We’re Bringing a Children’s Museum to Clark County!
At the end of 2024, we completed our community engagement campaign. If you’d like to view the results, click the button below! We are currently in the strategic planning phase, where we're applying research and community input to create a plan for making the museum a reality. We'll update this page as we go along. Keep scrolling to find out how you can get involved today!
Completed
Community
Engagement Campaign
Connecting with local
residents to gain feedback
and input.
active
Strategic Planning &
Feasibility Study
Assessing regional and
economic factors to create
a viable plan of action.
coming soon
Capital Campaign
Raising funds to support
children’s museum
development.
coming soon
Development
Bringing the children’s
museum to life in our
community!
what is a children’s museum?
Take a look at Part One of our two-part Children’s Museum News series where Dr. John Falk, Founder and CEO of Institute for Learning Innovation, talks about the purpose and importance of children’s museums. Plus, kids share their thoughts on play.
what will our museum be like?
In Part Two of Children’s Museum News, we get a sneak peek from Amelia Shelley, Columbia Play Project’s Board Chair and retired CEO Fort Vancouver Regional Library. Plus, do we hear construction noises? Watch till the end to find out!
How To Experience the CHildren’s Musuem Today
Come to our fourth Playn Pop-up
Book our Mobile Museum
Frequently Asked Questions
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A children’s museum is defined as a nonprofit educational and cultural institution committed to serving the needs and interests of children by providing exhibits and programs that stimulate curiosity, motivate learning, and support the wellbeing of children and families.
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Play is learning and is critical to children’s healthy social, emotional, and cognitive development. Children are valued citizens with the right to developmentally-appropriate and high-quality learning experiences. Children’s museums are known for being joyful spaces for learning and play and are much more than just places to visit.
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You’d find exhibits and programs for different ages and stages. You’d find spaces for imaginative play, experimenting, role-playing, large-muscle play, creating, sensory play, and much more. Every children’s museum reflects the community it serves. They also function as educational laboratories, local destinations, and advocates for children.
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A children’s museum is designed to serve all families in the community. Equity and inclusion are prime values of Columbia Play Project. The target age for exhibits is 0-12.
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That’s everybody’s first question! Our answer is: we don’t know yet. After gathering community input, the planning team will get to work channeling those ideas into designs and searching for the best space to build the museum.
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Our hope is that the museum will open in 2027 or 2028.
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There are lots of ways to get involved today, including visiting our Fourth Playn Pop Up, booking the mobile museum, becoming a member, volunteering, or subscribing to our social media and newsletter. Info on all of these can be found here on our website!