BellaBoo's Opened September 15th

America’s first children’s edutainment center owned by a municipal/park department was designed from start to finish by White Hutchinson Leisure & Learning Group – and is just a little batty! Read on to find out why.

BellaBoo’s, a 22,600-square-foot children’s edutainment (play and discovery) center designed for children 8 and younger and their families, opened September 15th in Lake County, Indiana. White Hutchinson conducted full feasibility studies, designed the entire center and procured all of the equipment. Our work included creating the center’s unique brand identity, name, logo and mascot, which is an adorable Indiana bat, a species found only in this state.

BellaBoo’s is the country’s first municipal/park department-owned children’s edutainment center. Imagine a children’s museum, but one that’s better designed for safety, supervision, parent comfort and developmental appropriateness.  In early August, Vicki Stoecklin, our Education & Child Development Director, conducted training for the management staff on:

  • Play-based leadership
  • Child growth and development
  • Behavior management
  • Customer service for children and families
  • Cultural competency
  • Working with children with diverse abilities
  • Birthday parties
  • School field trips


Vicki Stoecklin, White Hutchinson’s Education & Child Development Director,
trains management staff at BellaBoo’s in Lake County, Indiana.

We will give more coverage to BellaBoo’s in upcoming issues. To learn more about the center, click here.