Baltimore Childrens Museum Inc

PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM WILL STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND ITS MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING INITIATIVE, WHICH IS FOUNDED ON THE VALUE OF PLAY AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF A CHILD’S EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE BONDS BETWEEN A CHILD AND THEIR CAREGIVER. THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE HIRING OF A FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND TWO PART-TIME EDUCATION SPECIALISTS TO UNDERTAKE THE EXPANSION OF ITS ONGOING FATHERS AT PLAY AND PARENTS AT PLAY MUSEUM PROGRAMS. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO DESIGN A PROFESSIONALS AT PLAY: EARLY LEARNING INSTITUTE, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HUB WITHIN THE MUSEUM THAT WILL SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE’S EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE. THE INSTITUTE WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS THAT ALIGNS WITH MARYLAND’S CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE CREDENTIAL AND SUPPORTS MARYLAND STATE GUIDELINES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

PORT DISCOVERY?S COVID-19 RESPONSE PROJECT WILL REFOCUS AND CATALYZE PRE-EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVES. THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE PURPOSEFUL PLAY AS A VEHICLE FOR LEARNING IN PURSUIT OF ITS MISSION TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND INSPIRE LIFELONG CURIOSITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON AT-RISK YOUTH, THE MUSEUM WILL OFFER BOTH VIRTUAL AND MIXED-DELIVERY EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS IN UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, WHILE DEVELOPING NEW AND ENHANCED PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AMONG EARLY LEARNERS. THE MUSEUM WILL CONTINUE TO REOPEN ITS FACILITIES SAFELY, WITH A PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON GREATER ACCESSIBILITY TO HIGH-NEED POPULATIONS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO INCREASE STAFF CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO TRAUMA AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN IN NEW, RESPONSIVE WAYS.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM WILL STRENGTHEN ITS EDUCATION PROGRAM BY REVITALIZING ITS EXHIBITION SPACE, EXPANDING PROGRAMS, AND IMPLEMENTING NEW ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE THE ENHANCEMENT OF AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EXHIBIT WITH IMPROVED MATERIALS, BOOKS, AND LEARNING TOYS; STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF THE FATHERS AT PLAY PROGRAM TO REACH 60 FATHERS AND 60 CHILDREN; AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAM, SET SAIL FOR KINDERGARTEN. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARYLAND FAMILY NETWORK, THE MUSEUM WILL OFFER THREE VIRTUAL PARENT CAFÉ WORKSHOPS PER YEAR, PROVIDING RESOURCES TO HELP PARENTS SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING, AND INCENTIVIZING PARTICIPATION THROUGH COMPENSATION FOR THEIR TIME AND FREE PASSES. TWO NEW POSITIONS WILL ASSIST WITH PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND STAFF WILL PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTIVITIES. AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR WILL MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT ON ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

PORT DISCOVERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, WILL DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, RECOGNIZING THAT PRE-EXISTING CHALLENGES FACED BY THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN COMPOUNDED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE MUSEUM WILL CONDUCT AN EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WILL IDENTIFY BOTH THE TARGET COMMUNITY'S CURRENT CHALLENGES AND THE MUSEUM'S CAPACITY, RESOURCES, AND NEEDS TO HELP MITIGATE THEM. IT ALSO WILL LAUNCH A REIMAGINED SUITE OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS DISABILITIES AND WILL IMPLEMENT, EVALUATE, AND REFINE PILOT PROGRAMMING DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES. THE MUSEUM EMPLOYS PURPOSEFUL PLAY AS A VEHICLE FOR LEARNING IN PURSUIT OF ITS MISSION TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND INSPIRE LIFELONG CURIOSITY. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS ROOTED IN THE MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.