COMMUNITY IMPACT

Corporate and individual supporters provide 40% of the Museum’s annual operating budget, helping us to provide quality, education programs while keeping our admission rate the lowest for children’s museums in the state of Virginia.
 

By the Numbers:

• Target audience: children ages 1–12 and their families/caregivers

• Monthly free admission events and scholarship memberships; 12% of admissions are sponsored

• Museum admission fee is among the lowest of 7 children’s museums in Virginia

• 60% earned income (admissions, membership, field trips, birthday parties, programs and store), 40% contributed income (donations, grants and sponsorships)

• Over 250 volunteers give approximately 10,000 hours to support the museum anually

Future Workforce:

• Rich learning environment promotes problem solving, creativity and teamwork

• SOL-based field trip programs extend classroom instruction

• 7,500 annual field trip visits (regional audience includes Augusta, Shenandoah, Page, West Virginia)

• Teen volunteer/youth development programs

• College/university student internships and practicum experiences

• Local experts who share their knowledge and skills to instruct, create or maintain exhibits

Economic Development:

• Major attraction in downtown; 35% of children’s museums are keystones in community revitalization projects

• Member of Association of Children’s Museums, a national organization that markets Explore More across the United States

• Area businesses promote the museum as a valuable educational and cultural resource when recruiting new employees to the Valley.

• The museum regularly shares its organizational story with visiting groups such as VA Main Street, university alumni associations, civic clubs and state leadership conferences.