THE CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF DENVER INC

THE MUSEUM PROVIDES RICH PLAY EXPERIENCES AND A DYNAMIC LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH MORE THAN 20 INNOVATIVE EXHIBITS, EVER-CHANGING DAILY PROGRAMS AND EXCITING YEAR-ROUND SPECIAL EVENTS. MUSEUM STAFF ALSO TAKE EXPERIENCES INTO CLASSROOMS THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMMING AND REGULARLY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS. THESE EXPERIENCES AND PROGRAMS HELP DEVELOP SKILLS CHILDREN NEED IN THE 21ST CENTURY, SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING AND COLLABORATION. ALL SCHOOL GROUP PROGRAMMING ALIGNS WITH COLORADO ACADEMIC STANDARDS, AND MUSEUM OFFERINGS ARE GUIDED BY THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATION FRAMEWORK, HEAD START'S CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND EARLY LEARNING FRAMEWORK, AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE PRACTICE. AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS, THE MUSEUM STAYS CURRENT ON BEST PRACTICES TO OFFER ITS GUESTS EXCEPTIONAL INFORMAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES. EXAMPLES OF MUSEUM PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE: 1) THE CENTER FOR THE YOUNG CHILD, THE REGION'S ONLY DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE PLAY ENVIRONMENT EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE THREE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS; 2) WATER, A LIVELY, STEM-RICH EXHIBIT THAT INVITES CHILDREN TO EXPERIMENT WITH WATER AND EXPLORE ITS PROPERTIES; 3) THE ART STUDIO, A NEW AREA DEDICATED TO CREATIVE WORKS USING PAINT, CLAY, FOUND MATERIALS AND OTHER MEDIA AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO WORK ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S NEW ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM; 4) OUTREACH PROGRAMS, WHICH ENHANCE CURRICULUM TAUGHT IN AREA CLASSROOMS; AND 5) SCHOOL GROUP FIELD TRIPS, WHICH ALLOW STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE MUSEUM ON THEIR OWN AND PARTICIPATE IN ON-SITE FACILITATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.