We're on the precipice of 2016 and the Children's Museum of New Hampshire can't wait to share with you all the fun we have in store for the coming year. But first - let's take a look back at the fun that stretched across all of 2015!

January

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow, A frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow.
- Edgar Fawcett

• CMNH Educators Jenaya & Sarah meet Governor Maggie Hassan at the Inaugural Open House at the State House in Concord
• CMNH Volunteer Barbara gets into the silly spirit in the Muse Studio for our Abstract Art workshop
• The Dover Chamber of Commerce awards CMNH the Non-Profit of the Year award at Rivermill
• Steampunk Octopus Bike Rack is happy that he's standing up on all 8 tippy-toes as we receive several feet of snow in 48 hours

February

Without Valentine's Day, February would be . . . well . . . January. - Jim Gaffigan

• 
• Lucas isn't a fan of the Tooth Fairy
• Our visitors learn brushing tips from visiting dentists and dental hygienists as part of Dental Health Month
• CMNH Educators Crystal, Jenaya, Meghan & Meredith find their inner superhero for a Make It OR Break It Club all about digital manipulation
• It's Mardi Gras time at CMNH
• Protect your heads, because the Queen of Hearts came to visit CMNH in February for a tea party
• Our visitors get ready for the SuperBowl with New England Patriots face painting

March

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

• Our Mosaic Unit for 2015 begins with a visit to Egypt with sand art, hieroglyphs, instruments, jewelry making, pyramid building . . .
• . . . followed by cheery blossom art in Japan . . .
• . . . and Leprechaun traps and the wearing of the green learning about Ireland
• CMNH Media Producer Zach films one of scenes for the museum's STEM Video Series

April

April is a promise that May is bound to keep - Hal Borland

• Clifford the Turtle arrives for the opening of the new Naturalist Study
• The mind-bending fun of the Rubik's Cube is part of our exploration of Hungary during our Mosaic Unit
• Curious George and The Man With the Yellow Hat meet our visitors in the Muse Studio
• Junior Science Classes learn about the five senses - can you guess which one they learned about in April?
• CMNH Exhibits Director Mark spreads the resin on the new wooden Naturalist Study table in time for the opening
• Port City Nissan hosts the drawing of the Joyride Raffle with a Nissan Quest S Minivan up for grabs

May

"The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May."- Edwin Way Teale

• One of our Homeschool Scientists brings a spotted salamander to class - just because
• More Mosaic: School children learn how to make lotus flower fans, how diverse the wildlife is, and how to do traditional dances of the country of Thailand
• The Horta Brothers return to CMNH to show off their talented woodworking and mask making skills
• Monty & C.J. of the Dover Mounted Patrol join our volunteers at the annual CMNH 5K Road Race
• CMNH Director of Visitor Services Doug and Lead Educator Meredith prepare for Pirate Day
• Current Wee Ones participants are joined by alumni for our first Wee Ones Weeunion

June

If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance - Bernard Williams

• Jess Michaud is named CMNH Volunteer of the Year
• WMUR covers the installation of free sunscreen dispensers in Henry Law Park
• Make It OR Break It Club explores the wonder of Cyanotypes
• It's time for psychedelic sponge paint turtles at Wee Ones Wednesdays
• CMNH hosts our first ever Beatles Day
• Stonyfield partners with CMNH once again on our Anyone Can Grow Food garden and programming
• CMNH Educators Crystal, Sarah, & Riley join Visitor Services Supervisor Zach on a trip to the Boston Children's Museum for off-site exploration and learning
• CMNH Educators Emily, Sarah and Jenaya open up for the first Monday of the summer
• CMNH is open 7 days a week all summer long
• The Dover Police Department visits CMNH as part of our Exploring Our Way program for children on the spectrum and their families

July

July - She will fly . . . - Simon & Garfunkel

• Members of our monthly Alzheimer's Cafe program hold their annual summer picnic in Rye
• CMNH Educators Crystal, Sarah and Jenaya get cosmic with NASA to celebrate Pluto Day
• This little guy takes a big bite our of Shark Week
• Bubbles, bubbles everywhere at CMNH Bubble Day

• CMNH launched our first ever Superhero Week in July
• Sponsored by Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH, Superhero Week was a great success that involved tons of super-powered activities and events
• Including: Costume making with award-winning designer Khepera Von Stitches, Superhero Team Improv with local artist George Demosthenes, Mini Comic Book creations with local teacher Tom Bonello, not to mention a visit from the friendly, neighborhood Amazing Spider-Man himself!

August

Summertime . . . and the living is easy. - George Gershwin and Dubose Heyward

• CMNH staff helped work this year's Seacoast Congress of Sound Festival in North Berwick, ME, with all proceeds being generously donated to CMNH
• CMNH Sculpture Camp was a big hit
• Broadway critics are still talking about our original production of "The Little Red Echidna"
• Teddy Bears and all other stuffed friends were welcome for our annual Teddy Bear Clinic and Picnic, made possible by partnerships with Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Trader Joe's

• All hands on deck! It's time for the Dover Mini Maker Faire!
• Maker Faire featured hands-on workshops including one on how to make your own Biodegradable Seed Balls!
• Vendors and Makers from around New England, like Nemo Equipment, showed off their wares
• There really was something for everyone at this year's Maker Faire
• Kids could make their own stomp rockets and then test them out in Henry Law Park

September

Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul! - Peggy Toney Horton

• One World Language School taught guests how to speak Chinese during Toddlerfest
• Northeastern Ballet Theatre gave special performances and taught guests some dance moves
• C&J Bus Lines gave families a chance to touch a bus during Toddlerfest
• A new addition to Primary Place were these light switch flower gardens
• We were closed for the first two weeks of September to do a little cleaning and maintenance. It's really our only chance to get the pieces that get stuck up high from the Build It, Fly It exhibit!
• Mark Cuddy worked on some new exhibits during closing weeks
• Staff could be seen everywhere touching up the paint throughout the museum
• Media Producer, Zach Foote visited the Maple Suites Retirment Community to give a presentation on social media to seniors
• Train day was another huge success

October

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. - L.M. Montgomery

• October brought costumes, crafts and...Mad Scientists? The Not-So-Spooky spectacular was...well...spectacular.
• The augmented reality sand table made it's debut and it's been a huge hit with guests of all ages!

November

November arrived, cold as frozen iron, with hard frosts every morning and icy drafts that bit at exposed hands and faces. - J.K. Rowling

• Books Alive featured a Wild Thing named Moishe and a Wild Rumpus provided by the kids
• PizzaFest was another fun and tasty fundraiser made successful by all the great pizza joints in town and Smuttynose Brewing Company
• Master Woodcarvers Ventura & Norberto Fabian from Oaxaca, Mexico showed our guests how they transform simple hunks of wood into amazing animals and figures

December

December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come. - Fennel Hudson

• Our first annual Jingle Bell Express was a lot of fun and a great collaboration between DeMeritt Hill Farm and C&J Bus Lines
• The Naturalist exhibit gets a seasonal upgrade
• Christmas trees were donated to several Festival of Trees in town, decorated b CMNH kids of course
• Sam Paolini is the newest artist to grace the entrance of CMNH with her art
• Workshops galore happened at the end of the month featuring holiday treats, Minecraft game design, and poetry
• And we said farewell to another wonderful year and welcomed 2016 with our recycled paper hats and a lot of smiles

Thank you everyone for joining us in 2015. We hope to see you again soon and wish you all health, joy and peace in 2016!