Press Releases

Harmony on Harrison Summer Music Series

Posted on: April 26th, 2012 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum is pleased to announce the launch of the Harmony on Harrison Summer Music Series on Friday, May 11^th. The Harmony on Harrison Summer Music Series is a collaboration between neighboring organizations, Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts and WOW! Children’s Museum. The Series will bring talented music instructors from RMCMA to WOW! once a month for special programs that combine performance with hands-on learning for children and families. The program themes range from classical and cultural to educational. Running from May through August, the Series will be held at WOW! and all programs will be included with general museum admission.

The Mountain Music Duo – Friday, May 11^th at 11:00am

A unique and inspired collaboration, The Mountain Music Duo performs not only classical music, but also fresh interpretations of familiar jazz and pop standards, as well as contemporary compositions by Colorado composers. Stay after the show to try out instruments with RMCMA instructors Tenly and James! The program is included with general museum admission.

Music Together – Wednesday, June 20^th at 11:00am

Music Together is a research-based, internationally recognized early childhood music program, offering developmentally-appropriate, fun musical experiences for young children and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers. This program offers 100% participation for kids and their caregivers. The program is included with general museum admission.

Bilingual Venezuelan & Flute Music – Thursday, July 26^that 11:00am

Enjoy a morning of music with RMCMA faculty Ysmael Reyes, flute, and Gina Vega, flute, cuatro and percussion. Learn how the wind instruments work, and play music with them in musical games and activities. No previous musical experience necessary. A limited number of instruments will be provided to play during the program. The program will be conducted in both English and Spanish, and included with general museum admission.

Instrument Petting Zoo – Thursday, August 30^th at 11:00am

Instructors from RMCMA will bring over a number of different instruments from each family and help the kids make some noise on them. Examples will include a violin, trumpet, flute, percussion, and maybe even a trombone! The program is included with general museum admission.

“RMCMA and WOW! wanted to collaborate on something that would contribute to Lafayette’s arts community in a unique way. The Harmony on Harrison Summer Music Series does this by offering families high-quality musical programs in a creative museum setting,” said Jessica Ludwig, Events Coordinator, WOW! Children’s Museum.

About CMF & RMCMA:

The Colorado Music Festival & Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts (CMF & RMCMA) is a one-of-a-kind organization that provides a spectrum of music education opportunities and world-class performances to citizens throughout Boulder County and beyond. On the education side, the RMCMA is a full member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and provides quality, creative music-making opportunities to nearly 500 students each week. For more information visit: www.comusic.org

About WOW! Children’s Museum:

Founded in 1996, WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing educational interactive exhibits, activities, and programs for all children – bringing families together in a creative environment that sparks imagination, inspires learning through play, and supports school readiness.

2012 Black & White Gala: WOW! Children’s Museum’s 7th Annual Auction & Casino Night

Posted on: March 30th, 2012 by Jessica No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – You’re invited to a fundraiser event with a whole new spin! Please join us on Friday, April 13th for WOW! Children’s Museum’s 7th Annual Auction & Casino Night Gala, a benefit for WOW!’s 2012 Scholarship Fund. This fund provides free museum admissions and low cost memberships to children, families, school groups, and organizations in need. Last year, WOW!’s Scholarship Fund served over 12,000 children and families – a record demand.

Event: Black & White Gala, 7th Annual Auction & Casino Night
Event date: Friday, April 13th 2012
Time: 6:30pm to Midnight
Location: A Spice of Life Event Center, 5706 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
Scheduled activities: Appetizers, sit down dinner, complimentary cocktails until 9:00pm, jazz music compliments of Dave Fulker Quartet, exciting live and silent auction, casino style gaming tables, helicopter rides with Copter for a Cause ($75 per person donation) and plenty of fun! Special guest emcee, Ken Clark from FOX 31’s Good Day Colorado!

Tickets: $75 per person or $500 for Table of 8. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.wowchildrensmuseum.org or call: (303) 604-2424.

“As the cost of living rises for all of us, it is important to continue to have an affordable, quality place to take our children. WOW! strives to offer this for our community. WOW! depends on our annual fundraiser to maintain our scholarship fund, exhibits, programs and operating costs. All money raised this year will be used to provide scholarships to families and organizations in our community who otherwise could not bring their children to WOW! Last year, we were pleased to offer assistance to over 12,000 children and families in need,” said Lisa Atallah, Executive Director, WOW! Children’s Museum.

WOW! would like to thank the following event sponsors for their generosity and support:

Title Sponsor: Amgen
Additional Sponsors: Boedecker Foundation, Snell & Wilmer LLP, GEOSURV Inc., Stack McKinney Law Group, Sheridan Ross PC, Superior Liquor, A Spice of Life Event Center, and Copters for a Cause.

