culture,
so this gives you a little bitmore of an overview.
So if you don't know a lotabout Indian culture, you're not
going to walk in and go, oh, Idon't know anything.
Right, you're going to be ableto relate to something.
You're not going to walk in andgo, oh, I don't know anything.
Right, you're going to be ableto relate to something.
(05:47):
Oh, wow, really, yes,absolutely.
So when does that get here?
Speaker 1 (05:50):
So that opens September 27th.
That is a really fastturnaround.
Yeah, we're quick like that.
Yeah, you are.
And then how long does everyoneget to experience that?
That's about three and a halfmonths.
Okay, is that Three?
And?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
a half months, three to four months.
We have about a quarter, yeah,okay, so it's fun to be able to
do that.
Okay, because it is a spacethat continues to change.
I love that.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
One of my favorites was the Mattel Hot Wheels
exhibit.
That was one of my favorites.
That was a fun one that was sofun and I still talk about it,
yeah that was a great one.
But I think once I finally getover to the dinosaurs, that's
going to be right up there.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
I mean Roaring Explorers has been one of our
most successful exhibits ever.
I can see that Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Oh my gosh.
Well, I'm excited for thisIndia one.
Namaste India, namaste India.
I love that.
It's going to be so beautiful.
It will be absolutely beautifuland I like that it's so
different?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
It is, it definitely is.
And then the one after that weare.
Are you saying, yeah, okay, hey, I got to sign a contract.
Okay, like I'm good, I'm good,we are working with the Mo
Willems group.
Okay, to bring in OppositesAbstract, which is an art-based
exhibition.
I'm like, break it down for me.
(06:58):
Mo Willems is a children'sauthor.
Okay, I promise you know who heis A children's author.
I promise you know who he is.
Okay, I believe you.
So he has the Thank you book.
Oh, yes, yeah, I'm with you.
You know, I'm like I know youknow him, and so this is about
his artwork and about thedimensions of art and how you
can get kids into art.
So it's something that I'mexcited about as well, so maybe
(07:20):
we can get him here for anopening.
Oh, how amazing.
Love that we can get him herefor an opening.
Oh, how amazing.
Love that, yes.
And then what do we have?
So he'll cross over into 26?
Like definitely it'll be.
26 is when that starts.
You know, after that I don'tknow if we have any signed
contracts yet.
So we're working on it, so wehave things in the pipeline, but
, um, those are the only ones sofar.
(07:41):
Does that team have to work?
So we try and work almost 18months out, okay, because it
requires so much.
There's so many moving partswith advertising, with getting
funding for it, because, as youknow, and so many people know
and so many people don't, we area 501c3.
(08:01):
And we truly are funded by thecommunity, not just huge donors,
right, so we have to look forfunding for things like that.
So we really do need to try andwork out so somebody can like
name Absolutely Namingopportunity.
Yes, you betcha.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Okay, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
I don't know if I knew that you bet.
And what is there like a web?
Is there like a web?
So this is so ridiculous.
Like a website.
You're like oh, travelingexhibits.
Are you people in the amazing,in the museum world?
Is there just a like travelingexhibits are us?
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So a lot of different museums create their own and
rent them out.
So there's a few that are morepowerhouses in that.
You all may have done that.
We have done that.
Okay, we have created our fewexhibits ourselves.
Okay, we have created a fewexhibits ourselves.
Okay, some of the pieces thatwe have created for other
museums are in Tulsa at theDiscovery Lab.
(08:52):
We have something at theScience Museum, oklahoma.
So we've done a few things likethat.
There's, I believe, a fewthings in Pittsburgh.
Wow, yeah, we have a wholestudio team, exhibition team
that fabricates our exhibitions,keeps our exhibitions up and
running, because you can imaginea little wear and tear oh,
daily, I have kids.
(09:14):
I mean, think about it.
It needs to be robust and itneeds to be.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
It does, because you all are.
A hands-on facility 100% we'renot.
Look, don't touch.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
No, this is a please touch.
So we definitely want to makethings at last.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
I think that's interesting, the whole like
searching out the travelingexhibit.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Well, it is a process , because not only do we, does
timing need to work, but does itfit our educational things?
Does it fit in our space?
How are we going to?
How are we going to promote it?
So there's a lot of things thatneed to come together.
So that's why we work.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
So hard and you in marketing do you get to be in on
those, Because that would makemy level go off a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I do.
