The Museum Blog
Category: In the News
CMNH to launch "Wonder & Wellness"
An emotional well-being initiative for families will launch in the Fall
In recognition of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) has announced a new emotional well-being initiative for families they are designing called “Wonder & Wellness”, funded by a generous $30,000 grant from the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation.
“We need to prioritize children’s emotional and mental wellbeing in the same way we prioritize their physical health,” said Brad Paige, CEO of Kennebunk Savings. “The Museum’s ‘Wonder and Wellness’ initiative will provide children and their caregivers with the tools they need to foster positive social-emotional wellbeing through playful enrichment experiences. This is a powerful initiative that will do a lot of good in the community.”
As part of a planned expansion project happening this fall, CMNH surveyed daily visitors and members to help identify the changing needs of families with young children and how this expansion could best support those needs. Among top desires was an exhibit focused on supporting children’s emotional well-being. This, in addition to the persistent news covering the sharp rise in mental health concerns in children post-pandemic, and a greater incidence of emotional challenges in younger children, solidified the intent to incorporate a mental health component into not only the new exhibits, slated to open in early 2025, but to go further and also overlay positive emotional health educational information, strategies, and take-home materials for families throughout the Museum.
While not a substitute for professional services, CMNH serves as a partner in a network of mental health support systems for families. “The Museum is seen as a safe place, free of stigma, and strives to normalize family discussions about mental health and emotional well-being,” shared CMNH Education Director, Xanthi Gray. “Offering information and activities at a place of play will provide a pathway to opening up these conversations that is friendly and accessible.”
According to CMNH President, Jane Bard, funding received will support a multi-faceted approach to incorporating ‘Wonder & Wellness’ strategies at the Museum. “We’re excited to offer these tools and jumping off points to help families discuss emotional well-being,” said Bard. “We are grateful to the support from the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation, who recognizes the importance of supporting children’s emotional health and the impactful role children’s museums can have in doing so.”
Wonder & Wellness plans include installing new signage to be unveiled this Fall highlighting ways parents can support their child’s emotional well-being during everyday activities, plus the release of a take-home educational piece for families. Additional Wonder & Wellness programs are being planned for 2025 including a speaker series and the opening of a low sensory calming space within the new exhibits for children or adults who need a place to recharge during their visit, providing additional educational resources and activities for families.
IMAGE: Left to Right: Rachel Peter (KSB Community Engagement Manager), Dory Polanco (KSB Dover Branch Manager), Erica Place (KSB Retail Experience Manager & CMNH Board Member), Jane Bard (CMNH President), Meredith Brustlin (CMNH Content Specialist). Photo courtesy of Children's Museum of New Hampshire.
CMNH to Host 12th Annual NH Maker Fest
Makers of all kinds take over museum exhibits for a day of discovery
This year's annual NH Maker Fest, organized and hosted by the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover, on Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm, will feature a Rube Goldberg machine expert, bug motels and seed balls, a marimba petting zoo, roaming robots and dinosaurs, a jump rope team, and will culminate with a foam dance party.
"It's a fun and affordable day of discovery for all ages," said Neva Cole, CMNH Communications Director. Admission into the Fest, which takes place inside the museum and outside in the adjacent Henry Law Park, is by a suggested $5 per person donation. Pre-paid donations can be made online, but are not required to enjoy the Fest.
Some Makers will be set-up inside the Children's Museum of New Hampshire's many unique exhibit spaces, like Laura and Sarah from the Creative Guts podcast, or Zach Umperovitch, the Rube Goldberg machine expert. Some Makers will be outside in the museum's Play Patio, like volunteers from Seacoast Permaculture offering bites of wild edible plants or helping to build bug motels. Some makers will be out in the park like volunteers from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard helping to drive SeaPerch robots around a huge pool. Some Makers will be performing on the stage like Patti and the Pop Tarts musical ensemble. And some Makers will be roaming inside and out, like Star Wars cosplayers from the 501st New England Garrison and a life-size dinosaur puppet from Sages Entertainment. Fat Pockets food truck will be parked along Washington Street and serving authentic falafel pockets.
The education team at CMNH also offers up several drop-in activities and challenges like Tile Tie Dye, a Parachute Challenge, a Bubble Bin, and make-and-take upcycle stamps.
The Children's Museum of New Hampshire, open since 1983, is an award-winning museum featuring two floors of hands-on exhibits for kids ages birth to age 12. The museum's mission is to actively engage families in hands-on discovery. "The NH Maker Fest is just one way we offer up hands-on fun to our visitors," shared Xanthi Gray, CMNH Education Director. "It's fun to mix it up for a day-long event, and invite all ages to take part in the discovery. We hope to see just as many adults as kids enjoying the Fest-ending Foam Dance Party." The Foam experience will be provided by another Fest Maker, Sages Entertainment.
