Faye Alderfer Fisher, 6, of Churchville, tries out the new climbing wall Friday at the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum. The Massanutten Lions Club donated $2,800 to offset the cost of climbing materials and safety equipment. Valley Blox and homestead Construction provided materials and labor. Museum officials expect the wall to be a big draw with older children. Photo by Thomas J. Turney

HARRISONBURG — Rosie the tarantula her "friends" Hopper and Noah (both fire belly toads) had to step down from their positions earlier this week.

The three are full-time residents of the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum and were officially relocated across the room to create space for a new climbing wall.

"They seem to be quite happy in their current location," said Anneliese Harmon, museum operations manager and the animals’ unofficial spokeswoman.

Spiders aside, the museum workers say they hope the new 7-foot by 30-foot wall will be a popular attraction among older children. The wall, which opened on Friday, is painted green at the bottom and darker blue at the top to reflect the Blue Ridge mountain scenery.

The Massanutten Lion’s Club donated $2,800 to offset the cost of climbing materials and safety equipment, while Valley Blox and Homestead Construction provided the wall materials and assembled the structure, officials said.

Although no harness or ropes are required for the climbing wall, museum staff requests that parents supervise young climbers. Up to three children may climb the wall at any given time.

"We wanted something to really bring the older children to the museum," said Harmon. "We wanted a place where they could exercise and explore on their own."

Toads and spiders weren’t the only ones shifted in the museum earlier this week.

The museum is also home to a new "Wentzscope," a large image microscope and a new woodworking area. A release says that the woodworking center is "sure to please future builders." A new magnet exhibit also opened this week.

"We’ve got all kinds of magnets," Harmon said. "Horse shoe magnets, ring magnets, cylinder magnets, pole magnets … just about every kind you can imagine."

Although Rosie, Hopper and Noah were unavailable for comment on Friday, their spokeswoman assures that the trio deems the new displays "acceptable."

Climbing Wall Hours:

Tuesdays - Fridays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact Heather Bowser at 574-6218 or hbowser@dnronline.com