WOW! Children's Museum

A nonprofit organization

$13,935 raised by 70 donors

100% complete

$10,000 Goal

At WOW!, we believe in the power of play-based learning. Our hands-on exhibits and programs empower children to learn through self-guided and collaborative play and exploration – the best way that young children learn. WOW! encourages families to ask questions, experiment, and apply lessons learned to real life. We value and respect all children and families. Our environment provides an opportunity for young children to playfully practice the skills they will need to succeed in school and in life, including collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and citizenship. We offer education programs and experiences in the Museum, in schools and libraries, and outdoors. All are designed to nurture young children’s sense of self, and sense of discovery and empowerment in exploring and learning about their world.   

Mission

To inspire every child's learning and curiosity through play.

Background Statement

Since 1996, WOW! Children's Museum has served over one million visitors from throughout Colorado and beyond with creative educational exhibits, programs, and events for children and families. We have 8,000 square feet of exhibit space, with an emphasis on early STEM and social-emotional learning. Exhibits such as Make It Go empower children to tap into their inner scientist, exploring basic concepts in physics while they make a car go down a mountain, a bike go up a hill, or a hot-air balloon rise into the sky! Exhibits such as Forest of Light and Town Square encourage collaborative imaginative play and social interactions between children of all abilities. Our popular Kids Clinic exhibit is resplendent with age-appropriate wall charts and iPad graphics to simulate actual doctors’ office visits, while our Market mimics the activities of a real shopping experience and our Bank encourages early numeracy. MicroU enables infants to practice fine and gross motor skills and foundational cause-and-effect interactions in a space reserved for three-and-under. Our newly designed Create Space provides an art room where art projects are meant to be child-led, 'messy', and iterative, with no right or wrong ways to create art!  Our signage is bilingual and is designed to encourage caregiver/child interactions, supporting young readers and English language learners with simple prompts. We offer education outreach programs in local elementary school districts, including tailored programming for Head Start teachers and students. Our onsite drop-in programs include StoryTime, gardening in our Discovery Garden, and hands-on science experiments. We host field trips from local schools, daycares, summer camps, and other childcare providers, and special events year-round.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

WOW! Children's Museum

Year Established

1996

Tax id (EIN)

84-1421537

Category

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Organization Size

Medium Organization

Address

110 North Harrison Ave.
Lafayette, CO 80026

Service areas

Boulder County, CO, US

Phone

303-604-2424

Social Media