Imagine Childrens Museum

UTILIZE PLAYFUL LEARNING TO ENRICH CHILDRENS' LIVES.

IMAGINE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CREATES PLAYFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH HANDS-ON, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND OUTREACH PROGRAMMING. IMAGINE IS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE THAT INSPIRES A LOVE OF LEARNING AND PROMOTES FAMILY WELLBEING. IMAGINE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS MORE THAN A PLACE. AS THE WORD IMPLIES, "IMAGINE" IS A VISION, A SENSE OF POSSIBILITY AND A SOURCE OF HOPE. FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER AND THEIR FAMILIES, IMAGINE IS A CORNERSTONE OF HEALTHY, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PLAYFUL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. THE EXPANSION THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR FIVE YEARS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2023, ALLOWING THE MUSEUM TO ENHANCE AND EXPAND EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS. PRE-PANDEMIC, IMAGINE SERVED MORE THAN 248,000 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE NATION. OF THESE,OVER 75,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE MUSEUM FOR FREE, OR THROUGH REDUCED ADMISSION, REFLECTING A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF FAMILY STRUCTURE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, EDUCATION OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. IMAGINE IS FILLED WITH THREE STORIES OF IMMERSIVE EXHIBIT AREAS WHERE CHILDREN AGES 1 - 12 AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS CAN PLAY TOGETHER IN A SAFE, FUN, ENRICHING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IMAGINE ALSO OFFERS PROGRAMS, CLASSES AND OUTREACH SERVICES THAT DELIVER PURPOSEFUL PLAY TO CHILDREN, SCHOOLS, AND FAMILIES IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY. EACH EXHIBIT AND PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE A CHILD'S SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES THROUGH HANDS-ON EXPLORATION, DISCOVERY, AND IMAGINATIVE PLAY; NURTURE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT; AND FOSTER EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, READING, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH (S.T.R.E.A.M.). IMAGINE PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHILDCARE CENTERS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OTHER NONPROFITS TO BUILD A STRONG NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY. THROUGH THESE COLLABORATIONS IMAGINE WORKS TO ADDRESS A SCOPE OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. IMAGINE IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT OFFERS AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN LEARN AND PLAY TOGETHER IN A CREATIVE, INFORMAL SETTING. A FEW OF OUR MANY PROGRAMS INCLUDE: FREE ACCESS TIMES PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY; CELEBRATE OUR WORLD A CULTURAL AWARENESS PROGRAM; TOOTHAPOLOOZA, AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT TEACHES FAMILIES ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ORAL HEALTH; MUSEUM ON THE GO ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS; AFTERSCHOOL SCIENCE CLUBS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. IMAGINE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IS A MEMBER OF AND HAS EARNED ACCREDITATION FROM THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS. THIS ACCREDITATION IS A TESTAMENT TO IMAGINES COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. SINCE OPENING THE DOORS OF ITS EXISTING FACILITY IN 2004, IMAGINE HAS SERVED MORE THAN 3 MILLION. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE MUSEUM INCREASE ITS FOOTPRINT TO PROVIDE MORE SPACE RESULTING IN LESS CROWDED ENVIRONMENTS PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OVERCROWDING DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS LOWERINCOME FAMILIES WHO ATTEND DURING FREE ACCESS TIMES; BUILD ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEMAND FOR SCHOOL AND GROUP FIELD TRIPS, WHICH CANNOT CURRENTLY BE MET; ADD DEDICATED PROGRAM SPACE FOR PRESCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS; OFFER AN ENLARGED EATING SPACE; PROVIDE MORE BATHROOMS AND PUBLIC AMENITIES AND INCREASED ADA ACCESSIBILITY.

IMAGINE'S EXPANSION WAS FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO ALLOW THE DOORS TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN SEPTEMBER 2022. THE EXPANSION JOINED TOGETHER THE FIRST FLOOR WITH THE EXISTING BUILDING'S EXHIBITS. IN THE NEW EXPANSION VISITORS ENCOUNTER THE WOODLANDS ADVENTURES GALLERY, WHICH INCLUDES A WALK-THROUGH TREE INSPIRED BY THE HISTORIC SNOHOMISH BICYCLE TREE. CHILDREN USE THEIR IMAGINATIONS TO CAMP, FISH, BOAT, OBSERVE LOCAL WILDLIFE AND TAKE ON THE ROLE OF VETERINARIANS IN THE WILDLIFE ANIMAL RESCUE, REHABILITATING ANIMALS FOR RELEASE BACK INTO THE WILD. A CLIMB FROM THE FOREST FLOOR LEADS TO ADVENTURES IN THE WOODLANDS CANOPY WHERE CHILDREN NAVIGATE BRIDGES AND PASSAGES IN THE TREETOPS. LOOKOUT STATIONS PROVIDE CLIMBERS WITH CHANCES TO SPOT LOCAL WILDLIFE. ON THE SECOND FLOOR, IN THE PUGET SOUND ECOSYSTEM GALLERY KIDS BECOME MARINE ECOLOGISTS EXPLORING AN INTERTIDAL AQUARIUM, WATERSHED TABLE AND REAL GRAY WHALE BONES. THEY GET TO USE THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS TO SOLVE CHALLENGES IN OUR ENGINEER IT GALLERY. OUTSIDE THIS GALLERY IS A LIFE-SIZE CRANE CAB "HIGH ABOVE THE STREETS BELOW" WHERE THEY WILL LEARN WHAT ITS LIKE TO OPERATE A CRANE. IN THE WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION GALLERY, PACKAGES COME AND GO ON CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS AND CHILDREN LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO GET A PACKAGE FROM IMAGINE TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, SELECTING DESTINATIONS AND DETERMINING THE MOST EFFICIENT MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. IN IMAGINE'S TINKER SHOP AND ART HANGOUT, CHILDREN HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CREATE AND CONSTRUCT. THE IMPORT, EXPORT, OUR PORT GALLERY FEATURES EVERETT'S INTERNATIONAL WATER PORT, HIGHLIGHTING A 20-FT. TUGBOAT. ON THE THIRD FLOOR IS THE MULTI-PURPOSE AUDITORIUM THAT HOSTS CULTURAL PERFORMANCES AND POP-UP FESTIVALS AND ALSO SERVES AS AN EATING SPACE AND HOUSES DIVY'S FOOD TRUCK.