The Science Museum of Virginia has teamed up with Richmond-based Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. to create its newest permanent exhibition in a decade: Boost! As the name suggests, this interactive—an assortment of physical, mind-based, or performance-based—exhibit attempts to improve your mind, body,and play through 25 challenges related to exercise, wellness, food, happiness,passion, art, and more.Using QR codes, the exhibit tracks your performance in each challenge and compares them with other participants.

Small stations, called “Data Lounges,” allow participants to see their results. Visitors are encouraged to return to improve their scores, which can also be recorded on the Boost! mobile app. Its interactive focus and giggling child-studded marketing campaign compelled me to invite a friend, who is a nanny, and her two kids, ages 3 to 5. We arrived at 9:30 am when the museum opened and were the first to enter the exhibit. Situated on the lower level, the interactive room, divided into three separate but fluid categories, is dotted with green-, blue-, and purple-lit buttons ready to be pressed. A friendly staff member greeted us and handed out individual myCHIP cards, each sporting a specific QR code.

And then we were off and running. The kids had fun finding the blue lights that signaled each new activity. Scanning the QR code under the blue light activated the challenge. Some activities, such as “Time Machine” or “Shrink to Fit,” required one person while others—my favorite “Lip Service”—required a partner. Still more, such as the kids’ best-loved “Endless Buffet,” involved all four of us literally running to keep up with the conveyer belt while fitting puzzle pieces with healthy-eating options into plates. We also worked together as a team on “More Cow Bell,” which features percussion instruments, including the xylophone, bass drum, bongos, cowbell, ashiko, djembe, conga, and wood block.

Participants are invited to “play” each instrument (through a touch screen computer) to create rhythms and sounds. Although the kids didn’t understand they were “making” the noises, they enjoyed choosing and listening to the music. The kids all had a great time exploring while the mid-20-something-adults enjoyed the challenges and thrill of competing, considerably more than expected. Yes, this exhibit probably works best for its intended target audience of 8 to 14, but it arguably offers a summer Boost for the entire family. “…to improve your mind, body, and play through 25 challenges related to exercise, wellness, food, happiness, passion, art, and more.”