IDEAS Studio A Hit with Kids

Praise for IDEAS Studio on Marquez Avenue comes not only from children who play, learn and experiment in an environment that focuses on learning by doing, but also from outside sources. The studio was named best indoor play place by Los Angeles Magazine in its August ‘Best of L.A.’ issue, and recently NBC stopped by to tape the children as they played. In selecting ‘Best of L.A.,’ reporters visited different sites around the city and looked at nearly 200 different products, services and places, including the IDEAS Studio, a science and technology-related enrichment center that offers innovative courses for children. A reporter interviewed co-founders Zac Hartog and Maurizio Vecchione and observed classes. Shortly after, the owners were happy to find their studio among those acknowledged. A research team from NBC contacted Hartog and Vecchione, suggesting that the IDEAS Studio would make a good story. The film crew came to Pacific Palisades several weeks ago to film children in action, and the story is scheduled to air in the next few weeks. Last year, Hartog and Vecchione received the Chamber of Commerce’s Best New Business award for the special service they provide the community with their enrichment programs. Hartog is pleased that the IDEAS Studio’s concept of learning is being recognized and credits the different backgrounds that he and partner Vecchione have as one of the reasons for the innovative programs. Hartog, who has worked as a production designer in films and as a commercial and art director, brings art to the table, and Vecchione, who has worked as a physicist for NASA, brings science. The two wanted a fun environment for children that combined art, technology and science. ‘I wanted a unique environment for our kids that was not based just on a textbook and memorization,’ Hartog said, ‘But one that was based on real-life adventures.’ His inspiration came from Billy Marchese (director/cameraman for ‘Beyond the Summit’), who provided a live feed of his Mount Everest climb to a second grade classroom in San Francisco. During that three-month period, the class learned about geography, teamwork, the environment and budgets by watching a team ascend the mountain. ‘I thought it was such a great idea,’ Hartog said. ‘Not one student was absent in three months.’ At IDEAS Studio, the owners let the learning evolve from different situations. One of their more popular programs is astronaut training camp, which features live video feeds with NASA’s orbiting space station. For more information visit www.theideastudio.com or call (310) 573-7190.