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January
Capital of Children Company is founded on January 1st 2012.
CEO Mette Thybo starts work on January 10st 2012. Capital of Children opens an office in the town hall complex in Billund.
About 120 municipal managers and employees begin an intensive English language course. They can be expected to be asked to use in English in connection with the Capital of Children project.
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February
Capital of Children Company presents the Capital of Children logo. The logo reflects the very great ambitions for Capital of Children and refers also to the project's local roots.
We want more people to settle in Billund, Capital of Children. KIRKBI A/S cuts the first sod in construction of 35 sustainable apartments on a plot between Smutten, Lindevej and Hybenvej in Billund.
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April
Capital of Children's website www.capitalofchildren.com goes live.
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May
Capital of Children Company nominates the company's first Chairman of the Board.
The new Chairman is Michael Hjortlund, who has two sets of twin daughters.
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August
Company Town
The historical "Company Town" route, which tells the story of how Billund and the LEGO Group have developed together over the last 80 years, will open in August. The route will be opened along with three new playgrounds in Billund on Friday, 31 August 2012.
Further information, including map of the Company Town trail, can be found at www.companytown.dk
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August
bObles Animals
Capital of Children Company, the Municipality of Billund and the LEGO Foundation are opening three new thematic play areas. One of them comprises the bObles animals in Billund Center's garden - nearby Billund Brook and Skolevej. The five purple elephants and five green crocodiles are primarily intended for children aged 0-6. The animals are stable and securely fastened to the ground. The largest elephant weighs over 1300 pounds, and the four others each weigh 330 pounds.
Billund's children dedicated the bObles play area on August 31, 2012.
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August
The Dance Arch
Capital of Children Company, the Municipality of Billund and the LEGO Foundation are opening three new thematic play areas. One of them is the Dance Arch in the Shopping Plaza, which is an interactive play area with voice and music. Among other things, there is a stop dance and dance competition.
The play area is primarily intended for children aged 6-12. Billund's children dedicated the Dance Arch on August 31, 2012.
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August
Parkour Fun
Capital of Children Company, the Municipality of Billund and the LEGO Foundation are opening three new thematic play areas. One of them is the Parkour Fun, which is a new meeting place for the town's teenagers. Teenagers from Billund Middle School have participated in designing the course.
They will challenge each other in parkour, the increasingly popular art of movement. The focus is on getting from point A to point B by using only your own body. Billund's children dedicated the Parkour Fun on August 31, 2012.
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September
KIRKBI A/S acquires the Billund town hall complex. Capital of Children Company and the LEGO Foundation set up the knowledge center for children's play, learning and creativity.
Capital of Children Company will move in first. Companies an researchers will follow.
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September
H.M. The Queen and H.R.H. The Prince Consort receive a thorough presentation of Capital of Children Company and the vision of placing Billund on the world map as a unique place for children.
This took place while the royal couple were on an official full-day visit to Grindsted and Billund on Monday, September 3, 2012.
The Chairman of the Board of the Capital of Children Company, Michael Hjortlund, conducted the presentation for the royal couple in Billund Center's auditorium.
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October
Hundreds of residents enjoy the scary sights of ‘Billund Night’, where bright pumpkins and other Halloween decorations give a spooky feel to the evening’s festivities. The Capital of Children Company (CoCC) also takes part in the cultural night with an information stand in the town hall.
With the help of the town’s children from day care, kindergarten and schools, the town hall is decorated with pumpkins, spiders, cobwebs and floating ghosts (all of the friendly variety though!).
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November
Children from the Capital of Children pay tribute to the UN’s Child Convention, which turns 23 years old on 20 November 2012. Birthday celebrations take place at Lalandia in Billund with more than 600 happy guests.
With UNICEF ambassadors Bubber, Mek Pek and Basim in attendance, children from two local schools perform a rap track they wrote about the Convention.
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November
Capital of Children Company (CoCC) moves into its new premises in
Rådhuscentret 1.
CoCC rents a 600 square-meter space within the 4000 square-meter town hall. KIRKBI A/S purchased the town hall from Billund Municipality.
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December
The Billund Trade Association invites residents to celebrate the festive season, when the town’s large Christmas tree in the square is lit.
This year, the Trade Association asks Capital of Children Company CEO, Mette Thybo, to make the traditional Christmas speech, and she does so with a very festive-looking Mr Fox (see picture). CoCC also announces its Christmas competition for children, where they can win extra Christmas gifts.
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December
The Capital of Children becomes as a partner in a major new research center at Aarhus University, when the school wins a 60 million kroner grant from the Tryg Foundation.
The money will be used for a new research center focusing on building knowledge about children’s play, learning and well-being in Denmark, starting in March 2013.
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December
CoCC establishes a children’s panel to consult on future Capital of Children projects. The panel will meet 3-4 times a year and will consist of six pupils from primary schools in Billund Municipality.
The children’s panel holds its first meeting on 4 December 2012 and decides to name itself ‘Community for Children’.