DuPage Children's Museum

DCM is honored to have been selected as the spring grantee of DuPage Foundation's Next Generation Initiative (NGI), and we are excited to host their Spring Social at the Museum. #BetterTogether #CommunityPartner #PartnersInPlay #Philanthropy

Building support for the work of the Museum requires passionate leaders with significant experience and accomplishments in business #strategy and #philanthropy. DCM is pleased to welcome John Bramlette of Busey to the Board of Directors. John's deep commitment to supporting local organizations and causes that strengthen families aligns squarely with DCM's mission and vision. “We are excited to have a professional of John’s experience, expertise, and passion join our Board,” said Larry Larsen, DuPage Children’s Museum’s board chair. #PartnersInPlay #BoardService #BoardMember #Leadership #Nonprofit

In partnership with The Conservation Foundation, DCM recently participated in the DuPage County-wide Educator Inservice Day. Nearly 60 educators gathered at Mayslake Peabody Estate Forest Preserve to participate in a full day of playful outdoor learning designed to engage Pre-K to 12th grade teachers in inquiry-focused and nature-based learning experiences. ? Educators participated in three rotations including Forest Therapy, Inquiry in the Outdoors, and Bringing the Outside In. DCM facilitated a portion of our Nature's Adventure Learning Lab to illustrate learning through play practices alongside biology and environmental content. Participants left the workshop with new tools and resources to use in their classrooms to ensure their students have access to research-based and playful outdoor learning activities. It was a highly impactful (and fun!) day, ending with rave reviews including, "This was the best PD workshop I've ever been to!" Workshop participants? ? improved their confidence in teaching eco-STEM in the outdoors,? ? gained tools to integrate local natural phenomena into curriculum, and? ? increased their content knowledge around eco-STEM education, play-based education techniques, #SocialEmotionalLearning in the outdoors, and how to tie in #NGSS and other learning standards in outdoor settings.? #BetterTogether #CommunityPartner #PartnersInPlay #NaturePlay #STEM #ProfessionalDevelopment #boschcommunityfund?

Attention all risk management professionals… Did you know (safe) risk is built into DCM #exhibit experiences? Toddlers are intrinsically expert #risk takers; so, DCM developed three Young Explorer spaces just for children under the age of two.? Considering the many ways young children learn informs DCM’s intentional, iterative #design process and differentiates the Museum from other play spaces. DuPage Children’s Museum is more than just a day of fun — it’s an investment in a child’s growth and development. Special thanks to Naperville Community Television (NCTV17) and Jane Wernette for celebrating curiosity, playful learning, and joyful discoveries on location with Kimberly Stull. Watch the Full Spotlight... #CUatDCM #childrensmuseums #learningthroughplay #PartnersInPlay

"The Museum provides a vibrant, supportive, and engaging environment that not only honors the journeys of NICU families but also inspires joy and connection." Jessica Kincaid,?Perinatal Support Services Coordinator?at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, shares, "I've witnessed firsthand the profound #impact that play can have on a child's development, even from the earliest stages of life." Learn more about the healing power of playful learning and why DCM ranked at the top of the list for the annual #NICU reunion. #BetterTogether #CommunityPartner #PartnersInPlay

Community Cares at DCM provided hands-on, interactive opportunities for children and families to create resources to #giveback to the community. Big thanks to our partners at Naperville Public Library, Naper Settlement, Naperville Park District, The Morton Arboretum, and Fox Valley United Way for sponsoring a variety of activities that inspired museum guests to make something to help another. Children were able to make toys for shelter animals, create puzzles for nursing homes, prepare kits for DCM school programs, and more—all promoting awareness and thoughtful engagement. #BetterTogether #CommunityPartner #PayItForward Learn more about DCM school programs: https://lnkd.in/gHhP3tCd

New DCM Traveling Exhibit Opens in Elgin! Last year, in partnership with LEGO creators Dave Kaleta and Richard Dryden, DCM debuted Awesome Black Creativity (ABC). This interactive #exhibition of #Lego brick-built figures, depicting an A-Z series spanning history and various disciplines, celebrates #creativity of all kinds — from sports figures to musicians, artists to environmentalists, and more. After a successful installation at DCM, the artists approached our exhibits team to design and develop a traveling exhibition for a variety of settings across the country, starting at the Gail Borden Public Library District in Elgin, IL from January 15 through February 27. View and learn about the influential figures; tell your own story through building with Lego bricks — starting with a self portrait brick build and moving through the storytelling process by developing place and plot at freestanding design stations.

DCM is thrilled and humbled to have been awarded a three-year $900,000 grant from the Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation. This philanthopic gift will help DCM further its ongoing mission to nurture joyful discoveries through innovative, hands-on educational programming for children and families. #PartnersInPlay #BetterTogether #Philanthropy?

Thank you to our wonderful partners Rosaisela Sida-Nanez, Ambre Rowland MLD, and Yvette Ortiz at Fox Valley United Way SPARK for featuring DCM's Bilingual Early Learning Facilitator Catalina Rodriguez in the SPARKlight section of their quarterly newsletter. In her Catalina's own words, "I have the privilege of supporting Spanish speaking families and their children. I work closely with them to create fun and engaging educational experiences that help foster learning and growth... I really connect with children and love working with them to make sure they feel seen, heard, and valued. It’s also amazing to create lasting memories for them through fun, joyful play and learning." Read on to learn more about the impact of DCM's Museum PopUps helping children and families thrive in the City of Aurora and throughout the communities we serve. #BetterTogether #CommunityPartner #PartnersInPlay

Thank you DuPage Foundation for the generous grant DCM received from the Community Impact grant program! This grant will help to support DCM Wonder Clubs, Learning Labs, and Museum PopUp programs that empower children to learn through hands-on exploration in arts and #STEM! As a #nonprofit organization, philanthropic support from individuals and foundations is vital to Museum operations. Donations help DCM nurture joyful discoveries by creating and delivering extraordinary learning experiences designed to help children and families thrive. #PartnersInPlay #allindupage #communitypartners #communityimpact #charitablegiving