The Museum would like to thank it's 2024 NH Maker Fest Sponsors including Breezeline, NHPBS, Granite State Development Corporation, The State of New Hampshire on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan, Sprague, Albany Engineered Composites, Chinburg Properties, Eversource, QA Cafe, Novocure, Beswick Engineering, Calling All Cargo, and Martel Plumbing & Heating.
IMAGE: The day-long NH Maker Fest on Saturday, June 1, 10am-3pm will culminate in a Foam Dance Party provided by Sages Entertainment outside the Children's Museum of New Hampshire in downtown Dover. Photo courtesy of Sages Entertainment.
CMNH Offering a "Little Farmers" Exhibit Sneak Peak
Kick-off to this year's NH Gives 24-hour fundraising challenge
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) will host special evening hours on Tuesday, June 11th as a kick-off to this year’s NH Gives fundraising event. Each year non-profits across the state of New Hampshire participate in NH Gives, a powerful, statewide 24-hour fundraising event that is designed to build community and connect donors to local nonprofits, like the museum. This year, an anonymous donor will match all NH Gives donations to CMNH, up to $5500.
This is an important fundraising year for CMNH as preparations are underway for an upcoming expansion project which will open two new exhibits on the second floor. The new exhibits include a Farm-themed space dedicated to the youngest visitors, ages 0-5, similar to CMNH’s popular Primary Place, and another designed to be a creative open space for changing active play exhibits. The June 11th “NH Gives Kick-off Event: Little Farmers Sneak Peak!” at CMNH will be a family-friendly night at the Museum (hours 5-7pm), featuring a scavenger hunt, a farm-themed storytime, a farm-themed craft, special sneak peeks at new exhibit elements, and a chance to meet and offer name suggestions for a “pig” who will make her home in the new farm exhibit.
“There is a lot that goes into the creation of new exhibits,” shares Director of Exhibits and Facilities, Eric Erwin. “Though the spaces aren’t slated to open until early 2025, we’ve been working on research, design, as well as starting to build custom exhibit elements for almost a year already.”
“We surveyed our members and visitors for ideas for these two new spaces,” says Jane Bard, Museum President. “More space for our youngest visitors and a space that could accommodate more gross motor/physical movement elements ranked high. We hope our members and visitors that shared their thoughts will join us for NH Gives and get some of the first sneak peeks of pieces that will be showing up in the new exhibits they helped to create!”
Suggested donation for admission to this special event is $25 per family. Donations can be made through the NH Gives website beginning June 11th at 5pm, or at the door: https://www.nhgives.org/organizations/cmnh. Since this is a fundraiser, all visiting groups (including members) must show proof of donation for entry into the Museum. Visit the museum online at www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.
CMNH Receives Support from the Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) is excited to share that they have been awarded a two-year grant totaling $80,000 from the Evelyn S. and K.E. Barrett Foundation to support a facility expansion project. This expansion will add two new exhibit spaces to the Museum’s second floor, allowing CMNH to meet the changing needs of children, families, and the community. The Museum will launch this project in 2024, with the goal of opening the additional 1,000 square feet of engaging activities in late 2025.
“We have been impressed with the work that the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has done for children and families in New Hampshire and are pleased to continue supporting their mission,” said Peter Barrett, Executive Director and Trustee at the Barrett Foundation.
The Barrett Foundation previously provided CMNH with support for their “Bolstering a Childcare System in Crisis” project through which large activity kits filled with play-based manipulatives were provided to 83 childcare centers, family resource centers, and libraries in New Hampshire. The project also supplied educators with resources such as activity guides, instructional workshops and informational videos, and ultimately impacted over 9,900 children in the state.
“We’re thrilled to have this funding from the Barrett Foundation for our second floor expansion,” said Museum President Jane Bard. “The two new exhibits we have in the works include a New Hampshire farm exhibit designed for our youngest visitors, ages 0-5, similar to our popular Primary Place, and another designed to be a creative open space for changing exhibits and active play.”
The Museum is embracing new opportunities to grow and present new experiences to adapt to community needs. Current lack of childcare and preschool openings are bringing to light a demand for socialization and learning opportunities for children ages 0-5, as well as for their caregivers, hence the addition of a second area catering to this age. The new flexible space will allow CMNH to be responsive, not just through changing exhibits that will provide new and fresh experiences, but also as a space to expand our current drop-in programs and playgroups, community events, and school field trips. Recent statewide data and feedback from Museum visitors also indicates an urgent need for resources to support child and family emotional wellbeing. Educational activities related to social/emotional learning will be integrated into the new exhibits and CMNH will evaluate existing exhibits in the Museum to determine additional changes that can support children and family emotional health in an approachable and age-appropriate way.
Service Credit Union to Sponsor CMNH Discounts for Military Families
Photo courtesy of Karen Wituszynski
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) is pleased to announce that Service Credit Union is once again sponsoring year-round admission discounts for military families in 2024.
