Category: Blog

Exhibit Install Volunteers Needed!

Can you assemble a bookshelf? Then you can build an exhibit! Exhibit volunteers needed!

The Discovery Center needs exhibit volunteers to help with the unpacking, assembly, and preparation of traveling exhibits in 2024. Exhibit volunteers help unpack trucks with exhibit components, assemble components with guidance from staff, provide paint and touch-ups to exhibits, and repack them at the end of the exhibit run!

Exhibit assembly is a fun and interesting way to make a difference for local children and get a sneak peek at upcoming exhibits. Volunteers are needed on an ongoing basis but particularly for an upcoming exhibit install:

Friday, January 12
Anytime from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Individuals or groups welcome

 

 

Want to learn more about exhibit volunteering? Hear from an exhibit volunteer about a typical day!

 

Volunteer Spotlight: John Sutton

In the News: A Kansas prison helps kids bond with their mothers and grandmothers outside prison walls

In the News: A Kansas prison helps kids bond with their mothers and grandmothers outside prison walls

Blaise Mesa, KCUR
November 7 2023

"Maureen Mulally’s grandson was born when she was in prison. Her grandchild calls the prison her home because that’s the only place he’s ever seen her live.

Mulally isn’t known as the prison grandmother, though, she’s known as the fun grandmother “because we do the fun things.”

Mulally is in a program called Play Free. That’s where women at the prison are allowed to visit the Children’s Discovery Center with a child or grandchild."

Spark Curiosity! Give to the Discovery Center

Spark curiosity and problem solving through play by making an end-of-year donation to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. One in six kids in Shawnee County lives in poverty, and many have never been to a museum. We’re working hard to change that. A gift from you will help every child access rich and diverse museum experiences — over 33% of admissions are free or reduced-cost, funded by donors like you.

Thanks to your support, our museum is thriving. Within the last year, we hosted more than 100,000 visitors for the first time in our history. We set a new attendance record with 1,192 visitors on March 16, and the number of mobile museum events tripled! As our visitor count grows, your gifts make it possible to fund and expand our play areas. This year, we hosted the “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit” and “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!” traveling exhibits for kids to experience meaningful interactive adventures.

You enable us to build new programs like Camp Kansas, a summer fun exhibit that introduces families to Kansas parks and outdoor activities. We also launched a new Native American Public Art Installation Series that will bring art and performances to the prairie habitat each summer. We’re dedicated to making sure every child in our community gets to start a lifetime of learning with curiosity and joy. By continuing our access programs and free or reduced-cost admissions and field trips, we ensure that all children and families get the chance to play.

 

Donations Support Access Discovery programs

Medical Warriors

Honors medically fragile children or those battling life-limiting illnesses who need private play time.

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Play Free

Helps children with incarcerated caregivers get the love and support they need to heal.

Read More

Admission Access

Increases access to underserved and low-income families so finances are never a barrier to play.

Read More

Mixing Math and Muffins: questions you can use to teach math while cooking with kids

Mixing Math and Muffins: questions you can use to teach math while cooking with kids

Simple kitchen activities can be the perfect ingredient for enhancing your child's mathematical understanding and extending their classroom learning. No fancy chef hats required, just a willingness to mix, measure, and multiply the fun while boosting those math skills.

Here are some questions you can ask kids while cooking to help enhance their math abilities:

Numbers, Counting and Sequencing:

  • "We need 1 cup of flour for this recipe. Can you help me find the measuring cup that says '1 cup'?"
  • "We need three cups of noodles for this recipe, can you count the cups as you put them in?"
  • “I’ve counted three of something on our kitchen counter. What could I have counted?”
  • “If I have six cookies and I eat three of them, how many could you eat?”
  • "Which ingredients does the recipe tell us to add first? What are the ingredients that follow?"
  • "The oven needs to be preheated to 350°F. Can you help me set the temperature of the oven?"
  • "The cookies need to bake for 15 minutes. Can you set the timer for that amount of time?"
  • "If we need 2 cups of milk and we already added 1 cup, how much more do we need?"
  • “It says this bag has 4 cups of sugar, will that be enough for this recipe?”
  • "We need about a cup of chopped vegetables. Can you estimate how many carrots we’ll need?”

Multiplication, Division and Fractions

  • "The recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of milk. Can you show me on this measuring cup where the halfway point is?"
  • "If we have 1 cup of water and we pour half of it into the bowl, how much water is left in the measuring cup?”
  • “Looks like our 1 cup measuring cup is dirty! How else can we measure 1 cup of an ingredient?”
  • “We need to cut this pan of brownies into squares. How should we cut them to get enough brownies for everyone?”
  • “This pie has 8 pieces, how many eighths would you like?”
  • “Let’s double this recipe so we have more cookies!” or “let’s make half this recipe.”

Compare and Contrast

  • "Is 400°F or 325°F hotter?"
  • “Which ingredient am I using the smallest amount of?”
  • “Which ingredients are liquids and which ones are solids?”
  • “Would you like to taste a tablespoon of chocolate chips or a teaspoon?”
  • “We use the same ingredients to make cake as we do to make cookies, why do you think they turn out differently?”

