In 2001, a group of local Woodlands moms perceived an unmet need within the community: a children’s museum.
Thanks to the commitment of these women, The Woodlands Children's Museum began in 2005 as a 501c3 "museum on the move," landing in charitable spaces, from Market Street to The Woodlands Mall, and finally its current home in the Panther Creek shopping center. Its tagline—Educate, Empower, and Excite—speaks to the museum's ongoing legacy of impacting not only children but also parents and staff involved in this community endeavor.
Executive Director Angela Colton has witnessed the museum's transformation and growth over the past 17 years, firmly anchoring its roots in the Woodlands community.
“We foster educating the community in a safe and nurturing environment,” says Colton. “We are cognizant of what the children need—that is our commitment.”
According to Colton, 33% of children’s museums across the United States have buildings gifted to them. But for The Woodlands Children's Museum, a capital campaign was necessary to see the museum thrive for future generations.
The challenge was seeking the right time for a capital campaign, as at the time of the museum's need, funding took on more of a health focus within The Woodlands. And yet, thanks to regency support from the Panther Creek shopping center, the museum was able to launch its Panther Creek location, a pivotal addition to the area that helped drive up revenue.
Learning Through Art
To teach culture through art, the museum has a live art exhibit area aptly called The Muse. The Muse introduces children to art and its processes by either celebrating events and cultural holidays or finding the magic of art through fun theme days like Dads, Dinos, and Doughnuts, or Fairy Day.
“We are very conscious of the art we present to children,” says Colton. “We are not crafty. We work on being process-oriented during a time when art is being taken out of the schools.”
One program that sets The Woodlands Children’s Museum apart is Wonderseum, a preschool program inside the museum that embraces a Reggio-Emilia preschool environment. Inspired by an Italian-born philosophy to help children recover from war within their community, the program encourages children to “create art from the rubble.”
Focusing on various children's experiences, Wonderseum's certified instructor is passionate about cultivating a four-year-old-focused environment where the child drives their learning experience. One semester, the Wonderseum instructor guided the children on what art forms they could create with professional air-dried clay. Using their sculptures with a projection screen, the group made shadows of their artistic creations to see each project differently, in a sensory experience of clay.
One of The Woodlands Children's Museum's biggest events is the Lunar New Year, when the museum brings in lion dancers every year, embracing cultural differences within the Asian community.
“We fulfill the need of introducing children to art and its processes by serving a younger audience,” says Colton.
It Takes A Village
Colton and her team are deeply passionate about the museum's mission: "to create opportunities that educate, empower, and excite children and families through play while inspiring a lifelong sense of wonder and discovery.” Colton speaks highly of the team and the lack of turnover—they have worked together for eight to 10 years—due to their dedication to the community.
The museum staff also regularly shares with others how to further their mission through sponsorships and gifting memberships. One unique community partnership with the Houston Grand Opera features a series of free, family-friendly summer programs designed to engage and inspire young audiences. The company’s teaching artists offer music, interactive storytelling, and enriching activities that introduce children to the magic of opera and the performing arts through different character presentations.
Other noteworthy sponsors, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and The John Cooper School, sponsored a large building blocks area for older children, ensuring kids of all ages have the opportunity to enjoy the museum.
Colton's focus for 2025—to show The Woodlands how the museum and its staff are here for the community—gets at the heart of the museum’s mission, with its exhibits, programs, and partnerships designed to develop our community's youngest residents into capable citizens.
We are very conscious of the art we present to children...We work on being process-oriented during a time when art is being taken out of the schools.
Colton and her team are deeply passionate about the mission of The Woodlands Children's Museum: "to create opportunities that educate, empower, and excite children and families through play while inspiring a lifelong sense of wonder and discovery.