Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators Presentation to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission December 8, 2016
Inspiring the Next Generation of
InnovatorsPresentation to the Northern Virginia
Regional Commission
December 8, 2016
Introducing the Children’s Science Center
2
MISSION: To instill a love of learning STEM in all children by providing unique opportunities to
explore, create, and be inspired.
VISION: To create a world class children's science museum.
IMPACT: Now serving 70,000 visitors annually at museum site and via off-site community programs.
NEED: Expand impact to 500,000 children in our region.
The Children’s Science Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Motivated by the lack of a children’s museum or science center to serve the half million children in Northern Virginia, a group of
community leaders founded the Children’s Science Center.
History
2008 – Became Children’s Science Center, based on community feedback and future workforce needs
2010 – Museum Without Walls serves 3,500 visitors; Founders Society established
2006 – Partnership with the Junior League of Northern Virginia for 2,500 volunteer hours and $250,000 in seed funding
2005 – Fully established Board of Directors; first open space community meeting to plan museum
Until opening in 2015, Northern Virginia was the largest metro area in the U.S. and Virginia without a children’s museum or science center.
Northern Virginia remains the largest metro area without a right-sized science center.
Name Location Metro PopulationBoston Children’s Museum and Museum of Science Boston, MA 4,522,858
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Science Museum Pittsburgh, PA 2,431,087
Children’s Science Center (Northern Virginia) Dulles, VA 2,432,823
Museum of Life and Science and two other Children’s Museums Raleigh/Durham, NC 2,037,430
Adventure Science Center Nashville, TN 1,311,789
Port Discovery Children’s Museum and Maryland Science Center Baltimore, MD 1,212,977
Children’s Museum of Richmond and Science Museum of Virginia Richmond, VA 1,154,317
This is a critical element of education infrastructure.
Filling a Major Gap in Our Region
The Case for Children’s Museums
Today, children and families face many pressures and challenges that children’s museums address:
THE CHALLENGE THE RESPONSE
• The Compression of Childhood• Scarce Family Time• Lost Sense of Community• Diminishing Community Resources
• A Celebration of Childhood• Quality Family Experiences• Establishing Common Ground• Building a Creative Community
Source: Association of Children’s Museums
5
Over 300 children’s museums serve 65 million visitors annually
The Case for a Children’s Science Museum
Will our children be ready to meet STEM challenges?
6
Young children are natural scientists, yet majority lose interest in STEM subjects by 8th grade Earlier and more significant loss for girls and minorities
Percentage of college degrees in STEM– China 47%– Germany 28%– United States 13%
STEM is critical for this region’s workforce: Over 50% of new jobs in the next decade require STEM- Only 15% of Virginia Students earn STEM degrees
STEM skills are essential to solving
challenges in energy,
healthcare, environment, and national security.
We Must Find New Ways To Engage Our Children in STEM!
Early learning … increases the probability of positive outcomes
Informal learning … increases STEM interest and understanding
Hands-on learning… is experiential, play based and ideal for children’s learning
Family learning … improves interest, attitude and confidence in learning
How To Best Engage Children In STEM?
Research points to experiences that children’s science museums are uniquely positioned to provide.
Many scientists cite their early experiences science museums as their inspiration.
7
Children’s Museum & Science Center Learning
8
Different from Traditional Collections-Based Museums
Our mission is focused on children and inspiring them in the ways they learn best.
Audience and Education Objectives
Children aged 2-12 and their families Youth leadership program for ages 10-18 STEM content focus with arts integration Pre-K-12 formal education systems Showcase region’s STEM expertise Underserved and under-represented populations Children with special needs Environmentally conscious choices
Future Full-Scale Science Center,
Dulles, VA
First Operating SiteNow Open
Current & Future Sites
Community Programs The Lab
Future ScienceCenter
Areas of Focus
I II III
Traveling Exhibits & Activities
• Traveling to schools, libraries, other large venues• 20,000 annual visitors across 5+ jurisdictions • Family Science Nights at 50 schools (50% underserved)• 100,000 served since 2010; lottery process for schools
Community Programs
I
• New in June 2015; open daily at Fair Oaks Mall• Dynamic exploration center (5,400 sq. ft.) with four
experience zones, exhibits, and multi-purpose/classroom• General admissions, field trips, events, camps, & more• 50,000 annual visitors including scholarship visitors
The Lab
II
Presented by Dominion
Presented by Micron
Presented by Northwest Federal
Credit Union
• 30,000-70,000 sq. feet, phased build-out• To be built on donated land in an Arts and Sciences
Cultural Center at Kincora’s mixed-use development• 8 experience zones, 4 classrooms, 150 acres parkland• Capacity: 300,000 visitors annually
Future Home at Kincora in Dulles, VA
Future Science Center
III
15
Future Address: Knowledge Drive
Kincora Architect Rendering of Cultural Center
Museum Conceptual Plan
Planning Phase Activities
I.Establish Public Private Partnerships
II.Develop Architectural Concept Design
III.Mobilize Capital Campaign
Future Science Center Phases of Work
* Further site and business plan details available upon request.
Community Benefits• A community connector• A regional STEM center• An equalizer
Economic Benefits• Showcases No Va as a major technology center• Develops the future technology workforce• Attracts visitors and ancillary spending to region
Regional Science Center Benefits Go Beyond Education
18
Organizational Growth and Capacity
19
Governance & Advisory: Board of Directors, Advisory Board, STEM Council
36 full and part time employees, 22 FTE $ 1.2 M annual operating budget 350+ active volunteers Fundraising capacity: $3.5M raised since 2011
for operations and Lab build out Use of industry experts in planning, exhibit
design, and fabrication Member of major industry associations and
three regional chambers
Join the Children’s Science Center Movement!
How can you help?
Thank YouBoard of DirectorsAmy BurkeLee Ann BrownleeSusan CarrollGary CrumJim EgenriederMelvin GreerSusan JoyceSandy JonesTanya La ForceJill Corso McNabbCorbin NeiberlineChris PowellBrian SnodgrassAdalene “Nene” SpivyAngie WongKavya Kopporapu*Youth Repr.
Management Team
Adalene “Nene” Spivy, Executive DirectorJenn Brunner, DevelopmentJamie Johnson, AccountingDave Lin, Mike Tillman, Lab OperationsDorothy Ready, MarketingLori Ann Terjesen, Ph.D., Education
Advisory Board Cindy AmbroseJim CortinaMark Ginsberg, Ph.D.Bobbie KilbergJosh KonoweTodd HousePaul LesliePeggy MusgravePatricia NicosonLarry O'Reilly Delegate Ken Plum Kevin ReynoldsBud RosenthalMichael ShaklikLinda SullivanRobin Thurman
The Children’s Science Center is a local 501c3 non-profit organization.
Children’s Science Center Lab Fair Oaks MallOffice 3949 Pender Dr., Suite 120B, Fairfax, VA [email protected] 703-648-3130