I usually am not part of theteam looking for them, but I'm
definitely part of the team thatsays here are our options,
let's choose the one that'sgoing to work best for us.
Do you get so excited?
Speaker 1 (10:06):
from a marketing standpoint, it's fun, like, ooh,
that's going to be fun.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yes, ooh, you know a timeliness, yeah, and I look at
it very differently, I think,than the rest of the Amazeum
team For sure, because I see itthrough a marketing lens, A
business, yeah, really areeducation.
They really want to make surethat kids are learning and that
is their first priority.
I want to make sure that kidsare coming in to learn, but we
have to have something excitingfor them to come into.
(10:30):
Oh, I love that.
Yeah, we all work together.
I love it.
Energy oh, absolutely so great.
So much of it at the Amazeum,Okay this is a big one.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Okay, I'm ready.
We have a big capital campaignhappening.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yes, a $25 million A $25 million capital campaign For
expanding futures.
Expanding futures.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And I say it slowly because it's got an ampersand in
the middle, which is so perfectfor the Amazeum, because it's
and.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Yeah, we are a yes, and facility, we are a yes, and
organization, we are a yes, andteam.
Yes, we can do that and we cando more.
Yes, yes, that'll work.
Maybe it'll be in the, maybeit'll be farther down the line
and we can do something now.
So that expanding futures withthe ampersand is that yes and
and.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
so colorful, yeah, because you all are so colorful,
yeah, and I feel like you brokeground mid no, early June,
early June, like you brokeground mid no, early June, early
June, early June.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
It was fun talk about it because we had liquid
nitrogen, we had colored smokefireworks, we had pyrotechnics
there we had a panel that wasgreat that was able to give
different insights to the past10 years at the Amazeum.
And being part of thisexpanding futures project,
because you brought in theoriginal um contractor?
Yeah, did we did Rob Dodd fromNamholz?
Yes, yes, chris Siebert fromModa Studio.
And being part of thisExpanding Futures project?
Right, because you brought inthe original contractor?
(11:45):
Yeah, we did, rob Dodd fromNamholz, yes, yes, chris Siebert
from Moda Studios and KayleenGriffiths from Visit Bentonville
and you emceed.
You did a fantastic job.
I did emceed.
It was so much fun.
I loved doing it.
I might have had somemicrophone challenges, but that
did not stop me, but that wasjust because of a pyrotechnic.
It was.
It was the wirelesspyrotechnics interfered with our
(12:05):
wireless microphones.
At one point I just threw itdown and I just yelled who cares
?
Because we got to have likefirework, smoke it was colored,
it was rainbow, it all workedout and I think people were
really excited about it.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
It's wonderful, and at the very end a loader dumped
this rainbow sand that everybodycould make.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
um yeah, make like layers, little almost
hourglasses, hourglasses.
But yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I know the thing with the glass of the jar layers of
the beautiful rainbow sand.
Yes, it was a great keepsake,it really was a lot of fun, so
it was a very interactivehands-on, very amazing, very
amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
We didn't do any of the shoveling dirt, absolutely
not boring it.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It's not us, no, and the hard hats were tie-dye.
So cute, so cute.
I, my husband, works inconstruction and I've already
texted that I'm like listen, Idon't know what you're gonna be
in charge of at any point intime, but y'all need some jazzy
hard hats.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
I tell you, we've gotten so much feedback from
people in the construction anddevelopment world about those
specifically and about like oh,this is definitely going on my
shelf.
Oh, I'm going to be wearingthis one to size.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I was talking to Susan Peacock at Crystal Bridges
.
We were standing with the hardhat and I said I know you have
another groundbreaking coming upat some point in time.
You need to do one of thesewith art all over it.
Oh, absolutely.
It would be so cool.
Your rosy and your statues andwhatever all over this hard hat.
It's very cool.
So, like you all are soinnovative.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
Well, we like to think so.
We do indeed, we like to beagain very intentional about
what we're doing, and then thatgoes down to the little details.
But we also allow ourselves tokind of be raggedy and make
mistakes.
But you're real.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Y'all are real, which is so great, because you did
have mic issues and it didn'tmatter, nobody cared, I just
kept moving.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
What are you going to do?
What are you?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
going to do, who cares?
You just keep going.
I love it.
So one of my favorite thingswhile I was researching even
though I know about the capitalcampaign, I really had to like
dive in and think about it for asecond.
You have three key componentsto it, which is so fitting
because it made me really happy.
