Poker patrons pony up

Adults play along at Amazeum

The Scott Family Amazeum opened its doors Aug. 22 for Adult Night, an evening of child’s play for grown-ups. Guests explored the indoor cave, art studio, Hershey’s Lab, the 3M Tinkering Studio, Nature Valley Water Amazements, General Mills Lift, Load and Haul, Nickelodeon Play Lab, The Market Sponsored by Walmart, a homestead cabin and farm, climbable tree canopy and the dozens of other opportunities for children to learn through play at exhibits the museum holds.

The museum’s Unfield Trips, traveling exhibits and other offerings are enjoyed by more than 225,000 children and adults annually. Amazeum for All passes and Priceless Nights where patrons donate the amount they wish for admission help make the museum accessible to more people.

Museum leaders recently announced a new exhibition, Toys: The Inside Story, which opens at the Amazeum on Sept. 14 and will run through Jan. 5. According to a press release, “Toys includes 12 different hands-on stations illustrating the simple mechanisms commonly found in toys and lets visitors create their own toy-like combinations of gears, pulleys, linkages, cams and circuits.” Stations will include Jack Gets Out of His Box, Gears at Play and Jeepers Peepers.

The next Adult Night is set for Nov. 14 with tickets going on sale Oct. 14.

Those participating in the evening play date included Elda and Eric Scott, Gisel Ruiz, Luciana Ruiz, Ken Mantel, Rich Frazier, Callie and Brian Ockerman, Wendy and Mark Goldsmith, Gail Peterson, Monica Crosby and Susan Fraser.

Horses for Healing patrons helped make the inaugural Poker & Ponies on Aug. 24 profitable for the nonprofit organization’s therapeutic riding program. The benefit at Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery in Springdale featured casino-style games.

The group provides equine therapy for children with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Proceeds from Poker & Ponies will help support scholarships for therapy. The group relies solely on community donations, receiving no federal or state funding, Medicare support or insurance payments.

Among those ponying up for the group were Harriette and Glenn Habern, Megan Smits, Alyson and Todd Jacobs, Debbie Evans, Cedric Haulcy, Jana and Greg Hemphill, Carolyn Huffman, Suzanne and Wayne Rhodes, Emma and Kyle Werst, Katie and Joe Lindgren, Linda Gaddy, Heather Foster, Michelle and Jamie Wolfe, Liz and Troy Caudle, Heather and Randy Nunn and Sharon and Gary Smits.

For more event photos — nwadg.com/photos/society.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Cedric Haulcy (from left); Harriette Habern, Horses for Healing founder; Heather Foster, Debbie Evans and Todd and Alyson Jacobs gather at the inaugural Poker & Ponies benefit Aug. 24 at Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery in Springdale.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Kelsey Griffing (from left), Krissi Long and Megan Smits welcome Horses for Healing supporters to Poker & Ponies.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Elda Scott (from left), Luciana Ruiz and Gisel Ruiz enjoy Adult Night on Aug. 22 at the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Natalie Scaggs (left) and Kim Crowell enjoy painting at Adult Night.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Monica Crosby (from left), Susan Fraser, Mark and Wendy Goldsmith, Gail Peterson, Callie and Brian Ockerman and Stacy Barron attend Adult Night at the Amazeum.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Eric Scott and Sam Dean, Scott Family Amazeum executive director, visit at Adult Night.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Michelle and Jamie Wolfe (from left) and Polly Canez help support Horses for Healing.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Maren Dollwet (from left), Jackie Vander Ploeg and Stephanie Quillen enjoy Poker & Ponies.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CARIN SCHOPPMEYER Kaitlyn Walthall and Andrew Oliu pull themselves up on the pulley chairs at the Amazeum.