Engaging your child in cooking activities goes beyond creating delicious treats – it's a recipe for developing robust math skills. From measuring ingredients to understanding fractions and making comparisons, each moment in the kitchen is a chance for your child to explore and expand their mathematical knowledge.

Download a free printable version of this article for your refrigerator or cookbook!

Three Ways to Raise a Thankful Preschooler

Three Ways to Raise a Thankful Preschooler

One of our members at the Discovery Center made his four-year-old daughter a special lunch last week at home, arranging her favorite snacks into a happy face, complete with sandwiches cut into heart shapes for the eyes, strawberry lips and a cookie nose. Her reaction to his extra effort?

“I DON’T like that!” as she shoved her plate across the table.

Similar scenarios are common for young children. As frustrating as it can be for parents, being self-centered is a normal part of development for preschoolers. As kids grow, they will come to understand that other people have their own feelings and thoughts.

When they’re young, we teach children to say “thank you,” and that behaviors like shoving a plate are not okay ways to communicate. Those are good lessons, but teaching children to feel gratitude is a different issue altogether.

Feeling thankful, truly grateful, feels wonderful to a child, and although we should expect hiccups along the way, there’s a lot parents can do to encourage thankfulness as children grow.

1. Model gratitude

More than anything, preschool children want to please and connect with their caregivers. Express genuine thanks to your child when they do something special, be it picking up toys particularly well, putting extra effort into making something special, or showing kindness to a playmate. Showing your child how much you value them is a great way of teaching thankfulness.

“Parents teach children thankfulness from the moment they are born,” author, researcher and parent, Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D explains, “every time you calm a distressed infant, your soothing builds security, trust and gratitude. Each smile an infant offers a parent can be viewed as gratitude. It is a feeling of being loved, which forms the basis of feeling thankful.”

“I really love this card you made for me, I can see from all the colors and stickers that you worked really hard on it! Thank you!”

2. Include them in giving back

Little kids love to help, especially when they can tell something is important to you. Include your child in your own efforts to give back. Children learn empathy when they have opportunities to both give and receive kindness. Bake cookies together for a neighbor, create a special card for your child’s teacher or daycare provider, volunteer together when you can. If holiday donations are a part of your family tradition, let your child choose a gift for a child in need, and help wrap the gift.

“Today, we’re buying some warm gloves for a child who needs them. This child is a 3 year-old girl, what color of gloves do you think she would like? Should we get her a toy, too? What would she like playing with?”

3. Find out what matters to them

It’s normal for preschoolers to be mostly focused on their own wants and needs. They’re just learning that there’s a bigger world out there that doesn’t revolve around them. When they’re little, find out what matters to them. Encourage them to learn more about it and take action. Does your child notice bees and butterflies outside looking for food? Find out what your family can plant to help pollinators. Perhaps your child’s favorite movie is about exploring the sea. Learn together how you can help support healthy oceans. Listen for your child to share what they’re interested in and how they want to help.

“I don’t like trash at the park, either. Maybe next time we come we could bring a bag and pick some up together. That would make the park cleaner for everyone.”

Make gratitude a part of your family’s traditions this Thanksgiving.

Thank You, Evergy Green Team Volunteers!

Thank You, Evergy Green Team Volunteers!

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center hosted a great group of volunteers recently from the Evergy Green Team! This hard-working group of volunteers worked alongside the museum exhibits team to build the new Curious George: Let's Get Curious traveling exhibit.

Evergy is a long-term supporter of the museum who has made countless large and small projects possible. Evergy provided considerable funding and Green Team volunteers for a project to make the Discovery Center’s pond and stream more interactive and safe, helped oversee multiple prescribed burns of the Discovery Center’s prairie restoration habitat, tended to trees, built the Tree House and sand areas, and funded museum access programs.

The Green Team itself is a group of employees and retiree volunteers that has taken on environmental projects across Kansas and Missouri since 1989. The team completes 50 to 70 projects per year, mostly on weekends and evenings, according to its website. The Green Team collaborates with conservation groups, agencies and schools in enhancing and fostering an understanding of the Kansas and Missouri environment, as well as improving natural habitats and helping provide access to important environmental areas.

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center offers high-quality, interactive experiences to inspire a lifelong love of learning for every child. Volunteers support our mission by creating these memorable experiences for every family who walks through our doors. Volunteers engage children in fun educational activities, pitch in at special events, maintain our outdoor space, and keep exhibit areas ready for play.

If your organization is interested in a fun volunteer day at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, call our volunteer coordinator at (785) 783-8300. We have indoor and outdoor projects for any size group. Thank You, Evergy Green Team!

Thank You, US Bank Volunteers!

Thank You, US Bank Volunteers!