We have the hideout earlylearning advancement center.
(14:21):
I didn't say, I said hideout.
The hangout yeah, I'm sorry, noworries.
And the backyard yes.
The Early Learning AdvancementCenter yeah, it sounds so
magical.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
So it's 11,850 square feet and I don't know why I
remember that stat so well, butI do.
11,850 square feet of space.
It's going to include a cafe,it's going to include a model
classroom, so there's going tobe more space for programming
for our early learners.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
Early.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So early learners is a huge deal for the amazing
because that zero to six agegroup is where most of
development happens.
90% of development happensbefore the age of five and I
mentioned earlier kids learnfaster by playing.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
We still did it.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Kids learn actually 20 times faster learning through
play than they do with recitingor trying to memorize.
So just having them exploretheir surroundings from a very
young age is something that's sovery, very critical and,
honestly, something that we'relacking here, in not just
Northwest Arkansas but all over.
(15:32):
I mean there's definitely ashortage of early child
educators.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Right, because we don't think about it.
We think daycare until they goto pre-K, and not
unintentionally, it's survivalof the fittest.
I totally understand,absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
With a child at that age.
So let me break this down foryou, because those times that
they might spend from daycare,that zero to six, before they go
into some type of a structuredlearning environment, is
actually more time than theywill have throughout the rest of
their structured learning time.
So sad.
So if you're not payingattention to those first six
(16:11):
years, then your child willlikely be behind, which is hard,
and it is hard.
And it doesn't mean that theycan't catch up.
It doesn't mean that you can'tdo the work to make sure that
they're on par with everybodyelse.
But if you just play, if youjust put them in different
environments, let them figurethings out on their own.
Let them not be afraid to fail.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
I literally fail at that.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
I can too, because you just want them to just get
to it.
Yes, but they need thatprocessing, they need that time
to figure it out.
Their brains aren't developedlike ours, so they're really
trying to build those synapsestruly and put together those
learning pathways, and byfailure is one of the best ways
to learn.
It's so hard as a mom, it's sohard.
(17:00):
But one of the things and Imentioned earlier with our play
facilitators at the actualAmazeum and on the museum floor,
they ask those open-endedquestions.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
They do, and I don't think like that and I said that
before.
I don't.
Yeah, I think yes, and on themuseum floor they ask those
open-ended questions.
They do.
And I don't think like that,and I said that before.
I don't.
Yeah, I think yes and no.
All my questions are yes and no.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Well, and, to be fair , I've had to be trained on that
.
I've had to go through specifictraining and go okay.
So what do you think wouldhappen if we added more weight
on this side?
What do you think it has to goup and down?
Can it go sideways?
I mean?
No, I don't think like that.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I'm so boxed in on my thinking, probably because I'm
old and I just do.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
I do my math, you know what we know, girl Right.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
And so I'm like, oh my gosh, but the 11-year-old
will challenge me and I reallytry to think before I speak,
which is not a skill I own, notbefore I speak, which is not a
skill I own, not my best eitheryou and I are very alike like
that and I try to think, well,what do you think?
Or I try that it's maybe once amonth, do I I understand?
(18:00):
But I love that yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I mean, that early learning advancement center is
going to just be so critical andso wonderful, and one of the
things we'd really like tocreate is an environment where
parents can connect, especiallywith so many people moving to
Northwest Arkansas and havinglittles and when you have a
little, especially if you're astay-at-home mom, you could feel
so disconnected.
Oh, absolutely, we are hopingthat this really becomes an
(18:25):
environment where moms, whereparents, where au pairs, where
everybody can connect and notonly find support in each other
but find support in the Amazeumteam.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Absolutely.
I feel like that's what thisexpanding futures is about.
It's really about communityconnection.
It's about that.
Yes, and it is because there'sa theme in all three of these
yeah, it's all community drivenwith, definitely not a hideaway.
I don't know these.
It's all community driven,definitely Not a hideaway, I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Yeah, well, that's okay, well, and you know, you
bring up a really good point,because we do a lot of listening
sessions for the community andwhat do we need?
What are we missing?
Is there something?
In Northwest Arkansas we don'thave parents with Facebook
groups, with people that have areally buy-in for the Amazeum
(19:14):
and what we're doing.
We have to listen to them, wehave to listen to what they need
and you did and we do that.
Yes, talk about the Hangout.
