Baltimore Childrens Museum Inc

PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CONNECTS PURPOSEFUL PLAY AND LEARNING WITHIN ITS WALLS AND BEYOND.

LOCATED IN BALTIMORE'S HISTORIC FISH MARKET BUILDING IN THE INNER HARBOR, PORT DISCOVERY IS AN 80,000 SQUARE-FOOT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OFFERING THREE FLOORS OF INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, LEARNING SPACES, AND TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS. SINCE OPENING, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 5 MILLION VISITORS AS ONE OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION'S LEADING CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS. PORT DISCOVERY'S EXHIBITS, EXPERIENCES, AND PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO USE THEIR IMAGINATIONS, EXPLORE HOW THINGS WORK, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND LEARN AND PRACTICE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS. WE DO THIS WORK IN THE FOLLOWING BROAD CATEGORIES:(SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION) PROVIDING ACCESS FOR ALL: PORT DISCOVERY OFFERS FREE AND REDUCED ADMISSION TO MARYLAND SCHOOL STUDENTS, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS PLAYMAKERS, COMMUNITY DAYS, AND SALUTE THE TROOPS. ADDITIONALLY, ACCESS INCLUDES TRAINING STAFF AND IMPROVING FACILITY CAPACITY TO SERVE FAMILIES WITH SPECIFIC DISABILITIES AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. INNOVATIVE EXHIBITS: PORT DISCOVERY'S EXHIBITS AND EXPERIENCES ARE MADE FOR HANDS-ON EXPLORATION, FROM TINY'S DINER AND WONDERS OF WATER TO OUR SIGNATURE CORE EXPERIENCE - THE S.S. FRIEND SHIP! ON THIS IMMERSIVE WALK-THROUGH CARGO SHIP, CHILDREN CAN LOAD GOODS, SIT IN THE CAPTAIN'S SEAT, ACTIVATE THE ENGINES, WORK A GANTRY CRANE, AND READ ABOUT THE PORT OF BALTIMORE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TEXT AND MARKERS. AS A SITE DEVOTED TO SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PORT DISCOVERY IS OFTEN THE FIRST TIME THAT OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS EXPERIENCE LOCAL HISTORY AND BEGIN LEARNING ABOUT BALTIMORE'S NOTABLE HERITAGE. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: THIS PROGRAMMING INCLUDES ARTS- AND SCIENCE-BASED WORKSHOPS, NATURE-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE ARTS, AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THAT INVITE CHILDREN INTO A RANGE OF SUBJECTS FROM MARYLAND'S HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSES TO THE LIFE OF A BUMBLE BEE. ON AVERAGE, THE MUSEUM SERVES OVER 30,000 STUDENTS ANNUALLY, WITH 40% OF THOSE REPRESENTING TITLE I SCHOOLS. TWO GENERATIONS AT PLAY INITIATIVE: THIS SUITE OF PROGRAMS PROVIDES RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO HOLD THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-BEING OF MARYLAND'S YOUNG CHILDREN, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND EDUCATORS. PROGRAMMING INCLUDES FATHERS AT PLAY AND PARENTS AT PLAY, BOTH OF WHICH EMPOWER PARENTS THROUGH PURPOSEFUL PLAY STRATEGIES AND PEER LEARNING; AND PROFESSIONALS AT PLAY, WHICH SUPPORTS OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE ACROSS VARIOUS SETTINGS AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE.DURING THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022, THE MUSEUM'S ATTENDANCE HAD NOT FULLY RETURNED TO ITS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL. THE MUSEUM HAS ATTEMPTED TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC BY VARIOUS EFFORTS INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT RELIEF FUNDING, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN CONTRIBUTIONS AND GRANTS.THE MUSEUM RECEIVED DONATED LEGAL SERVICES VALUED AT $13,891, LOBBYING SERVICES VALUED AND $18,000, AND RENT VALUED AT $48,000. OTHER INDIVIDUALS, WHOSE SERVICES WERE NOT VALUED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE MEASURED OBJECTIVELY, VOLUNTEERED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 HOURS OF THEIR TIME.