About WOW! Children’s Museum: Founded in 1996, WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing educational interactive exhibits, activities, and programs for all children – bringing families together in a creative environment that sparks imagination, inspires learning through play, and supports school readiness.

For more information: Contact WOW! at 303-604-2424 or find WOW! Children’s Museum on Facebook. WOW! is located at 110 N. Harrison Avenue in downtown Lafayette.

Celebrate NanoDays 2012 at WOW! Children’s Museum

Posted on: March 13th, 2012 by wowadmin 1 Comment

Lafayette, Colorado – NanoDays presented by WOW! Children’s Museum is part of a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and technology. This year WOW! will host activities at the Museum on March 26^th to March 30^th; April 2^ndand April 3^rd, plus a special drop-in family program at the Lafayette Public Library on March 29^th.

NanoDays is organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). This community-based event is the largest national public outreach effort in nanoscale informal science education and involves science museums, research centers, and universities from Puerto Rico to Hawaii.

NanoDays celebrations provide unique opportunities for children and adults to explore atoms and forces in a tiny world that is measured in nanometers: one-billionth of a meter. A range of exciting NanoDays activities, experiments, and games demonstrate that nanometer-sized things are very small and often behave differently than larger things do, allowing scientists and engineers to create new materials and devices. Visitors will investigate super thin materials used in solar cell technology, forces stronger than gravity, and sand that doesn’t get wet—even under water!

“In new activities this year, participants can investigate the nanoscale properties of real butterfly wings and make layers of pencil lead nanoparticles”, says Renee Guerrero, Education Director at WOW! Children’s Museum. “Even though nanoparticles are too small to see, we can manipulate them and observe their unexpected properties. Join us to imagine, discover, and explore a world that’s too small to see!”

WOW! will host NanoDays activities during Spring Break on March 26^thto March 30^th; April 2^nd and April 3^rd from 10:00am–1:00pm each day. NanoDays activities are included with Museum admission. WOW! will also be presenting free NanoDays activities at the Lafayette Public Library (in the Meeting Room) from 1:30pm-3:30pm on Thursday, March 29^th. Additionally, the Museum is supporting NanoDays activities at the University of Colorado on March 23^rd-24^th and at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library in Broomfield on Saturday, April 7^th.

About NISE Network:

Originally launched in 2005, the NISE Network is now led by 14 museums and universities across the nation. The NISE Network is funded by the National Science Foundation through Award Nos. 0532536 and 0940143. For more information visit www.nisenet.org/nanodays and www.whatisnano.org

About WOW! Children’s Museum:

WOW! Awarded $3,500 Grant from Community Foundation Serving Boulder County

Posted on: February 17th, 2012 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) is pleased to announce today that the Museum has received a $3,500 grant from the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County. WOW! will use this grant to support the Museum’s 2012 Scholarship Fund. This fund provides free museum admissions and low cost memberships to over 12,000 children and families in need.

“As the only interactive, educational children’s museum in Boulder or Broomfield Counties, WOW! serves over 60,000 visitors annually with exhibits and programs that instill a love of learning and help children gain a foundation for learning in school. 20% of these visitors qualify for our Scholarship Fund, and without financial assistance could not participate in museum-quality services. Our mission is to address current community problems related to education, including these recent facts: 23% of children under the age of 5 are below the poverty line; there is a 40% gap in academic achievement between Hispanic and non-Hispanic children in Boulder County; and parents and schools need a center nearby where they can provide quality educational opportunities for their children. We extend our greatest appreciation to the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County for their support of the Museum’s Scholarship Fund,” said Lisa Atallah, Executive Director, WOW! Children’s Museum.

About Community Foundation of Boulder County:

The Community Foundation was founded in 1991 to encourage philanthropy and create opportunities to improve the quality of life in Boulder County. The Community Foundation’s primary focus is to be a steward for endowment funds and work with advisors to those funds as they make their charitable gifts from them. Over $40 million in grants have been given to nonprofit groups working in the arts, education, civic engagement, the environment, and health and human services. For more information visit: www.commfound.org

WOW! Awarded $1580 Mini-Grant from NISE Network

Posted on: February 6th, 2012 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) is pleased to announce today that the Museum has received a $1,580 mini-grant from the NISE Network. WOW! will use this grant to expand the Museum’s 2012 NanoDays celebration and incorporate nanotechnology into some existing educational programs. NanoDays is a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering and its potential impact on the future.

“Since 2009, WOW! Children’s Museum has been a NanoDays museum partner. WOW! will celebrate NanoDays during the last week of March and beginning of April. There will be several drop-in programs at the museum, all free with museum admission. WOW! will also collaborate on free programs at select public libraries. Join us to imagine, discover, and explore a world that’s too small to see!” said Renee Guerrero, Education Director, WOW! Children’s Museum.

