UTC Kids Club: Gameland offers small children a host of activities

By Madison Bierl
| 8:30 a.m. April 24, 2025

East County
Neighbors

Stevie Drexelius, a 2-year-old Lakewood Ranch resident, asked her mother Jessica Drexelius if they could go to dance class Wednesday.

Unfortunately, Jessica had to tell her daughter there was no dance class scheduled. But there was something just as fun: UTC Kids Club.

“It’s a free, exciting thing to do that gets you out of the house," Jessica Drexelius said. "You can’t go wrong.”

UTC Kids Club: Gameland, greared toward children under 6, happens at UTC's The Green on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 9 a.m. An average of 20 to 35 kids come to participate at each event during the school year and that number increases during the summer.

Various activities are set up for young children, including mini golf, a water table, bubbles, an oversized Connect 4, and more.

Jessica Drexelius said her daughter enjoys the variety of toys. She plays at one station for a brief time and then moves to the next station.

“I play cars!” Stevie Drexelius exclaimed as she crawled out of a colorful tunnel and headed toward a rug that resembled a street with toy cars.

Lakewood Ranch 1-year-old Ezra DuBose danced, chased bubbles and played with balls at the event. It was the fourth time his mother, Jessica DuBose, brought him to Gameland.

Jessica DuBose said she enjoys the community aspect of the event and noted that it is held in the morning before it gets too hot.

Sarasota 2-year-old Vivian Bragg was among the children working their way around the stations as her mother Rebekah Bragg followed along. Rebekah Bragg has three daughters, 10-year-old Claire, 6-year-old Julia and 2-year-old Vivian.

Rebekah Bragg said that bringing Vivian on her own while the other girls are in school allows her to slow down and cherish the quiet moments with her youngest.

“Time goes by far too fast,” Rebekah Bragg said.

Jessica Rathbun, a host with Events Done Right who puts on the monthly Gameland, said there was a great turnout as usual.

“We love seeing kids enjoy themselves, that’s what it’s all about,” said Rathbun.

Parrish 2-year-old Faris Akel decided to look through the holes of the giant Connect 4 game instead of playing the traditional way at UTC Kids Club Wednesday.

Lakewood Ranch 1-year-old Ezra DuBose puts the squeeze on a rubber duck at the UTC Kids Club Wednesday.

Lakewood Ranch resident Eloise Fiegel is a regular visitor of Kids Club along with her mother Alyssa Fiegel. Fiegel said they love any outdoor play they can get.

Palm Aire 10-month-old Addie Carney-Debord crawls to the next game at the UTC Kids Club.

Lakewood Ranch 3-year-old August Barnett was all smiles after making a basket at UTC Kids Club Wednesday.

It is fitting that UTC's The Green hosts a little golf fun for Vivian Bragg.

Lakewood Ranch 1-year-old Lucca Benavides made sure his mother, Camila Duenas, was keeping an eye on him at UTC Kids Club.

Besides playing at UTC Kids Club, 2-year-old Harper Kosek likes going up and down escalators at the mall.

Parrish resident Sara Budeir brought her 2-year-old son Faris Akel to play along with her sister Diala Budeir. "We want something fun before it get's too hot," Sara Budeir said.

Lakewood Ranch residents Irina Dumitrescu and her 2-year-old son Luke Dumitrescu began coming to Kids Club in February, making this their third visit.

Diala Budeir and her nephew 2-year-old Faris Akel examine and compare cars together on The Green.

Jessica DuBose enjoys bringing her son Ezra to play with the variety of different games provide at UTC Kids Club.

Stevie Drexelius exclaims "Mama's turn!" before handing a ball to Jessica Drexelius.

Rebekah Bragg and her daughter Vivian enjoy their alone time while Vivian's older sisters are at school.

author

Madison Bierl

Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.