Amanda started by posing the question “Why do we need a Children’s Museum?”. There are many reasons, with one of the main ones being that it provides a safe environment for kids from all walks of life to have hands-on experiences that contribute to learning. Playing is a form of learning, and all children learn better by doing. There are over 300 Children’s Museums in North America. They are a place where families can have meaningful interactions that help them come together. The BCM helps provide structured instruction for educational providers in the area, with over 300 school visits during a “normal” year. BCM can help with multiple factors of sensory growth in our young people. It also helps provide an emphasis for downtown growth by pulling in both local and out-of-town visitors into the heart of Downtown Beaumont. The non-profit overseeing the museum was formed in 2008. After many years of planning and fundraising the Beaumont Children’s Museum opened in 2015 inside the Beaumont Civic Center. The BCM has shown steady growth in popularity. In 2018 and 2019, almost every program sold out and had wait lists. The BCM promotes S.T.E.A.M.-based learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) through family fun. They create a “Maker-Space” experience. The Museum’s Mission is “Igniting the growth of children, families, and communities through interactive learning”. The Vision is “to encourage and inspire children to think for themselves, confidently ask questions, question answers, and understand the world around them”. The BCM wants kids to ask “Why?” and has constant programs throughout the year to help encourage kids to do just that. BCM offers structured programming for kids 5 and under at scheduled times called “Toddler Takeover” so they can have the Museum to themselves (with supervision).

2020 has been a challenging year for most everyone, and the Beaumont Children’s Museum is no exception. BCM had to close for 6 months due to COVID restrictions and so was unable to host the normal school visits. Since the students could not come to them, and in order to fulfill their stated Mission, they had to pivot and find a way to take the Museum to the students. They created “classroom kits” containing the same items the students would have gotten to experience had they come to the Museum, including Play-Doh and battery packs to learn about circuitry, a kit to build a helicopter, and the ingredients to make slime. These were distributed to the schools and were also available for parents to pick up for students doing remote learning or being homeschooled. The Summer Camps, which are always popular, were able to be held, although with reduced attendance to allow for distancing. BCM is able to host birthday parties with limits on attendees. These parties allow the kids to have a fun time while they learn as they play. The Museum hosts “Sensory-Friendly Fridays” where kids with sensory sensitivities can enjoy what the Museum has to offer in a sound and light-controlled environment. There are also many special events which are focused on different areas of learning.

As with any non-profit institution, the Museum must do fundraising in order to continue to provide the services it offers to the community. BCM had to cancel all fundraising events in 2020 and saw their program attendance drop 66%. Because of this, 2021 will be critical year for BCM. Amanda said she was determined to have their major event, the Casino Royale Gala, happen in 2021. They will not only need people to attend but will need sponsorships in order to be successful (anyone interested in being a sponsor is more than welcome to contact her). They will also have the annual “Touch-a-Truck” in October, which is always fun for families to attend. The Museum offers memberships which entitle the member to unlimited general admission and discounts on most special events.

Amanda then took us on a virtual Facetime tour of the Museum. We should all be excited that Beaumont has such a wonderful experience for kids and families right here in our downtown!