About NISE Network:

The Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Originally launched in 2005, the Network is now led by 14 museums and universities across the nation. The NISE Network is funded by the National Science Foundation through Award Nos. 0532536 and 0940143. Please visit the NISE Net website to find more about this organization and NanoDays: http://www.nisenet.org/

WOW! Awarded $3,000 Grant from Xcel Energy

Posted on: November 14th, 2011 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) today announced that the Museum has received a $3,000 arts and culture grant from Xcel Energy. WOW! Children’s Museum will use this grant to fund and support arts and culture focused programming, performances and special events for children and families in 2012.

” Xcel Energy has been greatly responsible for our ability to provide a variety of quality music, artistic, cultural and dramatic performances, special events and drop-in classes to the children and families of Colorado. This grant will enable us to continue to serve our community and inspire our young audiences,” said Lisa Atallah, Executive Director, WOW! Children’s Museum.

About Xcel Energy:

Through their focus area grants, Xcel Energy supports nonprofit organizations that improve science, technology, economic and math; education, improve and enhance the natural environment; help individuals achieve; economic self-sufficiency, and that provide access to; arts and culture. In addition, Xcel Energy looks for opportunities to partner with organizations that share their commitment of promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion. In 2010, Xcel Energy contributed over $4 million in focus area grants to organizations across their service territory. Fore more information visit: www.xcelenergy.com

New Exhibit! SunSational Energy & Science Grand Opening on November 12th

Posted on: November 4th, 2011 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) today announced that the new SunSational Energy & Science exhibit will have its grand opening on Saturday, November 12^th. SunSational Energy & Science is a new interactive exhibit dedicated to improving the understanding of solar science, the impact of the sun on our daily lives, and the importance of solar power. This exhibit has been made possible through a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Components of this new science exhibit include:

Heliostat – Located outside the Museum, the Heliostat stays aimed at the sun while the earth turns so that we get a beam of sunlight shining into the Museum all day long. Inside, several mirrors bounce that light down into the Rainbow Room, where kids use prisms and CDs to split white light into a spectrum of colors.
Solar Seat - At the Solar Seat kids pretend to be the earth traveling around the sun. By comparing rotation about the earth’s axis and orbiting around the sun, preschoolers learn what demonstrates the passage of a day and a year.
Reasons for Seasons – This tabletop earth-sun model features a lighted sun and a globe with an axis of rotation that accurately represents the earth. Volunteer docents will help visitors explore how the tilt of the earth produces the seasons of the year by moving the earth around the sun.
Energy for Every Day – This component explores the sun’s role as the primary source of all of our energy. See why plants grow, winds blow, waters flow and how the sun makes it happen. On special program days volunteers will work with visitors to test out solar powered toys and machines.
Solar Panels – Thanks to a grant from Namasté Solar and IMLS, WOW! has installed solar panels to help power these new exhibits! Check out WOW!’s energy usage on the video display presentation.

“The SunSational Energy & Science exhibit gives children and families a way to explore how the sun creates the day, the seasons, and the year, as well as how it provides all the energy we use to eat, work, and play,” said Elizabeth Knight, WOW! Exhibits Director.

SunSational Energy & Science was designed by WOW! Children’s Museum with participation from scientists at the University Center for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the University of Colorado at Boulder (Sommers-Bausch Observatory), the Boulder Astronomical and Space Society, and the staff at Namasté Solar.

WOW! would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for contributing volunteer time to the exhibit: Jacob Howard, Lucy Nowak, Robin Dadisman, SparkFun, Rose Steel, Darrell Schiffer, and Steven Hartmeyer.

In 2010, WOW! was awarded a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to fund this exhibit. Additional financial support for the exhibit was provided by Namasté Solar and Xcel Energy.

About Institute of Museum and Library Services:

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. For more information visit: www.imls.gov

WOW! Children’s Museum’s 15th Birthday Celebration!

Posted on: October 28th, 2011 by Jessica No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) is pleased to announce that the Museum will be celebrating its 15^th birthday on Saturday, November 12^th. For the past 15 years, WOW! Children’s Museum has been dedicated to providing unique and engaging interactive exhibits, programs, and activities for children and families in the Boulder County community.

Please join us from 10:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, November 12^th for WOW!’s 15^th Birthday Celebration. Scheduled activities include:

Special musical performance by Boulder Bach Festival at 11:00am
Face painting and craft activities
Help us blow out our birthday candles and enjoy refreshments compliments of Whole Foods Market in Superior
Explore the new SunSational Energy & Science exhibit
All activities are included with Museum admission

”In the past 15 years, over 750,000 visitors have come through our doors. We hope that we have inspired children to explore new science, art, music and cultural activities; we hope we have provided a creative place for families to engage in the learning experience together. Thank you for your continued support over these years,” said Lisa Atallah, Executive Director.

