For immediate release
March 30, 2023
For More Information contact:
Alyssa Jackson | Director, Snohomish STEM Network | alyssaj@snohomishstem.org
Gretchen Wilson-Prangley | Deputy Director, Imagine Children’s Museum | GretchenWP@ImagineCM.org
Young Children and Families Spring into STEM at Imagine Children’s Museum
EVERETT, WA — Tasting sub-zero graham crackers frozen by liquid nitrogen, building circuits, looking through microscopes… children, parents and grandparents played together at Spring into STEM, a special evening event at Imagine Children’s Museum to spark an early interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
More than 350 people attended the Spring into STEM Community Access Night, which was a special collaboration between Imagine Children’s Museum, Snohomish STEM and Northshore School District.
Playful, age-appropriate STEM learning experiences can help children develop new capacities for deeper learning, critical thinking and creative problem solving. They can also help unlock new pathways to STEM careers and give them confidence when they encounter STEM subjects in school.
This special Spring into STEM Community Access Night gave all families a chance to explore the children’s museum’s two floors of interactive exhibits, as well as hands-on STEM learning experiences. The Snohomish STEM Network brought together local community partners to showcase STEM education through table-top activities that engaged all five senses.
“STEM education experiences can help prepare children for the workplace of tomorrow,” said Snohomish STEM Network Director Alyssa Jackson. “Snohomish County is lucky to have innovative education and business partners to help excite children about STEM learning, and to help build a bridge to future careers.”
This is the seventh consecutive year that Snohomish County organizations have partnered to engage families through hands-on activities. The Museum’s third floor multipurpose room was transformed into a STEM wonderland with playful experiences presented by Everett Community College, Rock Solid Science, Snohomish PUD, Snohomish County Public Works, Sno-Isle Libraries, WSU-4H, YMCA, Zeno Math and Imagine Children’s Museum.
Though the focus was on young children ages 2-8, it was open to all children ages 1-12 who were accompanied by an adult age 18 or older. For some, it was the first time they are introduced to play that intentionally introduces children to science, technology, engineering, and math concepts. Spring into STEM helps children early in their education journey to take the first steps in developing STEM literacy and spark an interest in STEM.
Children as young as 1 and 2 were joined by older siblings to sort rocks and minerals, program robots, view water samples through microscopes, and build flying toys.
To ensure all children could enjoy playful learning experiences that promote STEM skills, the Museum did not have a fixed admission price on this Community Access Night. Instead, all families were invited on a “Pay As You Can” admission, and no one was turned away.
This was made possible in part with support from Presenting Sponsor Northshore School District, with funds directly from the Puget Sound Taxpayers Accountability Act (PSTAA). This support aims to foster collaboration and innovation while leveraging partnerships with community-based early learning organizations to increase the likelihood of improving early learning outcomes.
Imagine Children’s Museum hosted the event in its newly-expanded facility, with two floors of state-ofthe-art, interactive exhibits to inspire a lifelong love of learning through play. The new exhibits showcase the Pacific Northwest, Puget Sound and the Port of Everett.
“This multi-year collaboration between many education partners gives all children and families in Snohomish County the chance to experience the wonder and magic of STEM-linked playful learning with those they love,” said Imagine Children’s Museum Executive Director Nancy Johnson, adding that events like these are possible thanks to donors to the Museum’s recent expansion.
“With more space, we can offer a physically and emotionally safe space to families from all walks of life in fast-growing Snohomish County,” said Johnson. “Through partnerships, Imagine is a hub of inclusion, equity and quality of life in our community, where children and adults can play together while developing 21st-century learning skills.”
About Snohomish STEM Network
The mission of Snohomish STEM is to increase STEM awareness, skills and impact for all students. It engages with community, education, government, and industry to foster a STEM-skills learning pipeline for the 21st Century workforce that supplies businesses with local talent and drives opportunity and prosperity for all in our county. SnohomishSTEM.org.
About Imagine Children’s Museum
With a mission to enrich children’s lives through playful learning, Imagine Children’s Museum is a nonprofit organization serving children ages 1-12 and their families. Incorporated in 1991, it has long received grassroots, community support to become an integral resource for children, families, schools, youth organizations and social service agencies in Snohomish County and beyond. In 2017 Imagine achieved American Alliance of Museums accreditation, the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums, becoming first accredited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest. ImagineCM.org.
Our partners included:
- Snohomish County Public Works
- Snohomish PUD
- Sno-Isle Libraries
- YMCA Snohomish County
- Everett Community College
- Zeno Math
- Washington 4-H Robotics Club
- Rock Solid Science
- Imagine Children’s Museum