So, like I said, the Hangout isgoing to also going to be part
of that early learningadvancement center.
So having that cafe and havingan area that's not necessarily
behind a paywall, where peoplecan come Right and again, the
(19:35):
community, yes is a really bigthing.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
And it will flow like the.
It's hard to picture, but to melike so you already have a
backyard.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
We do, but we're expanding the back, we are
making it bigger and bigger.
Oh, absolutely yes, we're goingto.
You know, it's been relativelythe same for 10 years Time for a
facelift baby.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
But I feel like we're getting some like mud in there.
I can't remember, Maybe somerock digging, I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I'm probably rejoining it.
We have so many things planned.
And you know, we'll see whatcomes to fruition and what we
have to change a little bitbecause when building starts so
we're hoping that we get to keepall the original plans.
But we'll see.
We'll be flexible.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
We just want a great space when do you think your
space will which?
Do you all have a deadline ofwhen?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
I mean, ideally it would be around september,
october in 2026.
Okay, that's the plan.
That's the plan.
That's what I'm.
That's what I'm.
I love that Planning, forthat's not far at all.
Wow, be about a little bit lessthan 18 months from the time we
broke ground.
I love that is so fast, sohopefully we can get it going.
You know, let's just make surethat the weather holds out, if
(20:46):
it will ever quit raining.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
I know Where's the drought.
I'm sorry.
Everybody's going to likeweather.
People are going to come at meon that Camps.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Yes, okay, I know we still have a few, because I
wanted to make sure that westill had a few that we can
register for.
Still Okay, but obviously, asthis airs, please check the
website Late July.
Yes, so we still have SpyAcademy, ooh, project Robot or
Project Runway Robots, becausenot only are you going to be
(21:19):
able to create textiles,plastics, little bubbles, but
they're going to learn somecoding on a couple of our
different robots.
So great, so fun.
And then we have a Girls Steam,which is exciting that's fun.
And then we have a girls' steam, which is exciting that's fun.
So that is just for girls andwe're going to just dive into a
number of different steamactivities.
Really, it's just to continueto give girls confidence in that
space.
(21:39):
Yes, because I know that as youget older, as a girl, you get
discouraged from doing that kindof thing.
So we want to continue toreally push young girls to push
through that steam ceiling.
If you will, I'd have thatLiterally, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Yeah, break that ceiling.
What else is coming down thepipe?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
So we always have so many fun events planned, but one
thing that we do every singleyear is Tinker Fest, and that is
going to be in October thisyear.
Yes, it's October 4th.
Yes, that is correct.
Hey, there's a lot of datesgoing around my head right now.
There's a lot of numbers,listen, so yeah, that was
impressive.
Thank you.
Thank you, and that issomething that we've done for
(22:24):
many years, and it'sindoor-outdoor.
It is indoor-outdoor.
And it is so fun.
So if you had to choose one dayI can only come to the Amazeum
one day, tinker Fest I wouldchoose Tinker Fest, tinker Fest.
Not only is it just anexplosion of all things Amazeum
and Steam but there's somethings that you might never get
(22:45):
to do again.
Get to do again ever.
Um, I've never taken apart acar before tinker fest where I
can actually like take realtools and just pull stuff out of
a car.
It's and it won't matter.
I mean it doesn't matter and Ican see what's behind the
dashboard and what these wiresjust pull things.
That's a really fun thing to do.
(23:07):
But not only that, but thenalso be guided by the kids in
the mechanic department that'sat NTI.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
So we have people that really know that know in
the mechanic department andworking with other kids.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Opening up questions and it's so much fun to see that
and see these older kids intheir teens and early 20s
working with younger kids and tosee how excited they get too.
But you might learn how to picka lock.
You might learn how to makeoobleck A skill.
What?
Speaker 1 (23:37):
should it all have.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
I mean, honestly, you know, really, picking a lock is
a skill we should all know.
That was a really fun littleactivation last year.
You might be able to createsomething with our laser.
You might be able to createsomething with our laser you
might be able to work on.
I mean, we have so manydifferent things.
I think last year we had 25different activations.
That's a lot.
It's a lot In the best way,absolutely, because there's
(24:00):
something for everyone.
Oh, absolutely yes, and you canstay at one station for an hour
and then another kid's at theother station station.
You have a few different kidsat different ages.
I promise they're going to findsomething.
Yes, oh yes, they're going tofind something that they like,
regardless of their age.
