Inspiring the Next Generation of

InnovatorsPresentation to the Northern Virginia

Regional Commission

December 8, 2016

Introducing the Children’s Science Center

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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

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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?

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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.

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Children’s Museum & Science Center Learning

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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

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• 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

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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

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Organizational Growth and Capacity

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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 22033info@childsci.orgwww.childsci.org 703-648-3130