PLAY LABS
Self-guided, experiential learning activities that promote creativity by challenging visitors to design, test, and iterate on ideas through hands-on play.
PLAY MEMBERSHIPS
There's no better way to explore our hands-on Play Labs than with a Family Play Membership. Great for parents and grandparents!
EXPLORE IN DUBUQUE!
​
DUBUQUE PLAY LAB HOURS
Thursdays: 2pm-6pm
Fridays: 2pm-6pm
Saturdays: 10am-4pm
Sundays: 10am-2pm
​
ADMISSION
$10/child ages 1-15
$0/adults and children under 1
​
Our Play Free(ly) Project provides free admission for everyone on Sundays, thanks to support from generous sponsors!
​
HOW TO PLAY
This is a drop-in program - no advance registration.
All children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
LEGO® LAB​
Featuring more than 1,000 pounds of LEGO® bricks in all different shapes, sizes, and colors! Build, race, create, design, and more in these fun LEGO® Lab activities:
​
EXPLORATION ZONE
An interactive building environment, unlimited LEGO® supplies, and your imagination power this popular activity.
RUNDE AUTO SPEEDWAY
Design, build, test and race a variety of different style vehicles in our speedway activity.
​
PIXEL ART GALLERY
Use bricks to create 2D works of art that you can then display in our LEGO® gallery!
​
GRAVITY CHALLENGE
How good are you at building? See how far out from the wall can you get in this fun gravity-defying activity.
PORTZEN CONSTRUCTION LAB​
Test out your construction skills using a variety of different materials in these build-tastic activities!​
​
GIANT BLUE BLOCKS
Use large-scale foam blocks of different shapes and sizes to create buildings, ball ramps...whatever you want!
​
BUILDING STRAWS
What would you build if you had thousands of small tubes and connectors? A vehicle, a structure, something else?!
​
ARCHITECTURAL PLANKS
100's of small wooden planks that look simple, but we've seen visitors use them to create architectural masterpieces!
MAGNETISM LAB
You'll be attracted (get it, a pun!) to the fun activities that help you explore magnetism in this play lab. Yes, we know we're corny...
​
VERTICAL WALL MAZE
Attach magnetic tracks to our giant metal wall and see what you cool things you can get the ball to do on its way down.​
​
MAGNETIC TILES
Yes, you might have magnetic tiles at home. But do you have 500 of them? Just imagine the possibilities...
​
MAGNETIC WOODEN BLOCKS
It's a double whammy! Wooden blocks with magnets embedded inside of them, which creates interesting possibilities.
PREMIER BANK BOULDERING WALL
As part of our fun Play Lab activities, admission includes unlimited bouldering on our rock wall.
​
WHAT IS BOULDERING?
Bouldering is a way to practice your rock climbing skills without needing to put on a harness or get roped in. It involves climbing horizontally and staying close to the ground. We have a bouldering line clearly marked on our wall and our floor is soft and cushiony, to help you stay safe.
​
WHEN CAN WE CLIMB TO THE TOP?
Want to get roped in and try to climb to the top? Register for one of our Rock Climbing Classes that happen every Friday and Saturday. Space is limited and advance registration is required.
TODDLER LAB
This special area features activities & materials safe and developmentally appropriate for our youngest visitors.
​
PLAY KITCHEN & WORKBENCH
Cook and build in our play kitchen and workbench.
​
MINI ROCK WALL
A (very) tiny version of our 2 story rock wall, just for the littles.
​
MAGNETISM ACTIVITIES
Magnetic wooden blocks you can build with or use to make designs on the magnetic wall.
​
PUPPET THEATER
Pick out some fun puppets and put on a show for (or with) your child!
​
DUPLO® BLOCKS
Why should the big kids get all the fun? Build and play with our large selection of DUPLO® blocks.
STEM CHALLENGE LAB
This lab isn't a physical space - it's a set of missions specially designed by our STEM experts. You'll use materials from a variety of our Play Labs to create unique solutions to this fun set of challenges, such as:
​
RAMP IT UP
Using materials from at least 2 different Play Labs, create a ball ramp that's at least as long as your body.
