All About Explore

Explore Children’s Museum is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. Our funding is community based and visitor supported. Every dollar you spend at Explore goes directly towards our operation and maintenance costs, ensuring that we provide the best experience possible. If you would like to further support the museum, you can register to volunteer with us here. We are always accepting material and financial donations. You can donate through this link or email us with any questions you may have.

We encourage families to play and learn together, helping to foster child-caregiver relationships. Play has many benefits for young bodies and minds, and these benefits are only enhanced when caregivers participate in a child's activities. Children of all ages learn through play, and providing a place where they are able to take risks and be creative helps to boost confidence and create lifelong learners.

MISSION

Explore Children’s Museum’s mission is to provide meaningful opportunities, inspire participation in purposeful play, and promote lifelong learning.

VISION

To accomplish our mission we create opportunities for individuals to take an active role in learning environments that inspire creativity, exploration, engagement, shared learning, collaboration, communication, critical thinking skills and fun.

PURPOSE

  • To create a community space of meaningful content that inspires creativity, exploration, engagement, shared learning, collaboration, communication, critical thinking skills and fun for guests of all ages.

  • To create an educational institution where individuals take an active role in the learning environment, develop an understanding of diverse environments, and interact in social contexts.

  • To provide hands on, interactive, play based and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for children.

The Importance of Play

Play is a vital part of every child’s development. Below you will find articles about learning through play and how beneficial it is for children.

Especially in early childhood, play is vital to developing children’s brains and bodies. This article shares qualities built through play that help children succeed as the grow and eventually enter school.

The American Academy of Pediatrics even recognizes how important play is for children, as detailed here.

This podcast from Harvard’s Center for the Developing Child provides more insight from experts in the field of child development, as well as more resources for further learning.