Causes: Arts & Culture, Children's Museums

Mission: Imagine childrens museum creates playful learning opportunities through hands-on, interactive exhibits, activities, special events and outreach programming. Imagine is a community resource that inspires a love of learning and promotes family well-being.

Programs: Imagine childrens museum is a 45,000 square foot facility located in downtown everett, washington and includes 23,000 square feet of year-round exhibits. Since the museum opened in its current location our exceptional programs, award-winning exhibits and enrichment activities have drawn over two million people from the greater puget sound area and beyond. Imagine childrens museum serves children ages 1-12 and their caregivers (parents, grandparents, guardians, etc). In 2014 the museum served more than 230,000 people at the museum and outreach programming. Three levels of interactive exhibits are designed to support family togetherness and s. T. E. M. (science, technology, engineering and math) learning through hands-on exploration, discovery and imaginative play. Exhibits and enrichment classes are designed to develop academic and life skills in children of all abilities, regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status.

continuation: we primarily serve families in snohomish county and the greater puget sound region, but each year serve visitors from all over the u. S. And the world. One evening each month, we open our museum doors for free to ensure that all area families are given the opportunity to benefit from the exhibits and activities regardless of their ability to afford admission. Each year free admission night draws 10,000 visitors, and the past two years have shown that more than 60% come from low-income area households. Discounted admission and free memberships, events and programs are other ways we make it easier for all families to share in the hands-on, playful learning throughout the year. Helping to strengthen the community, imagine is a vital resource for area schools, daycares, social workers, family resource centers and other nonprofit organizations that share the common goal of addressing emerging neighborhood needs for children and their families.

continuation: primarily those needs include serving low-income, at-risk youth suffering from the challenges of parents juggling multiple jobs, or job loss; family illness, death, divorce and intergenerational poverty. An intensive summer literacy program and afterschool science clubs in area schools are among the many ways we work to provide educational enrichment and emotional support and guidance to those children in snohomish county who need it most. Imagine childrens museum is fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers; 693 volunteers served over 7072 hours in 2014, several earning the presidents volunteer service award.