Hands On Children's Museum

Hands on Children's Museum
Established	1987
Location	Olympia, Washington, USA
Type	Children's museum
Visitors	150,000^[1]
Website	www.hocm.org

Hands On Children's Museum is a children's museum in Olympia, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1987 and received over 150,000 visitors a year at its old location near the Washington State Capitol.^[2] After moving to its new, permanent home on Olympia's East Bay, at 414 Jefferson Street on Olympia's East Bay, visitorship grew to over 300,000 in its first year (Nov 2012-Nov 2013).

The New Hands On Children's Museum, geared for children ages 0-11, features 8 themed galleries focusing on science and nature, plus an enhanced Arts & Parts Studio. The galleries include: "Good For You!" (healthy eating and living); "Our Puget Sound;" "Emergency!;" "Our Fabulous Forest;" "Move It!;" "Build It!;" "Snug Harbor" (for ages 0-4); and the two-story "Tides-to-Trees Climber and Stream Slide." The half-acre Outdoor Discovery Center was chosen by the Association of Children's Museums as one of only three "Going Wild!" pilot sites to demonstrate innovative ways to connect kids with nature; it is the only one of its kind in Washington. Opened in late Summer 2013, the Outdoor Discovery Center includes a Beach, Driftwood Forts, Mud Pie Pit, an interactive Stickworks sculpture "Raccoon Run," and a Fire Pit/Storytelling Ring. Once complete, the Outdoor Discovery Center will also feature a Hike-and-Trike Loop (summer of 2014), Children's Garden with edibles and flowers (summer of 2014), Compost and Worm bins (summer of 2014), an educational Rain Garden (summer of 2014), a Naturalist Cabin for holding nature workshops (summer of 2014), a ride-up Ferry (TBD), a Lighthouse (TBD), and much more. Check their website for the most updated exhibit plans: www.hocm.org.

Founded on the belief that all children deserve respect and the opportunity to learn, regardless of their ability to pay, the Museum offers a robust and award-winning Access Program for underserved and at-risk families. Access Programs served 86,000 children, families and educators in 2013, which represented a 37% increase since 2012. Programs include free monthly parenting classes, a free weekly preschool enrichment program, Free Friday Nights every month, and a library partnership to “check out” family admission passes. The Museum also offers discounted military admission and memberships, free field trips for rural, Title I and underserved elementary schools, and several family support programs. Its signature event Sand in the City is the second largest event in the region, offering free art and science activities for 35,000 children and families every year since 2000.

In 2013, Hands On was received the #4 spot in King5’s Best “Fun Place to Take Kids” in Western Washington, and the Museum received the Best of South Sound’s “Best Museum” and “Best Family Entertainment” Awards. The Museum is the first children's museum to receive a three Green Globes certification for green building and LEED certification.^[3]

References

↑ New HOCM Home, Hands on Children's Museum
↑ History and Mission, Hands on Children's Museum
↑ http://www.hocm.org/page.php?id=471 Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

Official website

Museums in the Puget Sound region

Art	911 Media Arts Center Bellevue Arts Museum Frye Art Museum Henry Art Gallery Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park Museum of Glass Museum of Northwest Art Olympic Sculpture Park Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art Seattle Art Museum Seattle Asian Art Museum Tacoma Art Museum Whatcom Museum of History and Art

Aviation	Flying Heritage Collection Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour Heritage Flight Museum McChord Air Museum Museum of Flight Olympic Flight Museum Port Townsend Aero Museum

Children's	Hands On Children's Museum KidsQuest Children's Museum Seattle Children's Museum

Culture	Nordic Heritage Museum Northwest African American Museum Suquamish Museum Quinault Museum Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

History	DuPont Museum Eastside Heritage Center Edmonds Historical Museum Harbor History Museum History House of Greater Seattle Issaquah Historical Museums Karshner Museum Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Museum of History and Industry Renton History Museum Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum Seattle Underground Washington State History Museum

Maritime	Browns Point Light Center for Wooden Boats Coast Guard Museum Northwest Northwest Seaport Snagboat Heritage Center Working Waterfront Maritime Museum

Military	Coast Guard Museum Northwest Lewis Army Museum McChord Air Museum Naval Undersea Museum Puget Sound Navy Museum Washington National Guard Museum

Natural sciences	Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture Museum and Arts Center, Sequim, Washington

Science and technology	America's Car Museum Bellingham Railway Museum EMP Museum Georgetown Steam Plant Living Computer Museum Museum of Communications Pacific Science Center SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention Vintage Motorcycle Museum

See also: List of museums in Washington and Museums and galleries of Seattle

Coordinates: 47°02′18″N 122°54′04″W / 47.03833°N 122.90111°W / 47.03833; -122.90111

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