During the school year, military personnel, including veterans, and their families receive a 50% discount on admission. In the summer months, Armed Forces Day through Labor Day, current and retired military personnel and their immediate family members receive free admission to the Museum, thanks to Service Credit Union as exclusive sponsor of the Blue Star Museum program.
“We are proud to once again partner with the Children’s Museum to sponsor discounts for military families,” said Jaime Yates, Service Credit Union Community Relations Manager. “At Service Credit Union, we have a longstanding history of supporting our military members, veterans and their families, and this program is one of the ways we can give back to those who have given so much to us.”
These discounts are frequently used by families to access the Museum. In 2023, CMNH admitted 633 military visitors to the Museum at the 50% off rate, and the Blue Star Museum/free admission program admitted 1,430 military visitors. “Utilization of both our military discount programs last year increased more than 20% from the prior year,” said Jane Bard, Museum president. “This adds up to over $22,000 in savings for military families, and we are grateful to Service Credit Union’s continued support that enables us to continue to offer these programs.”
In addition to being open six days a week for play, CMNH is introducing “Play Late” evening hours on the first Friday of every month (through May 2024) from 4-7pm. CMNH hopes that these extended hours once a month will allow working families, including military families, with more flexibility of times that they are able to access the Museum. Military and all other discounts can be used to access these special play sessions.
These military discounts are available to active duty and retired U.S. military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force as well as members of the National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps - and their families.
About Service Credit Union:
Service Credit Union is dedicated to providing a banking experience that improves our members’ lives and the communities in which they live. Established in 1957 to provide affordable credit to the Pease Air Force Base community, and now the largest credit union in New Hampshire, with over $5 billion in assets and 50 branch locations in the New England Region and Germany, we continue to provide a better future to our members all over the world. To learn more about Service Credit Union, please visit www.servicecu.org.
Community Businesses Offer Support for Museum Expansion
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (CMNH) is excited to announce plans for an expansion of the second floor, which will add two new exhibits and better prepare the Museum to serve children and families in the future. Fundraising for the $420,000 expansion launched this spring, when the Museum was awarded $175,000 in Tax Credits from the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA).
Multiple businesses from the community have stepped forward in recent months to support this expansion through purchasing tax credits, including the JGroup (The Sailmaker’s House, Vida Cantina, 106 Grill, White Heron Tea, Bibimbap, Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café, GC Fine Foods, Cemita, The Franklin, Dos Amigos Burritos, Liars Bench and Railpenny Tavern), ReVision Energy, Chinburg Builders, Inc., Leone, McDonnell & Roberts P.A., Meredith Village Savings Bank, Grappone Automotive Group, First Seacoast Bank, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Nathan Wechsler & Company, P.A., Newburyport Bank, Eastern Propane & Oil and Stinson Associates, CPA.
“We deeply appreciate the support from each and every business that has purchased Tax Credits this year to support the facility expansion,” said Jane Bard, Museum President. “This project is in response to feedback from our visitors and will provide more of what families are saying they need from the Museum today. These companies understand that and are making a direct investment in our local community.”
The additional 1,000 sq ft will include a farm-themed exhibit designed for visitors ages birth through five, plus a second, flexible exhibit that changes multiple times a year providing new experiences and offering opportunities for active play and creative movement. The ongoing shortage of childcare and preschool openings continues to challenge families with young children who are seeking in-person socialization and learning experiences. This additional space will enable the Museum to expand our current drop-in programs, playgroups, community events and more.
Businesses paying New Hampshire state taxes that are interested in purchasing tax credits to support this expansion project are encouraged to contact Monique Deforge, Director of Development & Community Engagement, monique@childrens-museum.org. Individuals who would like to learn more or make a donation to the project can visit www.childrens-museum.org. The Museum anticipates opening the new space in late 2025.
Seasons Change but Play Remains
As the summer draws to a close, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire prepares for the Fall crowds and says farewell to some summer time discounts. The museum stays open through Labor Day weekend ending Sunday, September 3, 9am-Noon. Then the museum closes for its annual maintenance weeks from Monday, September 4 through Friday, September 15, reopening on Saturday, September 16th.
Also coming to an end is the museum’s Blue Star Museum Military Discount program, sponsored by Service Credit Union. This popular program offers free admission to all military personnel, including veterans and their families, from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day. As of this release, over 1,300 military family members utilized this discount to visit the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire this summer. When the museum reopens on September 16th, Military families will be able to enjoy half-off admission through Armed Forces Day in May, 2024, also supported by Service Credit Union.
