A $1 million gift from The Kahlert Foundation will enable the Maryland Science Center to relocate a popular exhibit, provide free field trip admission to more school groups, and enhance other programs.
“The Shed,” a maker space exhibit, will move to a larger space on the second floor of the Maryland Science Center, located at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The new space will expand the number of families and groups who will be able to participate in hands-on art, craft, science, engineering, and technology activities.
The area encourages visitors to solve problems, create prototypes, use new tools and materials, and explore how familiar items work.
The foundation’s namesake, engineer William “Bill” Kahlert, co-founded EVAPCO, a Carroll County-based manufacturer that makes evaporative cooling and industrial refrigeration products.
“The Shed is a fantastic place for kids to have hands-on fun while learning about engineering, technology, and problem solving,” said Bill’s son Greg Kahler in a statement.
The new Shed will be named in honor of The Kahlert Foundation.
The $1 million gift will also help the science center offer free field trip admission to more than 11,000 Carroll County and Howard County students and teachers over the next five years.
“We are so grateful to The Kahlert Foundation for this incredible grant. They really understand and appreciate how we inspire children and introduce them to important STEM concepts and processes,” said Maryland Science Center President and CEO Mark J. Potter in a statement. “We are gratified by their endorsement of our work and are excited to enhance our impact through their generosity. This gift also illustrates that supporters around the State see the importance of the experiences at our Inner Harbor location. We truly appreciate The Kahlert Foundation’s continued support.”
Ellen Myers, executive director of The Kahlert Foundation, said supporting the Maryland Science Center aligns with the foundation’s mission to empower and prepare youth for the future.
“The world is changing quickly,” Myers said in a statement. “We want to make sure that students are ready to respond to and take advantage of new developments and opportunities, particularly in the areas of science and technology. What better way to get them ready than to learn by doing. And who better than the Maryland Science Center to give them those experiences.”
The Kahlert Foundation was founded in 1991 to improve “the quality of life and well-being of the community especially for children, the next generation of leaders who will have a significant impact on the future of our country,” reads a press release.
