Kids have big ideas and even bigger imaginations. Secret underground tunnels that connect their houses to their friends’. Ocean-sized swimming pools filled with Kool-Aid. Buildings made of Legos, tall enough reach the moon. What would our world look like if we gave kids more opportunities to impact the environments around them? We’d likely see more creativity, more positivity, and we’d all have more fun.
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is asking this question and giving kids the opportunity to share their ideas for a new, real-world project.
As Richmond readers may have heard, VCU Health System is building a new children’s hospital that is set to open by the end of 2022. As part of this project, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is inviting kids to share their big thinking for the design of its new patient tower.
On Saturday, May 18 from 9am-noon, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU will host the Children’s Community Design Fair to gather local input. At the fair, a variety of arts and crafts projects will enable families to exercise their creativity by imagining the possible look, feel and features of the new children’s hospital.
From coloring to imagination stations and beyond, families will have the chance to explore ideas for the children’s hospital alongside physicians and architects. Along the way, the architectural design firm for the new hospital will be on site, collecting feedback from families that will directly impact the project.
As parents, we’ve all heard our kids talk about wanting to be doctors, designers, architects, artists, nurses, EMTs (or “ambulance drivers” in kid-speak) and creators. On May 18, kids can live out those dreams while making a positive impact on their community. They’ll have the chance to not just meet these role models, but work with them to create an experience that may soon brighten a child’s day when they need it most. If you (or your friends) have been a patient, then you know how much the design, color, features and feeling of the environment can impact the experience, especially for children and their families. Now, imagine being able to make a positive impact on others through your family’s ideas and creativity for years to come.
While Saturday’s event will celebrate what’s possible through the future children’s hospital, kids will also have a blast at the Children’s Community Design Fair with activities like:
- Face painting
- Puppies (Yes, dogs!)
- Games
- Giveaways
- Snacks and refreshments
This is an awesome way to spend a Saturday morning while also leaving your mark on the Richmond community, and working together as a family to help those who will spend time in the children’s hospital one day.
Learn more here: https://chrichmond.org/CommunityDesignFair.htm?utm_source=rm&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=designfair&utm_content=coverstory
Here are the event details.
Children’s Community Design Fair
Saturday, May 18
9am-noon
Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Children’s Pavilion, 1000 East Broad Street
Free parking in the Pavilion parking deck
