Children’s Museum Announces Grand Opening Date
Mark your calendars for August 31, 2019!! The Children’s Museum of Skagit County will unveil the final phases of their construction and move to The Outlet Shoppes at Burlington in a day-long celebration beginning at 10:00am on August 31st. In addition to experiencing the new Museum spaces, the annual Full STEAM Ahead event will take place, so there will be many opportunities for fun and learning! The final phases of construction have included construction and installation of the new Main Street exhibits, the new semi-truck, tug boat, water exhibit, crane, train, theatre, music room, toddler area and agricultural exhibit. Phase 3 includes improvements in an additional space that will house gross-motor activities for visitors, a suitable space for museum and community events, a break room and additional restrooms.
This is the third and largest location for the Children’s Museum of Skagit County. Since opening in 2003, the museum has had over 750,000 visitors! In addition to daily admissions and annual memberships, CMSC offers the Museum Explorers Preschool, camps, classes, trainings and a Museum Store.
For the Grand Opening day only, members and visitors will be issued wristbands that will grant them free access to the Museum for 45 minutes, so that we ensure that everyone gets a chance to play in the Museum and that occupancy limits are not exceeded. Outside activities in the Full STEAM Ahead event will be free to all visitors including those waiting to go in the Museum. For a full schedule of events, and other details, visit the Museum website or Facebook page. Updates will continue to be made, highlighting all of the activities that will be available.
"Presidio Commercial Construction, along with Julie Blazek and the team at HKP Architects have created a truly wondrous place for children, families and the community. The exhibits are going to inspire children’s curiosity, as they explore, imagine, create and learn.” said Children’s Museum Executive Director Cate Anderson. “We’re very excited to be fully open in our fantastic new location!"
“We are thrilled to see this project come to completion,” said Gina Slechta, Regional Director of Marketing for Horizon Group Properties. “It has been a joy to work with Cate and all the workers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make this happen, and we are looking forward to a fun, successful grand opening.”
This wonderful new museum that you will see on August 31st is the result of the generosity of our community. Fundraising efforts will be ongoing until the move is fully funded. The Children’s Museum is actively seeking exhibit sponsorships (29 total exhibit opportunities) and donations can be made at the Museum or at any Banner Bank (formerly Skagit Bank) location. $5 Fridays via Facebook showcases a new item each week, which anyone can contribute to. All donors will get their name on a plaque with the item in the new museum.
A New Home
The Children’s Museum is currently open in 8,400 square feet of their total 15,400 square feet at The Outlet Shoppes at Burlington. The additional 7,000 square feet will open at the end of August when Phase II construction is complete. The Museum’s new facility includes a larger museum store area, larger art studio and reading room, refreshed and new exhibits, Family Resource Room, party/classroom space, preschool, breast-feeding room, family restrooms, and community meeting space.
The Museum directorship, staff, volunteers and supporters are excited to have developed the new space in a meaningful way to continue growing their programs and events. Enhanced exhibits and learning opportunities, improved spaces for STEAM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) to encourage critical thinking skills, imagination, creativity, and social-emotional development are all part of those plans. In addition, the Museum’s successful preschool program has a larger classroom space. The Museum’s scholarship program will continue to serve the needs of children and families, and their partnership with more than 35 organizations and institutions will continue to flourish in this new space.
“Bigger. Better. Brighter. Relocation Campaign” Under Way
Moving and developing a new facility takes time and significant financial support. The Children’s Museum of Skagit County’s “Bigger. Better. Brighter. Relocation Campaign,” which is necessary to fund the costs of the new museum build out and relocation costs is under way and still accepting financial and in-kind support. Donations to this campaign can be made to the Children’s Museum of Skagit County or directly to their donation account at any Banner Bank (formerly Skagit Bank) branch in the region.
About The Children’s Museum of Skagit County
The Children’s Museum of Skagit County is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that opened in Mount Vernon in 2003. The mission of the Museum is to provide an interactive learning environment to promote, encourage and increase an understanding of the arts, science and culture among children, youth, families and educators in Skagit County. The Museum is open seven days a week. To learn more about our hours of operations, membership, scholarships, events, camps, classes, parties, volunteering, supporting and more visit the Museum website at SkagitChildrensMuseum.net or call (360) 757 8888.