California Science Center opens free interactive sports exhibits
There's a new interactive exhibit opening on Thursday at the California Science Center across the street from the Coliseum that will provide Disneyland-like sports entertainment for all ages, and it's free.
Using censors, cameras and 21st century technology, 'Game On!' takes up 17,000 square feet formally occupied by the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. It allows visitors to learn about science, sports and movement. You get to actively participate by hitting a softball against pitcher Rachel Garcia, take batting practice instructions from Freddie Freeman and kick a soccer ball into a goal while learning from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. All are mentors.
Yet there's so much more. You get to try swimming strokes, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling. There's climbing, yoga, dancing and challenging your senses during an exhibit that tests your quickness trying to block a hockey puck. There's a basketball exhibit where you shoot a ball toward the basket and learn if your form is good or not.
'There's something for everybody,' said Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation that helped provide funding along with the Dodgers Foundation and Walter Family Foundation.
She's not embellishing. Parents, children, adults, teenagers — they're all going to be smiling. Don't be surprised if nearby USC students discover a new place to enjoy an hour break for fun and laughter from studying by walking over to the exhibition hall when it opens at 10 a.m.
It's supposed to be open through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but don't be surprised if popularity creates momentum to keep it around longer.
'It's really cool,' said Garcia, a former UCLA All-American softball pitcher who appears on a screen showing off her 60 mph pitch as a participant swings a real bat trying to hit an imaginary ball as a light trail moves down a rail toward the batter. 'I think it's phenomenal. It's going to get a lot of kids engaged.'
Garcia even tried to hit against herself. 'I missed the first time,' she said.
The batting cage where Freeman is providing hitting advice has a real soft ball and bat. It will be popular for all ages.
The rock climbing exhibit still has not been completed, but participants will wear a harness as they climb toward the ceiling.
While kids will be the most enthusiastic, a dinner recently held at the facility that had adults dressed in tuxedos and dresses resulted in them trying out the exhibits and acting like teenagers again.
Using science to teach lessons could provide inspiration for non-sports visitors. There's sound effects throughout and most important, pushing a button doesn't just mean you watch and listen. It means you get to participate, whether hitting a baseball or softball, trying to make a free throw, trying to swim or skateboard.
Don't be surprised when word gets out how fun this exhibition creates. There will be lines. The only question will it be kids lining up or adults?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
American Military News
12 hours ago
- American Military News
Musk walks back threat to decommission SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
Elon Musk seemingly backed down from a threat to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft that ferries cargo and people to the International Space Station for the U.S., made during an escalation of a spat between the billionaire and President Donald Trump. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft is the company's primary vehicle for sending astronauts and cargo to orbit. The company has billions of dollars in contracts with NASA to send the agency's astronauts on periodic trips to and from the ISS, which helps the space agency to maintain an uninterrupted presence at the space station until its retirement by the end of 2030. Musk initially pledged to decommission the spacecraft after Trump's threat to pull Musk's governmental contracts, which was prompted by Musk's near-incessant bashing of the president's tax bill on X, his social media service. However, just hours later, he responded to a post suggesting he take a step back and cool off for a couple of days, replying 'Good advice. OK, we won't decommission Dragon.' It's unclear what exactly Musk initially meant by 'decommissioning' Dragon. SpaceX also uses its Dragon spacecraft for commercial missions, separate from the ones it performs for NASA. The company has flown six private astronaut missions on Dragon, either to fly freely in orbit or visit the International Space Station. SpaceX is scheduled to launch another private astronaut mission on Dragon as soon as June 10, in partnership with Axiom Space, sending four civilians to the ISS. NASA will 'continue to execute upon the President's vision' and work with its industry partners, agency spokesperson Bethany Stevens said in a post on X. An abrupt end to SpaceX's Dragon would leave NASA in a significant bind regarding its space station program. The