CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF THE MOV INC

RIVER CITY NATURE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR THEMES IN A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, WITH MANY VISITORS ENGAGED IN THE PROMISE OF A RENEWED CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD. THROUGH IMAGINATIVE PLAY AND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, THE ARTS AND MATHEMATICS (STEAM) ACTIVITIES,THE RIVER GALLERY INVITES VISITORS TO UNCOVER THE WILD AND WONDERFUL NATURE OF THE OHIO RIVER, ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE MANY ANIMALS AND PLANTS WHO CALL THIS AREA HOME. - CELEBRATE PARKERBURG AS A RIVER CITY AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OHIO RIVER IN SHAPING THE COMMUNITY. - CONNECT VISITORS TO NATURE THROUGH THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM BY SHOWCASING FLORA, FAUNA, AND NATURAL PROCESSES SPECIFIC TO THE REGION. - INVITE VISITORS TO DISCOVER AND EXPERIMENT WITH THE POWER OF WATER THROUGH OPEN-ENDED AND REPEATABLE CAUSE-AND-EFFECT EXPERIENCES. - EVOKE A UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACE THAT ENGAGES MULTIPLE SENSES WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS, AND IMMERSIVE VISUALS AND LIGHTING. - PROVIDE AMENITIES THAT SUPPORT A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH WATER PLAY, SUCH AS SMOCKS, DRYERS, AND CHANGING AREAS. BALL FACTORY/EARLY CHILDHOOD THE FACTORY FEATURES A CENTRAL CLIMBING STRUCTURE THAT PROVIDES CHILDREN WITHA GRADUATED SERIES OF SAFE YET CHALLENGING PHYSICAL OBSTACLES THAT ENCOURAGE VISITORS OF VARYING ABILITIES. THIS STRUCTURE IS ENRICHED WITH WHIMSICAL DESIGN ELEMENTS AND SURROUNDED BY KINETIC BALL ACTIVITIES THAT DRAW INSPIRATION FROM FACTORY PROCESSES AND PARKERSBURG'S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY. TOGETHER, THE CLIMBER AND INTERSPERSED BALL-DRIVEN CONTRAPTIONS CREATE AN OPEN-ENDED AND IMAGINATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PLAY AND GROW TOGETHER. - INVITE VISITORS AND CAREGIVERS TO PLAY TOGETHER. - ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS COMMON GOALS BY EMPHASIZING COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY. - EMPOWER VISITORS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN ABILITIES AND TAKE RISKS THROUGH LARGE-MOTOR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES. - PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL LEVELS OF PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL ABILITIES. - DRAW INSPIRATION FROM MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND HONOR PARKERSBURG'S HISTORY BY CONNECTING VISITORS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY IN THE REGION - DESIGN LABIN THE DESIGN STUDIO, VISITORS EXPLORE MAKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING WITHA VARIETY OF MATERIALS, CREATIVE PLATFORMS AND TESTING APPARATURES. AS A HANDS-ON ENTRY POINT FOR STEAM CONCEPTS AS WELL AS EXPERIMENTATION AND DESIGN-THINKING, THE ACTIVITIES GUIDE YOUNG VISITORS THROUGH CREATIVE AND TECHNICAL PROCESSES WHILE PROVIDING AUTHENTIC ENCOUNTERS WITH MATERIALS, TOOLS, AND TECHNOLOGY. EXPERIENCES RANGE FROM OPEN-ENDED MATERIAL EXPLORATION TO CHALLENGES AND PROJECTS VISITORS CAN RETURN TO, VISIT AFTER VISIT, HELPING AUDIENCES OF ALL ABILITIES BUILD PRACTICAL SKILLS, CREATE TANGIBLE OUTCOMES, AND BEGIN TO SEE THEMSLEVES AS DESIGNERS, MAKERS, THINKERS, AND DOERS. - NURTURE DESIGN THINKING AND ENGAGE VISITORS IN EXPERIENCES THAT ELEVATE THE DESIGN PROCESS RATHER THAN FOCUS ON "RIGHT" OUTCOMES. - ENTICE CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS TO MAKE OBSERVATIONS, AS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORLD AND SEEK ANSWERS TOGETHER. - CELEBRATE SELF-EXPRESSION AND CREATIVITY BY PROVIDING OPPRTUNITIES TO EXPERIMENT WITHA VARIETY OF TOOLS, MATERIALS, AMD PLATFORMS THAT TEST AND SHOWCASE VISITOR CREATIONS. - INSPIRE VISITORS TO DREAM BIG AND IMAGINE THEMSELVES AS SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND ARTISTS OF THE FUTURE. - SERVE ALL LEARNERS WITH ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO ALL GENDERS.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING PROGRAMMING WILL TAKE PLACE IN HANDS-ON CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH THE MAKERSPACES. PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE ITEMS THAT EXPANDS ON THE EXHIBITS DISCUSSED ABOVE. THE PROGRAMMING EXPANDS ON THE YOUTH EXPERIENCE AND LEARNING TAKES PLACE THROUGH THE EXHIBITS. FOR INSTANCE, THE YOUTH MAY LEARN HOW TO BUILD MODEL ROCKETS THAT EXPAND ON OUR ROCKETS EXHIBIT THAT THEY CAN TAKE HOME.