What's happening at the Children's Museum
DOVER – The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s Cochechosystem Nature exhibits, which highlight the sights, sounds, and activities of the animals and people who make their lives along New Hampshire’s rivers, is getting a few upgrades.
The exhibit, which overlooks the actual Cochecho River through floor-to-ceiling windows, will welcome children to dress up as beavers, build lodges and feed their young kits, watch osprey guard their nest as they add to their own, fish on the exhibit’s riverbank, hop aboard the replica gundalow and load cargo for a trip upriver, and take a close look at the river outside. Come visit and see for yourself all the new components.
For many years now, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has offered deep discounts to families with EBT cards. Currently anyone who shows an EBT card and a valid ID can enjoy $3 per person admission for anyone within their immediate household. Now the museum has expanded that discount to include any family with a WIC card! EBT and WIC cards from any state can be used to secure the discount, but cannot be accepted for admission payment.
“We believe that the cost of admission into CMNH should not prohibit anyone from visiting the museum,” said Jane Bard, CMNH President. “Guests can always ask our friendly staff for information about discounts or other options.”
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Members of any level can visit the Seacoast Science Center in Rye for free the entire month of August 2022. Any CMNH Members looking to visit SSC can use the code CMNH22 when making online reservations (highly recommended to ensure availability) which will remove any admission fees. Please note that SSC has an additional NH State Parks admission fee that cannot be waived. That fee is $4 per adult and $2 per child age 6-plus. Visit seacoastsciencecenter.org for more information.
Before visiting, the Museum is still asking guests to reserve and pre-pay online to help stick to their capacity limit, which is currently at 50% of its actual capacity, or 250 individuals. Learn more at childrens-museum.org.
High Flying STEAM Discovery Camp: Tuesday, August 9 to Thursday, August 11, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This summer at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, mini campers ages 6 & 7 try out amazing science experiments and learn all about things that can fly, float, and move! Campers will think like engineers and build structures to test out, and think like scientists and try some messy, fun projects. Each day will feature hands-on STEAM experiments as well as projects to take home. Every day starts with play time in the Museum, followed by activities in the classroom, and time to play games and have a snack outside in the park. Campers should pack a water bottle and snack for this half-day camp. Masks are optional for this camp. Cost is $110 for CMNH Members, $125 for non-Members. Online registration and pre-payment required. Registration closes two weeks before each camp. All camps are limited to 12 children per camp.
Gallery 6 Art Exhibition: Sandy’s Year of Toys - An Art Journal: Through Oct. 16. Sandy Steen Bartholomew has a lot of toys. Like, a LOT of toys! The New Hampshire artist and illustrator decided to create a challenge for herself to draw one of her toys every day for a year. Twelve drawings and two toys were chosen for every month of her “Year of Toys” to be displayed in the Gallery 6 art exhibition, and feature toys like Hasbro’s “Weebles” from 1973, a 13-inch-tall Michelangelo Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figure from 1989, and a 3 ¼ inch tall Polly Pocket dressed as Wonder Woman from 2010. A full-color magazine that Sandy has created to celebrate her “Year of Toys” will be available for sale in the Museum Gift Shop. Gallery 6 is open anytime the museum is open.
Military Appreciation Summer: Through Sept. 4. CMNH is once again inviting active and retired military personnel and their immediate family members to play at the museum at no cost, thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Service Credit Union. Guests can simply reserve their spots online for free, and then show a military ID at the front desk of the museum to receive free admission for the military member, dependent children, and spouse.
Learning Garden: Edible Education: Every Tuesday and Saturday in August at 11 a.m. during Morning Play Sessiobs, The Museum’s Learning Gardens provide “edible education” for kids about healthy food choices and the environment. When you visit the museum during growing season, you can join in one of these drop-in activities, included with museum admission, which usually ends with families in the garden to pick what they want to take home! The Learning Garden is sponsored by Whole Foods. Online reservations and pre-payment is required for each play session, but nothing additional needs to be reserved to participate in the Learning Garden activities.
Wacky Art Wednesdays: Every Wednesday in August, 10 a.m. during Morning Play Session; 2 p.m. during Afternoon Play Session. Join us at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire on Wednesdays to do a wacky and wonderful art project. The projects are included with museum admission and free for members. Online reservations and pre-payment is required for each play session.
World Culture Thursdays, every Thursday in August, 10 a.m. during Morning Play Session and 2 p.m. during Afternoon Play Session. Do a fun craft, play a game, or make some art celebrating a different culture from around the world! These activities are included with Museum admission and are free for museum members. Online reservations and pre-payment is required for each play session.
Science Fridays, every Friday in August, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us for Science Fridays in 2022! New each week and included with regular Museum admission, Science Friday drop-in programs engage children in experiments and activities that focus on fun, and act as a jumping-off point for learning about science concepts. Sponsored by the State of NH on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan. Reservations and pre-payment are required for each play session, but nothing additional needs to be reserved to participate in Science Fridays. Masks are optional when visiting the Museum on Fridays.
Concerts From the Patio: Rockingham Groove: Friday, August 5 at 6 p.m. Grownups (21+) are invited to enjoy the Dover Chamber of Commerce’s Cochecho Arts Festival concerts from the comfort of our outdoor Play Patio. A $15 ticket gets you seating on the Play Patio, access to a cash bar, a snack box for each guest, and access to the museum’s many restrooms, while Rockingham Groove performs a mix of R&B tunes from the past 5 decades. Order takeout (no alcoholic drinks) from area restaurants and enjoy a meal in the comfort of the Play Patio. This is an adult only event. Play Patio opens at 6 p.m. and concerts start at 6:30pm. Get your tickets online at www.childrens-museum.org. https://childrens-museum.org/things-to-do/events/concerts-from-the-patio
“Tea Time for Dinosaurs” Book Reading with Author AJ Smith: Saturday August 6 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Book reading, coloring sheets, fun dino-themed activities and scavenger hunt! AJ will be reading the story starting at 10:30 a.m.and 1:30 p.m in our Muse Studio. This event is included with museum admission and free for members. Reservations and pre-payment are required for each play session, but nothing additional needs to be reserved to participate in this special event. V
The Science of Bubbles with Sages Entertainment, Sunday, August 7 at 10 a.m., See an engaging and fun bubble performance by Sages Entertainment, a husband and wife duo known for their fun STEAM, magic, and bubble programming. This performance will explore the science of bubbles and is included with museum admission, and free for members! Any members attending this event will get a bubble wand (1 per child). Online reservations/ pre-payment is required. Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org. The Museum’s Performance Series is sponsored by the NH State Council on the Arts, The Fuller Foundation, Abbie F. Moseley Charitable Trust, and the TD Charitable Foundation.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: What's happening at the Children's Museum in Dover NH