The museum is also wrapping up its free admission for Childcare Providers from NH Licensed centers or facilities after September 3. This free admission was part of a prestigious IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) INSPIRE grant the museum was awarded to help launch a series of educational initiatives designed to help providers and families implement enriching, engaging, and developmentally appropriate play-based learning activities for kids from birth to age 5. Beyond the free admission for NH Childcare providers, which was utilized by over 260 educators, other museum initiatives included Teacher Workshops, Play Based Learning tips and project ideas, and physical kits full of high quality Play Based Learning toys, curated by museum educators, and gifted to over 80 childcare facilities and libraries across the state. When the museum reopens on September 16, teachers who teach Pre-K through 5th grade will still continue to enjoy half-off their museum admission.
CMNH Members had a blast this summer with their Messy Member Monday exclusive playtime out on the museum’s Play Patio, featuring mud, paint, and slime! As the cooler fall weather starts, no more Messy Member Mondays, but in October the museum will start to welcome Members inside the museum exhibits on the first Monday of the month for exclusive Member Monday Hours from 9-11am. Free as always for Members, but online reservations required. Also ending after August 31st is a Member Reciprocity with the Seacoast Science Center in Rye. “We love doing different admission reciprocity programs with other institutions,” shared Leila McRae, Membership Manager. “This August we welcomed over 200 Seacoast Science Center members into CMNH to play for free, and our members can enjoy free admission into their great facility as well.” Upcoming admission reciprocity programs include an agreement with Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth and the NH Farm Museum in Milton - see website for details: https://childrens-museum.org/membership/member-perks
The museum continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary year into the Fall with an upcoming CMNH Birthday Party on Saturday, September 23. Summer birthday events included a $1 Dover Resident Day, which over 60 Dover residents utilized, and a $1 Family Fun Day during which the museum welcomed over 440 individuals for $1 each, the same admission it charged when it opened its doors 40 years ago! Affordable admission for all is something the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is very passionate about. When the museum reopens on September 16th, it will continue to offer all EBT and WIC cardholders $3/person admission, a popular discount which over 3,000 individuals have benefited from so far this year.
The start of Fall also means back-to-school fun, and the Children’s Museum of NH is continuing to offer free and reduced Field Trips for Title 1 schools. Any NH Title 1 schools interested in booking a free Self-Guided Visit, or a Group Visit + STEAM Workshop, they must book for a date before March 2024. Available dates can be found online at: https://childrens-museum.org/outreach/field-trips . And for those schools wishing to visit who aren’t Title 1 Schools, the museum is offering 20% off your visit if you book a trip for October or November of 2023. “We know teachers love to save those field trips for the end of the school year, but those dates go quickly, so we hope offering a discount will convince them to visit us before the holidays!” shared Education Director Xanthi Gray.
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire reopens with Fall Hours on Saturday, September 16, 2023: Wednesdays - Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Tuesdays & Sundays, 9am-Noon. Online reservations are required as the museum has a capacity limit, and uses online reservations to help everyone have the best visit possible: https://childrens-museum.org/visit/info
A "Beary" Pleasant Checkup!
Children’s Museum of NH’s Teddy Bear Clinic Going Strong After 40 Years
Practically every year for the past 40 years, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover has organized and hosted a “Teddy Bear Clinic and Picnic” with the help of Portsmouth Regional Hospital staff and volunteers. Each year, the clinic offers kids a chance to develop positive associations with a visit to the doctor’s office. This year’s clinic will be held on Thursday, August 10 from 9am-Noon, and is included with museum admission.
“The Teddy Bear Clinic at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is one of our favorite events,” said Nora Fortin, RN, seacoast market director of Women & Children’s Services at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Frisbie Memorial Hospital. “It gives us the opportunity to talk with children in our community, to help them learn more about what we, as caregivers and providers, do so that hopefully they’ll be less afraid when it’s time to go to the doctor themselves.
At the clinic each child’s stuffed animal is checked-in and given an ID bracelet. Then children take their animals to meet with a volunteer doctor or nurse for a check-up. If needed, animals can be taken to the surgical table for stitches, band-aids, and ribbons. “Last year we had an actual surgeon volunteer at the clinic, which was fun to see,” said Megan Beach, CMNH Museum Experience Manager. At the end of their appointment, animals receive a certificate of good health, and families are invited to enjoy a to-go snack for the ride home.
“Providing education is a big part of our jobs at Portsmouth Regional Hospital,” said Malachi Fisher, market director of trauma and neurosciences at HCA New England. “While we enjoy being out in the community at a wide range of events, stitching and patching up stuffed animals, and doing exams when the stuffed animals aren’t feeling well is by far one of the highlights for us. It helps keep us grounded. It’s just one of the reasons we love what we do.”
“We’re so happy to once again welcome back volunteers from Portsmouth Regional Hospital to be a part of the Clinic this year,” shared CMNH President Jane Bard. “We have photos of them from as far back as 1985, volunteering for and supporting this program, which is wonderful to see.” Online reservations are required. The Teddy Bear Clinic Sponsor for 2023 is Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
