Soar Lab Expands Hands-On Learning Opportunities for Children and Families in Bradenton
The Soar Lab in Bradenton has announced new open play hours, giving children and families expanded access to engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Located at 6423 9th Street East, the Soar Lab offers interactive opportunities for children to explore art, engineering, tinkering, math, science, and nature, while developing school readiness skills.
The center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free for School District of Manatee County (SDMC) Pre-K through third-grade students and one adult, SDMC staff with a child from birth through third grade, children ages 0–4 with one adult, and families receiving WIC, EBT, SNAP, or Medicaid benefits. For others, donation-based entry is available, including $10 for one child and adult, $50 for an annual pass for one child and adult, or $100 for an annual pass for up to five people. Additional adults or children may be added for $5 each. All donations support the Soar Lab, and payments are accepted online through DonorPerfect.
Soar in 4, the nonprofit initiative behind the Soar Lab, has been serving Manatee County since 2016 with a mission to strengthen early childhood education and family engagement. It began as a collaborative effort among the School District of Manatee County, the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, the Manatee County Libraries, and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Together, these partners created a network of programs designed to prepare children for kindergarten while providing parents with resources to support learning at home.
Over the years, Soar in 4 became known for its monthly Family Nights hosted at The Bishop Museum, where children and parents could engage in science experiments, art projects, and literacy activities led by teachers and community volunteers. These events often included resource tables where parents could connect with local organizations providing healthcare, early learning support, and family services. Manatee County Libraries expanded access to books and literacy programs through the partnership, while the Early Learning Coalition offered guidance for preschool readiness and family engagement.
The addition of the Soar Lab represents the next step in the initiative’s growth. By offering a permanent, consistent space for exploration and play, families now have year-round access to the kind of hands-on learning experiences that Soar in 4 has championed for nearly a decade. The Lab continues the program’s mission by empowering parents as their children’s first teachers and by ensuring high-quality educational experiences remain accessible to all families, regardless of income.
For more information, families can visit www.soarin4.org.
