CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Dog Iron Ranch area of Will Rogers Memorial Museum Children’s Museum now includes a new kit called “Rigamajig” that empowers children to think dimensionally and build things larger than themselves.

Also, the children are getting exercise using wooden planks of various sizes and shapes.

Crystal Campbell was all smiles when she saw a group of children putting together a wagon during her first visit to the children’s area since arrival of the giant box of wood and accessories.

“It’s like a wooden erector set,” said Campbell, who is largely responsible for a $15,000 grant, which provided the “Rigamajig” at no cost to the museum.

The kit is designed to allow children to following their own curiosity through play and creativity, to find the hidden monsters, spaceships, wagons, or robots in the collection of wood, plastic, and rope.

In a cooperative learning adventure, children can make friends and share resources … “my pulley for your canvas … hold this while I connect that.” Then when playtime is over, they can take the “Rigamajig” apart or leave it for other children to re-imagine.

Campbell worked with Will Rogers Memorial Museum staff for a quick turn-around to obtain the “Rigamajig,” partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma as the primary funder that enabled the creatively play piece to be distributed.