WOW! Children’s Museum opened in Louisville, CO in 1996 and relocated to the old firehouse in Lafayette, CO in 2004.

For more information: Contact WOW! at (303) 604-2424. Find WOW! Children’s Museum on Facebook.

WOW! Receives $5,000 Thanks to Volunteer Efforts of Amgen Employee Kevin Tolley

Posted on: October 19th, 2011 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) is pleased to announce that longtime WOW! volunteer and Amgen employee Kevin Tolley is a recipient of a 2011 Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Award. Launched in 2010 by the Amgen Foundation, the Amgen Excellence in Volunteering Award recognizes staff in the U.S. and Puerto Rico who are making a difference in the communities where the company has a presence. The Amgen Foundation awards $5,000 to each nonprofit organization featured in the winning staff members’ applications.

For 2011, WOW! Children’s Museum has received the $5,000 for the volunteer contributions made by Kevin Tolley who is an Amgen staff member at the Longmont, Colorado site. Kevin’s dedicated volunteer effort has included exhibit design, building, maintenance and repair; museum maintenance; fundraising events; and special events. Kevin is also included on the WOW! Priceless Board, an honor given only to the most dedicated volunteers.

To be considered, Amgen staff were asked to complete an application with information about their volunteer services and provide a letter of recommendation from the nonprofit organization. Kevin Tolley was selected by a panel of internal and external reviewers, based on impact of his volunteer efforts, frequency of volunteer activity and length of time committed, and a letter of recommendation from WOW! Children’s Museum.

“Kevin Tolley has been a role model for volunteerism at WOW! Children’s Museum. He has volunteered for hundreds of hours over the past seven years, assisting with everything from exhibit design and development, exhibit maintenance, transitioning exhibits on and off our Museum floor, fundraising events, special events, as well as Museum maintenance and repair. Kevin has encouraged other employees at Amgen to both volunteer and attend our annual fundraiser, and has been an integral part of our volunteer team, and a great example of the impact volunteers make on a non-profit organization,” said Lisa Atallah, Executive Director.

“The Museum’s focus on art and science exhibits and programming supports early childhood development and provides a valuable supplement for elementary education. I am consistently amazed by the creative and inspirational ways that children find to learn while visiting the Museum,” said Kevin Tolley.

About the Amgen Foundation

The Amgen Foundation (www.amgen.com/citizenship/overview.html) seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the Foundation has made more than $160 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways, and those that provide disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.

15 Events Leading Up to WOW!’s 15th Birthday

Posted on: October 12th, 2011 by wowadmin No Comments

Lafayette, Colorado – WOW! Children’s Museum (World of Wonder) today announced that in honor of the Museum’s upcoming 15^th Birthday, WOW! will host 15 different events leading up to an exciting birthday party celebration on Saturday, November 12^th. All events are included with Museum membership and general admission!

Mask Making Craft – Saturday, October 15^th; 10:00am-12:00pm
Who Ate Boulder? Book Reading and Monster Making Workshop – Saturday, October 22^nd; 10:00am-12:00pm
Pumpkin Decorating – Saturday, October 29^th; all day while supplies last
Halloween Crafts – Sunday, October 30^th; all day while supplies last
Dia de los Muertos Event – Tuesday, November 1^st; all day
Watercolor Wednesday – Wednesday, November 2^nd; 10:00am-12:00pm
Voting Themed Story Time – Thursday, November 3^rd; 11:00am
Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts Performance – Friday, November 4^th
SunSational Mural Project Installation – Saturday, November 5^th
SunSational Energy & Science Exhibit Preview for WOW! Members & Donors – Sunday, November 6th; 10:00am-12:00pm (please RSVP by Nov. 2nd)
Super Tactile Tuesday – Tuesday, November 8^th; 9:00am-11:00am
Happy Baby Cooking Class – Wednesday, November 9^th; 9:30am
Dance with Me Program with Ballet Nouveau Colorado – Thursday, November 10^th; 10:30am
“11/11/11: Numbers and Patterns Everywhere” Science Program & Story Time – Friday, November 11th; 11:11am-1:11pm
WOW!’s 15^th Birthday Celebration and SunSational Energy & Science Exhibit Grand Opening – Saturday, November 12^th; 10:00am-12:00pm

For more detailed information about any of these scheduled events please visit: http://www.wowchildrensmuseum.org/your-visit/calendar/

WOW! World of Wonder Children's Museam