Yes, and it's something that wework on regionally as well,
(24:22):
because not only do we do thetinker best here, but so does
the museum of discovery inlittle rock, so does the Museum
of Discovery in Little Rock, sodoes the Science Museum of
Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, sodoes Discovery Lab in Tulsa.
Did you all start Tinker Fest?
We?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
did not actually.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
That was the Museum of Discovery that started that
in Little Rock and we've been anearly participant and now it's
something that happens all overthe country.
Oh my gosh, um.
But we have this regionalcohort, if you will, that has a
different.
Tinker fest, or discover festis actually in um in oklahoma
city because they have tinkerairbay, so it's getting a little
(24:58):
confusing oh fair, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Yes, we had a cross that bridge this year.
One of the taglines of oklahomais like discover yeah, so, so
yeah, it works for them.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
But we we have something every weekend for four
weeks so you can go To OklahomaCity, you can then go to Little
Rock, you can go.
Everything's really withindriving distance.
So if these people that arejust love making, love tinkering
and tinkering sometimes is aword that people think I don't,
(25:29):
I kind of know what that means.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
But I just think it means I was so happy when this
word came back.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yeah, because what I remember hearing is oh,
grandpa's out tinkering Right,exactly exactly and that's
exactly what it is.
Yes, there's no real end butthere's no judgment to it and
you're just trying differentthings with real tools and
trying to figure things out andyou're just tinkering and you've
had amazing tinkerers come.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
We have almost full circle because now they work for
you.
Some of them work for you.
We have absolutely that.
Came to Tinker Fest andtinkered and just stayed
involved.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Yeah oh, absolutely, and now that's their full-time
job.
Yes, this is absolutely true.
I love those stories.
It's really remarkable.
I mean, even a couple of yearsago I was standing at the car
take apart talking to one of thestudents at NTI who was in
bentonville schools and one ofthose programs and he said the
reason he got into the mechanicprogram was because he came to
tinker fest and was able to dothis car take apart and thought,
(26:29):
wow, that's something I coulddo.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
I really like that it's like you're getting this
person their future it's.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
It's remarkable, isn't?
Speaker 1 (26:37):
it, I love it.
Priceless nights.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Yes, yes, thank you so much.
Walker Family Foundation.
Yes, for helping us continuethat going.
So Wednesday nights is our pay,as you like night.
So if you want to pay fulladmission, lovely.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
If you can't pay anything, that's fine too.
We still love you.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
Because this is about access, yes, and those people
that might not be able to comeand pay the $12, $14, which we
know can add up, which is why amembership is so good it is.
But, yeah, come on out on aWednesday night after 4.30 and
it goes until 7.30.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
So you have a few hours after school or during the
summer, obviously it's aperfect time and then think
about it in a year and a half,when the hangouts open and the
cafes open, yeah, it'll beperfect.
And then your priceless nightsand dinner, everything,
everything wrapped on.
You know what I mean.
Yes, you bet I know.
Yes.
Thank you to the Walker FamilyFoundation.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
And we see tons of people that come through on
priceless nights.
That that's when they come.
You know that's when they come.
You know that's the eveningthat they come.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
And sometimes that's just easier for family and
schedule-wise.
Yeah, you betcha, yes.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
Yeah, from a schedule perspective and there's so much
energy that happens on aWednesday night because it is an
open-arm evening, it's probablymore family-focused, yeah,
instead of just the mom and allthe kids?
Speaker 1 (27:56):
Sure, yes, I love that.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
Okay, what about let's see Amazeum UnGala oh, I
already have a date for nextyear.
Of course I do april 24th, 2026and we don't have our honorary
chairs yet.
Okay, we're a theme yet, butyou know it's gonna be big,
(28:18):
because it always is it's goingto be huge.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
It's always a fun time.
So much fun.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
It's hard to explain almost to people that haven't
been before, because it is sounlike other events in Northwest
Arkansas.
It's an un-gala.
It's an un-gala, I know.
I told you we do the un, yes,un-gala A little.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
V12.
A little V12.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Oh or 24-volt racers Of 24.
Yeah, you've got to double that.
You've got to go faster than 12.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Or the turtling.
I'm so sorry, no turtling.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
But there's always so many activations there and it's
adults only and it's our onlyfundraiser throughout the year.
That's an event, so we reallyrely on that.
But you also have adult nights.
Yes, now that is like a youknow, miniature version, if you
will, yes, of ungala.
