Childrens Museum Of Richmond

THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF RICHMOND, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, EXISTS TO INSPIRE GROWTH IN ALL CHILDREN BY ENGAGING FAMILIES IN LEARNING THROUGH PLAY.

MUSEUM EXPERIENCE: CMOR IS MORE THAN A FUN PLACE TO PLAY INDOORS AND OUTDOORS (THOUGH IT'S DEFINITELY THAT!) - IT'S AN ACTIVE, INVOLVED OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO GROW AND LEARN TOGETHER. FROM FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS TO SOCIALIZATION SKILLS, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT PLAY HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON A CHILD'S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE - AND THE MORE OFTEN THEY ENGAGE IN PLAY AT AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THE ONE SHARED AT CMOR, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO FIND SUCCESS INSIDE THE CLASSROOM. IN FY22, CMOR SAW TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 175,540 GUESTS. THE MUSEUM CONTINUES TO REBUILD FROM THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: PLAY IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN, FOSTERING SKILLS THAT WILL STAY WITH THEM WELL INTO ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD. AT CMOR, CHILDREN'S GROWTH IS INSPIRED BY ENGAGING FAMILIES IN THE POWER OF PLAY, KNOWING THAT EVERYONE CAN LEARN MORE - AND DEVELOP MORE RAPIDLY - WHEN FAMILIES PLAY TOGETHER. OUR EXHIBITS AND EXPERIENCES FUEL CHILDREN'S PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, MOTOR DEVELOPMENT SKILLS, LANGUAGE SKILLS, SPATIAL SKILLS AND COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS, CREATIVE SKILLS, AND PRE-READING AND READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS. THE MUSEUM FACILITATED 179 FIELD TRIPS, WHICH CONSISTED OF 3,809 STUDENTS, THROUGH IN-MUSEUM, MUSEUM-TO-GO, AND VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS.

MUSEUM SHOP: THE MUSEUM SHOP CARRIES EDUCATIONAL TOYS, GAMES, ART AND CRAFT SUPPLIES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, AND HANDS-ON PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN'S LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

BOOK BANK: THE CMOR BOOK BANK DISTRIBUTES BOOKS TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS; IN FY22, WE DISTRIBUTED 14,815 BOOKS, PRIMARILY TO CHILDREN FOR THE HOME LIBRARIES, WITH 1,280 OF THESE BOOKS GIVEN TO TEACHERS FOR THEIR SCHOOL LIBRARIES. ADDITIONAL OUTREACH INCLUDED 36 FIELD TRIPS FACILITATED THROUGH OUR ACCESS FOR ALL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND 296 SCHOLARSHIP MEMBERSHIPS DONATED TO FAMILIES IN NEED. NEARLY 25,600 VISITORS UTILIZED OUR MUSEUMS FOR ALL PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES DISCOUNT ADMISSION TO FAMILIES WHO ACCESS SNAP, WIC, AND/OR EBT BENEFITS. A MONTHLY EVENING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES WELCOMED 630 ATTENDEES TO EXPERIENCE THE MUSEUM WITH LOWER SENSORY INPUTS, A COOL-DOWN ROOM, AND VOLUNTEERS FROM VCU'S OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM. IN THE LEAD UP TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, CMOR HELPED TO PREPARE FAMILIES FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS WITH GUEST SPEAKERS AND ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON TIPS FOR EARLY LITERACY, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, HEALTHY HABITS, AND WAYS FOR CAREGIVERS TO SUPPORT LEARNING IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. LEGENDARY SANTA: LEGENDARY SANTA CELEBRATED ITS 85TH SEASON IN RICHMOND (AT CMOR SINCE 2005), CONTINUING THE TIMELESS TRADITION OF VISITING SANTA AS HE SHARES STORIES, MEMORIES, AND LOVE FOR ALL CHILDREN. DURING THE LEGENDARY SANTA VISIT, CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE HOLIDAY VILLAGE, WHICH EXPLORES HOLIDAYS FROM SIX DIFFERENT CULTURES. IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMMING, CMOR'S DOWNTOWN LOCATION RENOVATED THREE EXHIBIT SPACES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR: THE BACKYARD, IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND, AND TRAIN EXHIBITS. THE COMMUNITY RECOGNIZED CMOR'S IMPACT WITH AWARDS FROM THE BEST OF VIRGINIA 2022 AND RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH TOP WORKPLACES 2022.