By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
The Salina Educational Automotive Museum of America - aka The Garage - was honored Tuesday for its work to help keep children safe.
Safe Kids Kansas recognized the museum during the organization's annual awards ceremony Tuesday in Topeka. The Garage received an Outstanding Coalition Organization award.
"We are thrilled to have been selected for this award. Our partnership with Safe Kids of Kansas is vital to our long-term success at The Garage," Michelle Peck, executive director of the museum told Salina Post.
"We invested over $1 million dollars in hands-on exhibits, such as a Seatbelt Convincer, which simulates a 5-mile-per-hour collision and instills the importance of wearing a 3-point seatbelt," she continued. "My staff and the high-tech driving simulators have aided in the experience of those enrolled in Royal Driving School, which meets once a month with groups of up to 30 students. Using the Seatbelt Convincer and our driving simulators, students are offered the opportunity to learn how to drive a manual transmission, or how to tow a trailer."
Peck noted that the driving simulators already have more than 900 hours on them.
The Garage, 134 S. Fourth Street, opened to the public on Feb. 11. The facility includes 40,000 square feet of museum space, a training center, a library and lounge, a gift shop, a theater, a Turbo Trivia Tower, educational fueling stations, LEGO and Hot Wheels exhibits, driving simulators, welding and painting simulators, a Seatbelt Convincer ride, a car seat safety program, and curriculum resources.
The Garage joined the Safe Kids Kansas coalition shortly before the museum's public opening.
In presenting the award to The Garage, Safe Kids Kansas noted the following.
The Garage has created a place where automotive history & safety can be celebrated, and a service can be provided to its patrons. In addition to showcasing an impressive collection of cars on exhibit, The Garage also offers a variety of interactive experiences to aid in the mission of teaching automotive safety and interest in the vocational arts. This includes the investment into a Seatbelt Convincer, which simulates a 5 mile per hour collision and instills the importance of wearing a seatbelt, driving simulators, a welding simulator and paint spray simulator. The Garage partners with Royal Driving School to provide the opportunity for participants to utilize these tools in learn skills such as driving a manual transmission vehicle, or how to tow a trailer. They also offer a Turbo Trivia Tower with automotive-themed quizzes, including a selection of questions from the Kansas Learner’s Permit Test, to monitor progress and comprehension through their coursework. They also host a monthly Cars & Coffee event for their members that has been dubbed the “Donut Drink & Drive”, where safety information is provided and is up for discussion. This ranges from proper car seat/booster seat use to impaired driving consequences. The Garage staff and board of directors are dedicated not only to the history of the automobile, but also to teaching the next generation the importance of automobile safety.
"We've created an experience for all ages at The Garage and being recognized for our educational efforts and commitment to safety is an honor," Peck said.
To learn more about The Garage, visit the museum's website or its Facebook page.
About Safe Kids Kansas
From the Safe Kids Kansas website: Safe Kids Kansas is a network of partners and local coalitions across the state that are dedicated to preventing childhood injury. Safe Kids Kansas is a 501c(3) charitable organization and a member of Safe Kids Worldwide.