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Located in the heart of downtown Missoula, the Children's Museum is at
225 West Front St.over looking Caras Park, Clark Fork River and A Carousel
for Missoula. The Museum can be an exciting part of any day spent in the
Garden City. The Museum features interactive exhibits for children ages
0-8.
From 2002-2005 over 50,000 visitors enjoyed
programs and exhibits at the Children's Museum. In 2007 alone, over 26,000
people attended the Museum! Currently over 400 area families enjoy the
benefits of annual membership.
Annual Operating Budge for 2007: $199,433.67, 41% from
earned income, 59% from contributed income.
phone - 406-541-PLAY
(7529)
fax - 406-541-7528
Email: info@learnplayimagine.org
The Children's Museum, Missoula provides fun, interactive
and educational exhibits and programs that promote learning through play.
The Museum is a part of Families First,
a Missoula non-profit organization committed to strengthening families
by providing information, guidance, and support to parents of all backgrounds
and life circumstances.
In keeping with the mission of Families First, the Museum strives to provide
an environment which fosters positive parenting through interaction, exploration
and play.
Winter 2000 - The
need for an indoor play space in Missoula is realized by parents during
a playgroup in the Families First basement.
Winter 2000-2001 -
A group of dedicated parent volunteers open a small indoor play place
at the McCormick Park warming hut.
Summer 2001 - Play
equipment purchased with a grant from the Appleseed Foundation. This equipment
was featured at Out to Lunch to spread the word about the formation of
a childrens museum in Missoula.
April 2002 - The
Children's Museum Pilot Project, a full-time play space and museum, opens
in a donated retail space at Southgate Mall from April 2002 through February
2003.
June 2003 - The
museum reopens downtown in thee Florence Building with expanded exhibits
and programs.
May 2006 - The museum expands into a new downtown
space. The space boasts large windows, additional
exhibit space, an expanded gift shop – The Play Store, an awesome
room for parties and programs, offices for staff and a deck that looks
out at the Carousel and Dragon Hollow.
Museum
Director I Stacy Ohrt Billinglsea
Operations Manager I Jen Stone
Museum Assistant | Sonia
Flamm
Museum Assistant | Georgia
Dye
Museum Assistant | Dana
Voloshen
Museum Assistant | Christine Ratliff
Museum Assistant | Dan Venturella
Museum Assistant | Justine Campbell
Museum Assistant | Lucy Muragin
Volunteers | Over 1300 hours were donated for
staffing and special events in 2007.
Families First Board of Directors
THOMAS SEVERSON
| Community Bank Missoula
KELLEY DURBIN |
Mismos Gymnastics | Owner
JOSH VAN DEWETERING
| District of Montana
| Assistant U.S. Attorney
BILL WARREN
| AM Books
| CPA, Owner
RACHEL VIELLEUX | Missoula
County Superintendent of Schools
MARCY ALLEN
| Executive
Director |
Bitterroot Economic Development District,
Inc.
CINDY BULLIS
| former
Director |
Children's Museum, Missoula
HEIDI DEARMENT
| Operations
Manager |
Montana Community Development Corporation
SABRINA DONAHUE |
Parent Representative
CAROLINE KURTZ
| Editor,
The Naturalist |
Montana Natural History Center
HEIDI
KENDALL |
Proposal Coordinator, UM Foundation
| University of Montana
CINDY L. MARSHALL
| Owner
| Biga
Pizza
LISA MCFARLAN |
Engineer
| Granite Peak engineering, LLC
JEANNE MOSELEY |
Owner
| Ruby Springs Lodge
JOHN ENGEN
| Mayor
| City of
Missoula
MARIAN MAXWELL
| Critical Care Pharmacist
| St. Patrick's Hospital
JIM PELGER
| Owner
| Rattlesnake
Electric
SUSAN O'CONNORr
| Vice President
| SAROC
THOMAS
PLAVONIC |
Owner
| Montana
Clown Work
MOLLY STOCKDALE
| Parent
Representative
TERESA
WALDORF |
Professor
| University
of Montana Dept. of Drama
DREW WINTERER
| Parent
Representative