So 25 bucks, what like, for acouple hours.
(29:13):
So, yes, on um.
So we have three um adultnights a year in an ungala.
So we have four very specificadult programming every year.
Our next one is October 7th,right after Tinker Fest.
That's not right.
It's October 17th, it is.
I was close until you saidright after Tinker Fest.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
I was like three days later no, it's.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
October 17th, just kidding.
So I was almost there 13 dayslater.
It's fine quick.
It's still quick and it'sfaster it's a fun night for the
girls to go out on this day inIndia is gonna be absolutely
there yeah, so you'll be able tosee it, and testic is the
budget and the entire museum isopen.
It's fun date night, fun girlsnight out.
(29:57):
We had such incredible umactivities and even our catering
was amazing at our cowboysversus dinosaurs adult night,
which was a huge success lasttime.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
So early summer.
It was okay.
Yeah, and it was, it was a tonof fun so do people dress up for
these things?
They?
Speaker 2 (30:17):
we had so many people on theme for the dinosaurs
versus cowboys, I think we'll dosomething a little spooky
science or neon for October.
We're working on that right now, but I'll have a theme in the
next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Oh, my gosh, that's going to be so fun.
I hope that we push people needto wear costumes or just be on
theme.
Don't let it stop you, but it'smore fun to be on theme.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
it is more fun to be on themes yeah, oh my gosh, so
you might even get an extradrink ticket if you're on thing
I love that right.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Who doesn't need another pass?
Yes, absolutely.
What have we not touched on?
Speaker 2 (30:55):
gosh, we've touched on so many things, but there's
one thing I'd love to talk about.
It is our Youth Maker Program.
Okay, and it is something thatjust continues to have a lot of
momentum behind it.
It is for our teen makers, soit's actually like oh, there's a
market coming up, we just hadour market.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Okay, I lied and it's okay, but I saw something about
it.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
But we have our next cohort that will be accepting
applications right now in thefall time, because it's, like I
said, a great program.
So kids come in.
They'll start with a workshop.
That's like how do you becreative, how do you find
something that you want to make,that you want to possibly sell,
(31:37):
to make that you want topossibly sell?
And then we narrow it down thatpeople apply for the actual
program and they'll have openmake times.
They'll have a mentorshipprogram.
We'll come in and talk to themabout marketing and branding and
price structure and packaging.
And how do you then create awebsite?
(31:58):
These kids are so lucky.
And how do you sell theseeffectively?
What is your spiel whensomebody walks up to your table
and they practice it?
And then it all culminates witha youth maker market.
So how many cohorts a year?
So we do about two a year, andso there's a spring, summer and
then, like a fall, winter.
Okay, and that program needsthat amount of time.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
It does to develop.
I was gonna say two.
I was hoping it wasn't just onelike because no, there's.
You can lose focus if it's toolong, right?
Yes, you can.
Yeah there's.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
There's two, because there are different workshops
that they need to go through.
There's different times where,like I said, they have open make
time so they come in.
They get to use our equipment.
Right, what's their commitment?
Do that when they apply.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Um, what do you mean?
So I apply.
I assume it's like we ask youto be yeah, I did certain open
makes.
Speaker 2 (32:49):
Hey, you need to at least come to so many.
Then you need to come to someof these workshops that we have
so that our team can talk to youabout these different things
and then, obviously, just beingpart of that, like being
involved, those kids that are alot more involved, we're going
to be more successful in themarket.
But honestly, we had 15 andthat's a small cohort.
We had a 15 person cohort atour last youth maker market.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
That sounds like a lot to me.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
And they sold over $3,000 worth of product.
This is so exciting.
I went over budget.
When I went to go take picturesI was like, well, I had to get
something here, oh, and I got toget something over here, and so
, yeah, and so I just keptbuying.
So it was.
It's a lot of fun.
It's so fun to not only talk tothese kids and see the
(33:36):
confidence from the first partof the year to the market, but
the stories from their parentswas really amazing and how
they've been so encouraged and,wow, you know, this is something
that my child actually wants todo for a living.
Now, all right that they hadnever considered, and now we're,
we're, we're in it.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
We're already starting it.
What are the?
Speaker 2 (33:58):
ages it's about 11 to 18.
Oh, so we have a very largerange and it works.
It works because we're able toget enough one-on-one time with
each one of them that they getsomething out of it.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
What's the average size of cohort?