​
SLOW & STEADY
Design a vehicle that goes as slow as possible down the Runde Auto Speedway but still reaches the end of your chosen ramp.
​
EGYPTIAN SHAKE-UP
Use the giant blue foam blocks to create the tallest UPSIDE DOWN pyramid you can engineer.
TELEGRAPH HERALD
LIGHT LAB
Remember Lite-brite®? Now imagine it 8 feet tall and 20 feet wide, with 1 inch pegs!
​
Flex your creative muscles and create an illuminated piece of art or a bright message to your friends in the Telegraph Herald Light Lab!
PLAY MEMBERSHIPS
There's no better way to explore our hands-on Play Labs than with a Family Play Membership. Great for parents and grandparents!
EXPLORE IN MONTICELLO!
​
MONTICELLO PLAY LAB HOURS
Opens September 2, 2022
Fridays: 2pm-6pm
Saturdays: 10am-4pm
Sundays: 10am-2pm
​
ADMISSION
$10/child ages 1-15
$0/adults and children under 1
​
Our Play Free(ly) Project provides free admission for everyone on Sundays, thanks to support from generous sponsors!
​
HOW TO PLAY
This is a drop-in program - no advance registration.
All children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
ALLIANT ENERGY LEGO® LAB​
Featuring more than 1,000 pounds of LEGO® bricks in all different shapes, sizes, and colors! Build, race, create, design, and more in these fun LEGO® Lab activities:
​
EXPLORATION ZONE
An interactive building environment, unlimited LEGO® supplies, and your imagination power this popular activity.
TOWER CHALLENGE
How good are you at building? See how tall of a tower you can design and build. You might just become famous...
​
PIXEL ART GALLERY
Use bricks to create 2D works of art that you can then display in our LEGO® gallery!
​
GRAVITY CHALLENGE
How good are you at building? See how far out from the wall can you get in this fun gravity-defying activity.
CONSTRUCTION LAB​
Test out your construction skills using a variety of different materials in these build-tastic activities!​
​
GIANT BUILDING BLOCKS
Use life-size building blocks to create buildings, sculptures...whatever you want!
​
BUILDING STRAWS
What would you build if you had thousands of small tubes and connectors? A vehicle, a structure, something else?!
​
BLOCKITECTURE
100's of small wooden planks that look simple, but we've seen visitors use them to create architectural masterpieces!
RACING LAB (coming soon)
Test your skills designing amazing racing courses that go down, up, and even around!
​
RACING WALL
Create an insane race track that winds it's way down an entire wall and see what you can get your vehicles to do!​
​
RACE BLOCKS
Want to go even further than the racing wall? Use our movable racing blocks to bring your track out from the wall and explore even more possibilities!
​
CUSTOM VEHICLE SHOP
It's a double whammy! Combine the racing wall, reaching blocks, and then use our LEGO® Lab to create a custom-designed racing machines to unleash the speed!
STEM CHALLENGE LAB
This lab isn't a physical space - it's a set of missions specially designed by our STEM experts. You'll use materials from a variety of our Play Labs to create unique solutions to this fun set of challenges, such as:
​
FAMOUS LANDMARKS
Leaning tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House - we want to see them all! Recreate a famous building using the small wooden planks.
​
BRIDGE CHALLENGE
Use the LEGO bricks to create the longest bridge you can without it breaking! How long will it be?
​
EGYPTIAN SHAKE-UP
Use the giant building blocks to create the tallest UPSIDE DOWN pyramid you can engineer.
DUBUQUE, IA
210 Jones Street (Door C)
Dubuque, IA 52001
​
HOURS
Thursdays: 2pm-6pm
Fridays: 2pm-6pm
Saturdays: 10am-4pm
Sundays: 10am-2pm
​
We are also available outside of these hours for private parties & groups and classes.
MONTICELLO, IA
101 E 1st Street
Monticello, IA 52310
​
HOURS
Fridays: 2pm-6pm
Saturdays: 10am-4pm
Sundays: 10am-2pm
​
We are also available outside of these hours for private parties & groups.
