Building Stronger Kids One Block at a Time!

The Lego Master, Brian Rogers 

This March is the 2nd anniversary of the MPLX Lego Play Zone! MPLX, an energy company that operates locally, was the generous benefactor who made this STEM Unit possible. 

With the help of MPLX and our fabulous volunteer facilitator (AKA Lego Master) Brian Rogers, the unit brought learning through play to hundreds of children in Wetzel and Tyler Counties. Our LEGO Play Zone has traveled between fairs and festivals, engaging kids and the occasional adult in creative and directed play. From the Shortline Ramp Festival to Hero Fest in downtown New Martinsville, we’ve witnessed incredible innovation from the minds of our youth. With some carpentry help from the
directors of the West Virginia Country Roads Festival, we acquired a custom-made Lego car ramp so young racers could tune vehicular creations to see who could harness gravity most efficiently. 

We have also been busy during holidays and special events. During Christmas events in New Martinsville and Paden City, children made ornaments they could take home and keep. During the summer, we stay busy with events like the Artslink’s Independence Day Arts in the Park festival. We added the creative “A” to STEM to make STEAM with these artistic endeavors. Local folks may have seen our LEGO exhibition at Kraken Records during the Taylor Swift Block Party to celebrate Swift’s new album.  The unit has been at countless events at the Family Support Center. 

The Lego Zone also collaborates with local libraries because reading and literacy are critical skills. Each year, Brian brings the Lego fun to the summer reading programs. So far, he has collaborated with public libraries in New Martinsville, Paden City, Pine Grove, Sistersville, Middlebourne, and has even gone to Moundsville and McMechen. He'll be busy again this year with the “Unearth a Story" themed block fun! For our more diligent builders, we hold a monthly Lego Club meeting at the Paden City Public Library. The club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30PM. Each month, Brian offers new challenges and activities designed to stretch the imagination of attendees. 

Lego fun has also been a way to reduce the strain on parents. Last year, we hosted Date Night, which provided parents with the opportunity to drop their children off at the center for an evening of fun, while they got a break. Volunteers with the WATCH Coalition and local childcare specialists ensured the kids had a safe environment for learning, socializing, and play. This limited-space event was very popular and filled up quickly, demonstrating that there is definitely demand for this type of program.

We've had so much fun exploring ways to pair educational with fun! We wouldn't have had these amazing opportunities without the generous support of MPLX. What began as Brian's fabulous idea quickly became an in-demand program. Brian approached the FRN/WATCH Coalition for help with the planning and funding. During a meeting at the Wetzel-Tyler Chamber of Commerce, we expressed our desire to make this unit a reality, and MPLX's Local Government Affairs Representative, Tina Rush, heard the call and offered to help. 

We are entering our third year, and the 2026 calendar includes some fairs, festivals, and events, but we will also emphasize controlled, classroom-oriented programs more. With the support of MPLX, our dedicated volunteers, and other support organizations throughout the community, we hope to continue to find new ways to play, learn, and grow! 

Some photos from the past two years! 

Want to see more of the Lego fun or stay up-to-date on coming Lego events, follow Brian's Building Legos with Dad on Facebook. Many thanks to MPLX (Marathon Oil) and Tina!