Speaker 2 (34:15):
because 15 sounded 15 is, I think, is about where
we're starting.
We we're going to keep them,but the first, the school-based
workshops, are open and I mean Ithink we had 700 throughout all
the workshops.
But then they apply to be partof the program and you know,
we'd love to have more peopleapply to be part of the Youth
Maker program after thoseworkshops, which then does
(34:36):
culminate in that market.
Oh my gosh, I'd love this.
It's great.
What'd you get?
So many things.
I got earrings.
I got a very cute key chain.
I got a leather cord keeperthat looks like a bear no
kidding, adorable.
I got a caricature of Juan andI oh really, Somebody did it.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
I got a photo and it's so cute.
Speaker 2 (34:57):
Oh my gosh, I got ears.
Yes, it is adorable and it'sliterally like up on my
refrigerator.
I'm going to frame it.
It's the cutest thing I've everseen.
And I mean, and I got a bunchof greeting cards that were
great.
I'm keeping them specificallyat work because there's a thank
you one, there's a birthday one,there's it's just very perfect
(35:18):
Stickers.
They made it all.
Oh my gosh, this is wonderful.
They made it all.
It is such a great program andalways helped support that this
year and Wingate Foundation did,and Cox Media, oh wow.
So we had a great Three hugesponsors Really good sponsors.
Kudos to you and your team.
I mean, honestly, it's been sofun to watch this program take
(35:39):
off.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
We get to talk about that one more often because I
don't think I realized themagnitude of that program.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
It is remarkable, yeah, I mean we're just starting
to even think about likefinancial impact, like true
financial impact from kids thatare under 18 just at the Amazeum
.
That's pretty remarkable,pretty niche, but like amazing.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
It's so great because you've got kids that are in
public schools, oh yeah, or highschools, public high schools,
except for and well,specifically I'll just talk on
Bentonville, because that'swhere my oldest goes but they've
got this Ignite program right.
This like internship, yourjunior senior year, but I'm like
this is like that, but on adifferent level.
Not it's just like anotherparallel level, but it's
(36:22):
creative and you're bringing inall this mentorship for a
12-year-old and you're settingthem up for success for the
future.
Speaker 2 (36:33):
Very few 12-year-olds are going to be like no, I do
need to think about my packaging.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
Right?
No, they're not.
My pie structure isn't rightthey're not.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
My price structure isn't right.
They're not.
Uh-uh.
I love that.
It's fun to be able to havethat like real world applicable,
but they're still having fun.
Yes, they're still learning andthey're still making something.
They're in there makingsomething.
In this case, it is about ourend product, because that's the
focus In so many places in theAmazeum.
It's not about that end product, right?
(37:02):
So to have that little bit of ashift for this program and to
see that and see the momentumaround it is really a fun thing
to watch.
How old is this program?
It's relatively new.
It's only been a couple yearsold Okay, I'm not making that up
and it just continues to grow,absolutely.
That's why I was like girl, Igot to bring this up.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
I'm so sad, I didn't.
I saw the advertising for themarket and it didn't.
I didn't really put two and twotogether.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Well, and you know to be fair.
That's something that we needto work on, because we have to
tell that story.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
We do need to tell that story.
Awesome place to end.
Speaker 2 (37:37):
Yeah, I'll go with that I love that.
Speaker 1 (37:40):
Oh, my gosh, that makes me so happy.
Holland, thank you.
Thank you for having me, asalways.
Again, again, again, again,again, again For joining me.
I'm sure she'll be back next.
Oh, yes, I will.
So, yeah, don't forget to stopby your local Walmart and pick
up your Hershey's salty snackswhich are red dye free, by the
way which Holland was telling mea break.
We don't have commercial breaks.
Very nice, you know what I'mtalking about.
(38:00):
We have pirate booty Dotshomestyle pretzels, and skinny
pop Dots homestyle pretzels.
Cinnamon sugar oh, I haven't hadthe cinnamon sugar.
Oh no, I will get you a bag.
They're freaking amazing.
And then I just saw theylaunched a new flavor barbecue
seasoning or something.
I haven't tried them, but Imean the original is.
(38:20):
It's hard to beat so good.
Cinnamon sugar is the snack younever knew.
You knew, oh, I need it.
It's amazing, it's amazing.
So you'll have to.
You'll need those for thedrought in July.
You got it.
Okay, that's all we have.
But thank you for joining us.
I really appreciate it, andkeep inspiring a culture of
giving.
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