Twirl Play & Discovery Space, Inc./

Play and Discovery Space

Twirl offers a variety of on and off-site programs that provide play and learning opportunities for local and visiting families. 

Self-Guided Exploration

Our free community playground inspires and delights through thoughtful consideration of all its patrons. Everything is designed to create a sense of wonder and delight in both adult and child visitors. It features play installations, interactive exhibits, lots of shade and picnic tables, and artistic touches not typically found in children's playgrounds, all of which appeal to both parents and children alike and make it a welcoming community gathering place.

Our small grassy courtyard houses a hand-crafted timber hobbit house, a variety of oversize musical instruments, crazy mirrors, a sand play area, chalk and magnet walls, and a kinetic solar system.Our larger paved play yard has a certified Play Smart climbing structure, a fountain for paddling and water play, a giant's chair, an interactive gate designed by a local metal artist that encourages hands-on exploration as well artistic appreciation, and a variety of ride-ons and outdoor games. Our play room provides a comfortable, safe, clean and inspiring space for families to enjoy together any day of the week. Visitors can enjoy free access to high-quality educational toys and games, pretend play equipment, musical instruments and imagination stations designed to encourage open-ended play and discovery, including a Magnet Play Wall, a Marble Maze Wall, Lego Wall, Light Table, and Wind Tunnel

It is enjoyed by a variety of patrons including local and visiting families, school and community groups, non-profit organizations, and private parties, and is also the magical setting for Twirl community events. 

Pre-School Classes

Parents of preschoolers in particular seek out opportunities for their children and themselves to interact with peers in social situations centered on playful learning. Twirl is a safe and inspirational meeting place for this group of users to come together and use the playground and playroom, or to participate in our free classes. We offer three music classes and one ballet class per week attended by approximately 25 families a week. 

School Field Trips

Local pre-school and elementary students take part in field trips at Twirl during which they undertake a hands-on learning project or craft activity related to their studies as well as free play time in the playground. We typically serve around 1,000 children per year (about 50 classes). See our field trip section to find out how you can bring your class to Twirl.

Community Groups and Non-Profits

Twirl provides an inspiring and safe meeting space for community groups to host events for their members and the broader community. Groups like Tiwa Babies, BabyFace, and First Steps host picnics, launches and awareness days like the World Breastfeeding Awareness Celebration. 

In-School Programming

Twirl delivers four months of in-school STEAM enrichment programming to 9 Taos elementary schools serving around 500 students tied to two specific events:

Invent Event

Twirl organizes an annual celebration of creativity and technology in conjunction with around 30 community partners. It consists of numerous stations featuring demonstrations of old and new technologies, tehnique and tools along with hands-on opportunities for families to create, invent and build together. It is preceded by two months of in-school STEAM proramming conducted by Twirl involving hands-on explorations of STEM through art, culminating ina collaborative community art installation.

The Paseo

Twirl is a partner to The Paseo, an innovative street art festival exploring the intersection of science and art, through performance, projection and installation art. Twirl collaborates with art teachers at 9 local elementary schools to provide dramatic explorations of a scientific concept for around 500 students culminating in a collaborative art installation for The Paseo.

Collaboration with Informal Learning Institutions & Museums

Taos is a rural and economically challanged town and many children living here miss out on opportunities afforded to their big-city contemporaries to visit science and children museums and arts and cultural institutions. Twirl is committed to increasing the opportunities for local school children to experience this type of of content by working with regional museums and cultural centers to bring programs and learning-centered events to Taos.

Summer Camps

Twirl partners with Explora, the Science Center & Children’s Museum of Albuquerque to enhance the summer camp landscape in Taos with the provision of 6-8 STEAM-based Summer Camps  Participants take part in design thinking challenges and fun hands-on projects as they explore a variety of science and technology concepts.  

Twirl acts as a Regional Outreach partner to Explora, helping to facilitate experiential classroom explorations and community science event in Taos schools and other locations. 

Monthly Craft Activities

Twirl offers monthly guided art and craft activities. A seasonal or topical theme is chosen, examples and materials are provided along with some instruction and children are encouraged to freely express themselves and interpret the topic in their own way. These activities are free of charge and open to all ages.