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Why we believe in the importance of MY Museum
Case Statement
Each child is an inventor, a
teacher, a scientist, an artist. Children are naturally
curious about the world, wanting to know how and why and
where. If you’ve recently spent time with a three-year old,
you know this from personal experience.
It is well documented that play is an essential part of any
child’s well-being. It is primarily through play that a
child learns, discovers and creates. But “play” is currently
under attack. The lives of our children are becoming heavily
structured and regimented, leaving little time for the
precious benefits gained from play. Busy lives, soccer
practice, home computers and the rise of academic
standardized testing have placed children’s very spirit at
risk. We need to remember as one educator stated, “Einstein
never used flash cards.”
It is through the process of hands-on interactive discovery
and play that children are able to identify what their needs
are, and to communicate these needs to teachers, parents,
and peers. By asking questions, children learn more
effectively, increasing their self-esteem and
“learning-to-learn” skills.
It is not easy to create a place where a child can learn
without limits. Each child is unique. While some respond to
the written word, others delight in sounds, or in the order
and structure of mathematics. It is theorized that there are
at least seven different intelligences, or learning styles.
The child who learns best kinesthetically, using his or her
body to explore the world, may not gain insight from written
lessons. And the child who can read and remember may not
understand that which is spoken. Unfortunately, many of our
schools, given their limited resources and the increased
demand for measurable results, can no longer try and teach
to each child’s personal style. More and more children are
failing to find success in our traditional educational
environment. These are just a few of the invaluable lessons
that are addressed by MY Museum’s unstructured learning
environment.
At MY Museum, children are given the opportunity to
internalize knowledge through the hands-on exhibits. Through
first hand experience, real learning occurs on many levels.
As one educator has proclaimed, “The next frontier is clear
for us. We need to grow a generation of people who can use
facts to solve problems, not merely digest facts. We have to
help our children became creative explorers who own
knowledge, not just memorize it.”
Communities that embrace a sense of responsibility toward
their children's futures must seek to create safe places
where they can happily play and use their imaginations
--places in which there are few limitations and endless
possibilities. Even more valuable is a place where children
and adults can play together. Studies constantly confirm
that play is an important bonding experience for families,
and that play involving parents or other significant adults
enhance the learning process. Creating such a place for
learning and discovering through play is MY Museum’s primary
mission.
Howard Gardner, the Harvard psychologist who developed the
theory of multiple intelligences, describes children’s
museums as “playgrounds for the mind.” It is here that
children learn most creatively, trying out new ideas and
ways of learning, seeking to understand the world in their
own unique way. MY Museum, as the name implies, focuses on
learning about oneself, also called, “self science.” Here
children can discover their own learning styles in dynamic,
interactive exhibits designed specifically to enhance
creativity and personal growth. The Museum doesn’t teach
kids what to think it teaches them how to think.
Founded in 1997, MY Museum began as a Junior League project,
and has since evolved into a community based, nonprofit 501
(c) 3 organization. In the past eleven years the museum has
served over 200,000 residents and tourists alike. An
additional 80,000 have been served through the museum's
outreach programs such as the Wheelie Mobilee. The success
and demand for MY Museum's programs is undeniable. Also
undeniable was the need for MY Museum to establish a
permanent home. There is an estimated 100,000 youth living
in Monterey County, representing a diverse array of cultural
and racial backgrounds. Our former facility was inadequate
to meet the needs of our children. So, in November 2008 we
opened our New Facility to the public and had an amazing
response!
Monterey County annually attracts over four million
visitors, making it one of California’s most popular visitor
destinations. Events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival and
the AT&T Pro Am Golf Tournament are attended by visitors
from around the world. In addition, the area serves as one
of the top five conference locations in the country. Many of
these visitors are families who actively seek attractions
they can experience together.
We opened our new 8,500 square-foot building in downtown
Monterey at 425 Washington Street. The new building allows
MY Museum to increase the number of its exhibits and broaden
the age range of children whom it serves. The new facility
is more prominent and convenient for families and school
groups. With a larger building, My Museum is able to attract
traveling exhibits, further enhancing the quality of its
programs.
MY Museum has experienced consistent growth during its
eleven-year history and has grown to be an integral part of
the community that serves our youth. School groups from all
over Monterey County regularly visit. Families of all sizes
and backgrounds find a meaningful experience at MY Museum
(The Museum regularly provides subsidized admission to the
economically disadvantaged, insuring attendance is available
to all). MY Museum has developed a proven formula for
success based on fulfilling the very real need for positive
places in which children and adults can learn and play
together.
Our futures are brighter when we invest in our children.
Help create a brighter future by investing in MY Museum.
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