vehicle is the only operational U.S. option for sending astronauts to the space station, though the agency does also rely on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft to launch NASA astronauts periodically. It's also one of the main options for keeping the space station stocked with food and supplies. NASA potentially has another U.S. option for sending crew to the space station in Boeing's Starliner. However, the vehicle is still not certified for carrying astronauts, after suffering a botched test flight in 2024 that left two astronauts on the ISS for months longer than planned. Because of engine issues with Starliner, NASA tasked SpaceX with bringing home the astronauts on a Dragon craft. SpaceX is also under contract with NASA for creating a Dragon-like vehicle that will be responsible for guiding the ISS out of orbit. It's unclear where those plans currently stand. ___ © 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Disneyland ride shuts down after car derails off track: Witness
The Brief A car ended up going off-track on one of the rides at Disneyland's Tomorrowland. The car derailment shut down the Autopia ride, a witness said. No injuries were reported in the incident. ANAHEIM, Calif. - A group of Disneyland guests were pulled from a ride after one of the cars derailed off track. What we know A video shared by social media user @Laughing_Place showed one of the cars at Autopia in the park's bushes and shrubs on Wednesday, June 4. According to the witness, the parkgoers who were in the other cars were evacuated from the ride as crews looked into the derailed car. The Tomorrowland attraction ended up shutting down for the afternoon, user @Laughing_Place said. What we don't know As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, no injuries had been reported in the incident. FOX 11 is making calls to Disney for comment on the incident. The backstory Autopia is a family attraction that allows kids taller than 32 inches to hop on the ride. According to Disney's website, the cars are "equipped with front and rear bumpers and an undercarriage guide rail to safeguard your trip." Riders can also slow down by easing off the accelerator. Autopia was introduced with Disneyland Park's opening day in 1955. It stands as the only existing Tomorrowland attraction dating back to the first date it opened, Disney said on its website. "Over the years, the roadways and car styles have been updated, but the fun stays the same," the ride's description read on Disney's website. The Source This report used information provided by witnesses. The video was obtained by @Laughing_Place on social media.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-image-DISNEYAACULTURE0525-5f8e6c2dcbc5427a84622118ff8efdf2.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
13 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
Disney Has Asian American Culture Hidden in Plain Sight—How to Find the Best Eats, Experiences, and More
While some kids grow up hearing fairy tales about faraway lands, I grew up with stories about a magical place that's about a five-hour drive from my California hometown of San José: Disneyland. We had a children's book about the 'It's a Small World" ride and my mom always likes to muse on how the attraction is 'just so peaceful,' like 'heaven on earth.' As the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, I often felt like I was jumping rope between the two sides of my Asian American identity. But our visits to Disney always felt like the prototypical all-American experience. We may not have been outwardly cognizant of it at the time, but perhaps we felt a connection since it was the one place where we saw characters that looked like us being represented. Decades later, we embarked on a multigenerational family trip to the park in 2017 with my parents and two young nieces. This trip just happened to take place days before Lunar New Year, and I was shocked to see an archway reading 'Lunar New Year' near Disney California Adventure decked out in traditional red-and-gold lanterns and tassels under an Asian-inspired, Mickey-shaped logo. Turns out, it was part of the park's annual Lunar New Year festivities, which initially started in 2012 as a week-long event, but has since expanded into a nearly month-long celebration. We saw menu items from Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese cuisines, and there were even Mickey and Minnie characters dressed in traditional outfits. To see a park that felt so 'American' embrace Asian traditions went beyond just feeling seen, but like really being embraced and understood. It felt especially poignant during my nieces' first visit—knowing they'll grow up in a more inclusive society. The entrance to San Fransokyo Square in Disney's California Adventure Park. Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort It wasn't until last month that I was lured back to a Disney again, visiting Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to participate in the Run Disney Springtime Surprise Weekend's 5K run. And I I began spotting Asian American influences all over the park: first a mahjong table in the lobby of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and I later saw collectible pins of characters on Asian-style fans and boba drinks. Early this month, I visited Disneyland for its 70th Anniversary Celebration. And instead of hunting for hidden Mickeys, I went on a hunt for Asian American influences at the park. I began my search in Disney California Adventure in San Fransokyo Square, a hybrid of San Francisco and Tokyo inspired by the movie "Big Hero 6." This section used to be known as Pacific Wharf, and I was immediately blown away by the redressing. There were signs written with Japanese and Chinese characters, and tons of traditional Asian motifs, like gold coins, dragons, lucky cats, and lanterns. It was all definitive proof that Disneyland is making a meaningful investment in diversity. It especially makes sense in California, where 7.1 million people (that's about 18 percent) identify as Asian, according to data from the Pew Research Center . But nothing impressed me more than the menus. Lucky Fortune Cookery served up honey walnut shrimp wraps, potstickers, karaage-inspired chicken sandwiches, yaki udon, and its buzzed-about beef birria ramen. Aunt Cass Café had soba noodle salad, California roll sandwich, and—my obsession—San Fransokyo Clam Chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Flavored with white miso, it was all a far cry from the burgers and hot dogs I had expected as theme park fare. But the Asian American-inspired offerings weren't limited to San Fransokyo Square. While watching the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration parade (which is returning to Disney California Adventure through next summer), I was surprised that the opening float featured Red Panda Mei, along with other characters from "Turning Red." Later, I stood with a honey lemonade with popping bubbles from Aunt Cass' at the Disneyland Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, bemused by the fact I was watching a Disney parade with a boba drink in hand, something I never could have imagined during my childhood visits. Wandering down Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A., I noticed that one of the window displays at Emporium, was dedicated to Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. But that wasn't the only homage to AAPI month. I also saw signs for special menu items around the park, including passion fruit-orange-guava punch and green tea lager at Lucky Fortune Cookery. During May, the park's Disney PhotoPass featured themed MagicShots, with images superimposed with Asian Disney characters including Russell from "Up," Panda Mei from "Turning Red," and the rings from "Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings." There was even a sketch pad prop option showcasing work by Tyrus Wong, a Chinese American animator who was the lead artist behind "Bambi." There were also special events in May including autograph signings with Asian Disney artists Stacy Aoyama and Eric Tan, drawing lessons with Russell and Mei, movie nights showings of "Moana" and "Turning Red," and dance lessons with Tahitian, Polynesian, Japanese, Indian, and Filipino instructors. But perhaps the most significant permanent Asian addition is the new Din Tai Fung, which opened July 2024 at Downtown Disney. Visiting the restaurant's original location in Taipei was always a major part of my trips to Taiwan, and it was absolutely mind-boggling that it was now the anchor restaurant at a major American theme park. As I enjoyed my favorite spicy wontons and sesame xiao long baos, I was tickled to learn the restaurant even had a limited pin set to celebrate the park's 70th anniversary. Mural in San Fransokyo Square in Disney California Adventure. Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort Stumbling upon all these meaningful Asian American elements sprinkled throughout the part was no accident, but the work of Compass, the park's Asian American Pacific Islander employee group. Compass 'strives to educate our Cast with a greater understanding and appreciation of our AAPI culture' and 'helps advise on culture awareness for Disneyland Resort offerings,' the group's co-chair Allie Kawamoto, hotel experience integration manager at Disneyland Resort, tells Travel + Leisure . Kawamoto was born in Anaheim and has always loved Disney. But now she's paying it forward to the next generation, and was behind the Emporium's AAPI display. 'Seeing this window come to life and being able to share the window with my son was a moment I was very proud of," she says. Like my own family, she adds that she's always been a fan of 'It's a Small World,' which has been updated through the years to include "Lilo and Stitch" in its Pacific Islands section, and most recently, "Coco'"s Miguel and Dante in the Mexico portion. 'I just feel happy as I ride through and see countless cultures represented,' Kawamoto says. 'We have guests that visit from around the world, and I think just about everyone can see a reflection of their culture."