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center recently hosted a great groups of volunteers this summer from US Bank! These hard-working volunteers brought family and friends along to work on indoor and outdoor spaces at the museum, including the tallgrass prairie and 4.5 acre Certified Outdoor Exploration Classroom, critical parts of our educational programs.

US Bank has been a long-term partner and supporter of the museum, sponsoring financial literacy components in the Mobile Museum to encourage children to consider needs and wants and learn about saving and spending. Volunteers from the organization helped facilitate the activities at community sites throughout 2022.

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center offers high-quality, interactive experiences to inspire a lifelong love of learning for every child. Volunteers support our mission by creating these memorable experiences for every family who walks through our doors. Volunteers engage children in fun educational activities, pitch in at special events, maintain our outdoor space, and keep exhibit areas ready for play.

If your organization is interested in a fun volunteer day at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, call our volunteer coordinator at (785) 783-8300. We have indoor and outdoor projects for any size group. Thank You, US Bank Volunteers!

Thank You, Mize CPAs Volunteers!

Thank You, Mize CPAs!

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center hosted a great group of volunteers from Mize CPAs! This hard-working group of volunteers helped clean, paint, and assemble the new Curious George: Let's Get Curious traveling exhibit!

Mize CPAs are long-term supporters of the museum who have generously supported multiple special exhibits. Their support helps make Topeka a better place to work, live and play!

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center offers high-quality, interactive experiences to inspire a lifelong love of learning for every child. Volunteers support our mission by creating these memorable experiences for every family who walks through our doors. Volunteers engage children in fun educational activities, pitch in at special events, maintain our outdoor space, and keep exhibit areas ready for play.

If your organization is interested in a fun volunteer day at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, call our volunteer coordinator at (785) 783-8300. We have indoor and outdoor projects for any size group.

Thank You, Mize CPAs!

Thank You, Advisors Excel Volunteers!

Thank You, Advisors Excel Volunteers!

The Kansas Children's Discovery Center hosted a great group of volunteers last week from Advisors Excel! This hard-working group of volunteers helped prep walls and paint to get our exhibit space ready for the Curious George: Let's Get Curious traveling exhibit.

This project was one of many ways Advisors Excel supports the Discovery Center. The organization has also sponsored more than 20 free admission events at the museum since 2019. Advisors Excel has sponsored admission for nearly 5,000 people during those events, which included free outdoor discovery days in 2020 when the inside of the museum was closed. The organization has also supported field trips, mobile museum events, and other educational experiences for local children.

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center offers high-quality, interactive experiences to inspire a lifelong love of learning for every child. Volunteers support our mission by creating these memorable experiences for every family who walks through our doors. Volunteers engage children in fun educational activities, pitch in at special events, maintain our outdoor space, and keep exhibit areas ready for play.

If your organization is interested in a fun volunteer day at the Kansas Children's Discovery Center, call our volunteer coordinator at (785) 783-8300. We have indoor and outdoor projects for any size group. Thank You, Advisors Excel Volunteers!

Discovery Center Opens Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! Exhibit

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Topeka’s nonprofit children’s museum, opened the nationally traveling “Curious George ™ : Let’s Get Curious!” exhibit on Tuesday, September 19 at 9 a.m. Created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum, the exhibit will introduce young children to Curious George’s world and lead visitors on a fun, meaningful interactive math, science and engineering-based adventure. The exhibit will be open from September 19, 2023 to January 7, 2024 and is included in the cost of regular admission.

Major support for “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!” was provided by Visit Topeka, Security Benefit, and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. The exhibit is nationally sponsored by 3M and the Minnesota Children’s Museum. Additional local support for this exhibit was provided by Central National Bank, Mize CPAs Inc., Polo Custom Products, People's Insurance Group, Jamie Lou Hornbaker - State Farm Agent, and Clayton Wealth Partners.

Community partners on-hand to welcome Curious George to Topeka included friends from Visit Topeka, ktwu11, Topeka Zoo, Shawnee County Parks + Recreation, Topeka Lodging Association, Topeka Public Schools, Representative Fred Patton, Representative Kirk Haskins, Commissioner Aaron Mays, and the office of Congressman Jake LaTurner Jake LaTurner, alongside board members, founders, volunteers and supporters. The crowd joined President/CEO Dené Mosier and Curious George himself to open the doors to a crowd of very excited fans.

Based on the familiar characters in H.A. and Margret Rey’s stories published by Houghton Mifflin, the Curious George exhibit inspires young children’s natural curiosity as they explore early science, math and engineering through hands-on interactive play. The immersive exhibit environment takes place in the neighborhood where Curious George lives with his friend, The Man with the Yellow Hat. Visitors will recognize familiar characters and places featured in the classic stories and the PBS KIDS television series. The exhibit’s content is based on educational standards developed by Minnesota Children’s Museum and an expert advisory panel to the PBS KIDS series, as well as national science and math standards for young children.

Special exhibits like “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!” have a strong history of drawing tourism to Shawnee County, generating as much as a 50 percent increase in out-of-state visitors at the museum and driving local spending.