Childrens Museum Inc

THE MUSEUM TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE, CHILD-CENTERED LEARNING BY PROVIDING EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING, LITERACY AND STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS) PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS.

THE MUSEUM EMPLOYS CREDENTIALLED EDUCATORS WHO MANAGE THIRTEEN BILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) EXHIBIT GALLERIES, AN ON-SITE BRANCH OF THE HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND PROGRAMMING THAT CHANGES WEEKLY. THESE EXHIBITS/PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERACY AND ENGAGEMENT IN HANDS-ON, INQUIRY-BASED INVESTIGATIONS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (I.E., THE STEM DISCIPLINES). DUE TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC THAT RESULTED IN CLOSURE OF THE MUSEUM, YEAR-OVER YEAR COMPARISONS ARE SKEWED. THE MUSEUM CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BETWEEN AUGUST 31, 2020 AND JUNE 2021, CAUSING A SIZABLE DROP IN OVERALL ATTENDANCE NUMBERS WHEN COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. IN FY21, THE MUSEUM SERVED 51,000 VISITORS DOWN 475,000 FROM THE PRIOR YEAR DUE TO CORONAVIRUS RELATED CLOSURES. ONE-THIRD OF THE VISITORS RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION VIA WEEKLY FREE FAMILY NIGHTS AND THE OPEN DOORS FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION PASSES DISTRIBUTED TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BY COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS AT 1,060+ LOCATIONS ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS INCLUDE A) SEVEN PROGRAMS THAT FACILITATE CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT IN LITERACY AND STEM-BASED LEARNING DURING THE OUT-OF-SCHOOL HOURS AND SUMMER MONTHS; AND B) SEVEN PROGRAMS THAT EQUIP PARENTS TO FACILITATE HANDS-ON, EVIDENCE-BASED LEARNING AT HOME USING INEXPENSIVE AND READILY AVAILABLE SUPPLIES THAT CAN BE REPLENISHED AT "DOLLAR" STORES. IN FY21, THESE PROGRAMS ACHIEVED ATTENDANCE OF 74,848 VIRTUALLY AND THROUGH OUTREACH AT LOCATIONS ACROSS GREATER HOUSTON. ALL PROGRAMING IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO PARTICIPANTS IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS THAT INCLUDE TITLE I SCHOOLS, AFTERSCHOOL CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, HEALTHCARE CLINICS, LOW-INCOME HOUSING APARTMENTS, LIBRARY BRANCHES AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. SEE SCHEDULE O.

VISITOR SERVICES INCLUDING FACILITATION OF EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEERS, SERVICE SUPPORT, AND CONVENIENCES INCLUDING PARKING.

THE GIFT SHOP - THE GIFT SHOP SELLS AN ARRAY OF UNIQUE, EDUCATIONAL TOYS AND GAMES FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 12 YEARS OLD. MERCHANDISE SOLD INCLUDES SIMULATING SCIENCE AND MATH PRODUCTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE VISITOR'S EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSEUM. MANY ITEMS ARE USED IN THE EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM. ALL PRODUCTS RELATE TO THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. THE CAFE - THE CAFE OFFERS NUTRITIOUS FOODS FOR ANY TIME OF THE DAY SO VISITORS CAN ENJOY A HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE MEAL WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE THE MUSEUM.S.E.C.R.E.T - A FEE BASED INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE DESIGNED TO TAKE A CHILD'S (8 AND OVER) MUSEUM EXPERIENCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. USING STATE-OF-THE ART TECHNOLOGY, KIDS REPORT TO DUTY AND ARE ASSIGNED A S.E.C.R.E.T. MISSION. THE MUSEUM COMBINES RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TECHNOLOGY WITH HANDS-ON EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS THAT ENCOURAGE PROBLEM SOLVING, CRITICAL THINKING, DATA ANALYSIS, PROGRAMMING AND TEAMWORK WHICH HELPS THE VISITOR TO SOLVE PUZZLES, DISCOVER HIDDEN AGENDAS AND THWART THE VILLAINS' SCHEMES.