Sacramento Children's Museum (SCM) is a non-profit corporation. The board began with two teachers who saw the need for inspiring learning through interactivity. SCM sought to build an environment that would make learning exciting and enriching for children and their families through exploration and hands-on activities. The desire in Sacramento to build a children's museum was so great, that the organization quickly grew to include local business-people, children's advocates, educators, physicans, attorneys, librarians, and others. As a group, we embarked on a journey to determine how we could best meet the needs of the children 0-8 years of age in our community, and the Sacramento Children's Museum is the result. There are currently ten members on the SCM's board of directors, as well as five advisory board members.
The Junior League of Sacramento
In Spring 2006, the Junior League of Sacramento adopted the Sacramento Children's Museum as a signature project. In the past, this distinction has belonged to well-respected Sacramento area organizations such as Fairytale Town, the Child Abuse Prevention Council, the Sacramento Children's Receiving Home, and the Sacramento Crisis Nursery, among others. The Junior League of Sacramento has a
twenty-member committee devoted solely to the SCM signature project. This JL SCM committee works closely with the SCM board in the various functional
areas of exhibits and programs, fund development, community outreach and public affairs, and public relations. The Junior League of Sacramento also
brings a volunteer base of several hundred professional, talented and enthusiastic women offering a wide range of skills to help in supporting this signature project.
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Our Promise
The Sacramento Children's Museum will be a hands-on, play-based environment where childhood is respected, nurtured and celebrated; a place where children can engage in and enjoy the world in which we live.
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Our Mission
The Sacramento Children's Museum will spark a passion for life-long
learning. We will accomplish this by providing a place where children are encouraged to think for themselves, expand their problem-solving abilities through creative exploration, and exercise both their bodies and their minds.
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Goals
- Encourage learning through play
- Challenge children to learn in new ways
- Spark the imagination and creativity of children
- Make the museum accessible for all children
- Create a positive environment for children and their families
- Build partnerships with other organizations, such as schools, community organizations, local businesses, and social services
- Provide an innovative outreach program that can reach children outside the museum walls
- Maintain racial and gender diversity at the management and visitor levels that represents our diverse community
- Reduce economic barriers by providing an open-door policy which would offer free or discounted admission to low-income individuals and families
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About the Museum
The museum's exhibits will be carefully designed to nurture children's imaginations, build their confidence and competence, and encourage them to test, tinker, laugh, cooperate, and wonder. Opportunities for learning in novel ways will be plentiful.
Exhibits...We will will provide hands-on, interactive exhibitions for children from birth to eight-years old. The Museum's indoor and outdoor exhibits will offer multi-sensory experiences that build upon the young child's fundamental need to learn-by-doing. An early childhood exhibit space will be designed to meet the special needs of children three-years old and under.
Amphitheater... Children are born with a natural love for the arts. Our amphitheater will provide a space for young enthusiasts to express their creativity as well as enjoy arts and cultural programs geared toward the younger audience.
Parent Resource Center... The resource center will be a central hub for parents, childcare providers, and other caregivers seeking support and information about parenting and child development. We will provide resource materials, trained staff, and meeting spaces for support groups and parenting classes. These resources will help adults better understand and facilitate the healthy growth and development of our children.
Garden... The Central Valley lays claim to some of the most fertile agricultural land in the world. The Museum's outdoor garden will pay homage to our region's rich farming history while creating an opportunity for children to connect with their food sources. By actively participating in the care of the garden, children will learn about environmental stewardship as well as the art of growing nutritious produce. The Museum's garden programs will go beyond lessons about insects and plants; our young participants will learn the value of patience, discipline, responsibility, and appreciation for diversity.
Programs... A variety of programs will be offered to enrich the lives of both children and adults. These will include art classes, parenting classes, baby/child CPR, summer camps, mommy/daddy and me groups, an outreach program, and educational classes for children.
Party Room... What better place to celebrate a child's special day than at the Sacramento Children's Museum! Our party room will provide a staffed, child-friendly environment where families and friends can celebrate privately before or after heading out to the Museum's exhibit halls!
Retail Store & Cafe... Educational toys and books will be available for purchase so that our visitors can continue learning and playing at home. Our family-friendly cafe will provide a retreat where parents can take a break and find healthy snacks for their hungry little ones.
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Board of Directors
Natalie Alizadeh
Alan Godlove
Sheri Graciano
Margaret Hutchinson
Vince Juarez
Penny Mahood
Kevin McCarl
Maria Mondragon
Kathleen Palley
Traci Trask
Advisory Council
Shareen Fat
Margo Fowkes
John E. Frisch
David Gonsalvez
Councilmember Dave Jones
Matthew Mahood
Andee Press-Dawson
Fred Teichert
Donations
Or send donations to PO Box 13303, Sacramento, CA 95813.
The Sacramento Children's Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. All donations are tax deductible.
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