The sound of excited laughter fills the lobby; around the corner, every child—no matter their age—is grinning from ear to ear. Two young boys don their space suits and ready the machine for take-off. Parents wait patiently while children prepare them an Idaho Pizza meal, going through the motions of cooking and customer service all from an incredibly lifelike, child-sized kitchen built just for them. No detail is spared. A yellow piece of yarn falls from the “mustard” bottle as the older daughter squeezes it onto her mother’s plate. “This is making me hungry,” the mother says with both honesty and enthusiasm. “I guess I know what we’re having for lunch!” she laughs and her husband nods eagerly in agreement.
Recently expanding alongside its rapidly growing hometown of Meridian, the Children’s Museum (powered by CapEd) has been engaging and entertaining children since 2018. However, with the addition of another 4,000 square feet, there’s now even more to explore!
“The children who visit here learn through play, and that’s the best part—they don’t even know that they’re learning!” shared Pat Baker, founder and Executive Director.
The March 2024 expansion, partially funded by CapEd Credit union and a handful of other donors, includes a planetarium feature, a brand new multi-purpose room, five additional exhibit galleries, and an enlarged lobby/gift shop. The five new exhibits include a gravity racetrack, a kid’s KTVB broadcasting studio, a hot air balloon, the One Earth exhibit, and several others. There are now more than 40 interactive exhibits at the Museum, filling every inch of their 12,000 square foot facility. Not to mention another 5,000 square feet of outdoor space!
Baker continues, “The mission of the Children’s Museum of Idaho is to bring children, families and the community together to engage in learning through creative play. The vision is to inspire and nurture future explorers, innovators, and critical thinkers through interactive play in a safe, engaging environment.”
As the Treasure Valley continues to be one of the fastest growing places in the nation, Baker and her staff were blessed with great attendance, which prompted the need for the expansion. “The museum was often at capacity, and it was necessary to expand in order to create an educational space where play is featured as a gateway to learning.”
Beyond traditional STEM components, kids can practice changing a tire in their own auto shop or crawl through an underground mine. They can learn how to milk a cow and watch baby chicks hatch. There is truly no match for the Museum’s exciting combination of applied life skills and stimulating entertainment. Inside, children crawl across a life-size pirate ship and try their hands at a surgical operation. They adjust to the dentist’s office while examining x-ray sheets and tending to their fuzzy, inanimate patients.
“We’ve been going to The Children’s Museum for years. My kids have always found something fun to do,” shared mom and frequent visitor Aubrey Nielson. “Going to the museum has allowed me the opportunity to play and pretend with my kids without any outside distractions. It’s one of our favorite ways to spend the day! And we love the new exhibits they’ve put in!”
“Each day we experience the awe and wonder of seeing children interact with exhibits and participate in the extensive programming,” Baker said. And it’s great for parents and guardians too! While the Museum is very much not a daycare and a guardian must be present at all times, it can be incredibly entertaining for kids of all ages. Other exhibits include a mini Trader Joes store, a pollinator garden, a mine, an indoor farm, train tracks, veterinary clinic, produce truck, and so much more.
Don’t miss their upcoming Space Day event, held on September 14, featuring a myriad of special programs and astronaut Barbara Morgan. And October 5 will be the Obstacle Fun Run! Visit their website to stay in the loop at cmidaho.org
The vision is to inspire and nurture future explorers, innovators, and critical thinkers through interactive play in a safe, engaging environment.