Akron Children's Museum 2023 Annual Report

Released: March 2024

VISION:

ACM envisions a community shaped by lifelong learners, who provide innovative leadership inspired by creativity and diverse perspectives.

MISSION:

To be a vibrant gathering place for all ages, where play inspires exploration, discovery, and problem solving.

IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS

Visitors

Welcomed Into Museum:

45,334

Mobile Museum Trips:

855

Students Served

New Memberships: 713 Head Start

Students Visited: 614 Field Trips:

3,540

Students Served

Birthday Parties Held: 239 with 6,743 in Attendance

From Now Through 2026 Akron Children’s Museum’s Strategic Plan Will Focus on:

Programming and Visitor Experience:

Enhance the Akron Children’s Museum visitor experience for the purpose of delighting and retaining members and visitors.

Work toward this goal will be a multi-faceted approach. The museum will develop a three year plan for exhibits to keep the areas fresh and engaging. In addition, the museum will also build upon diversified service offerings and expand value-based programming to encourage repeat visitors along with deepening our partnerships. More standards will be put into place to manage records and information. The museum will also be creating and finalizing a plan to reach children in the 9-13 demographic with an emphasis on physical, intellectual and social well-being.

Financial Sustainability:

Achieve Akron Children’s Museum’s operational, sustainability and growth goals through earned income revenue sources and continued development efforts.

The museum will, during this time, hire a fund development professional to identify, manage and execute on opportunities. The museum will also create a fund development plan with key strategies and tactics to support operations and programmatic expansion as well as creating an endowment fund. Work will be done to continue to diversify and grow development efforts to support ongoing exhibit and program refreshing.

Branding and Marketing:

Establish and effectively communicate Akron Children’s Museum mission and vision through branding and marketing.

The Akron Children’s Museum will update the marketing plan provided by the University of Akron to align with our current operations and programming. The museum will make sure its board and staff are equipped with marketing and branding materials to expand their reach as ambassadors for ACM. In addition, the museum will host at least one event per year so individuals can come in and see how ACM can be integrated into their programming. Finally, the museum will conduct regular marketing committee meetings inclusive of staff representatives, board members and volunteer-base to identify plans and actions.

Board and Staff Development:

Ensure the Board and Staff have the capabilities and resources to help ACM thrive.

The museum will be focusing on defining the culture that the staff and board want to convey to support the success of Akron Children’s Museum. Work will be done to expand operating capacity and updating standard operating procedure materials. An assessment for staff will also be created and structures will be enhanced for staff communication. The museum will ensure the right mix of skills and capabilities within the Board to guide the organization for the future; also focus on ensuring diversity in thought.

PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

Field Trips

Students are able to immerse themselves in exciting field trip experiences designed to spark curiosity and learning. Akron Children’s Museum is not just a destination; it’s a dynamic learning environment where children can learn the way they know best–through PLAY!

Special Wish Foundation

Akron Children’s Museum is proud to be a Sparkles of Joy program provider which provides families exciting, immune-friendly experiences which allow the entire family to create positive, life-long memories. These experiences are perfect for kids who may not be cleared to travel for their Big Wish yet.

Outreach

The Akron Children’s Museum is dedicated to reaching out to the community and providing accessible and engaging learning opportunities for children. By taking its exhibits and programs beyond the museum’s walls, the museum strives to inspire and empower children to explore, discover, and learn.

The museum actively participates in community events and festivals to promote its mission and engage with the community. Through interactive exhibits and activities, the museum creates memorable experiences and spreads awareness about the importance of play-based learning.

Birthday Parties

Akron Children’s Museum boasts two new party rooms and hundreds of parties that were celebrated in 2023. Children are able to let loose, learn, and explore with friends while having big fun throughout the museum’s interactive exhibits. It’s no surprise the museum has been rated in akronlife.com’s Best of City Hall of Fame.

S.T.E.A.M. Team Saturdays

The Akron Children’s Museum is a safe place where children learn through play and exploration in an environment created JUST FOR THEM. During a visit to the museum, people are able to interact with over 25 exhibits including several specifically designed for children and families to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics learning activities.

Head Start Mobile Museum

ACM is excited to provide programs in the museum or at your school and organization location. The Mobile Museum package options bring the same hands-on approach to learning that our visitors experience at the museum, right to your own location!

Essential Experiences

Akron Children’s Museum is thrilled to be going on its third year as a partner with GAR Foundation to bring “Explore Galore with Monsters and More!” All 1,800 kindergarten students have the opportunity to spend one day on-site at the Akron Children’s Museum predicting, estimating, counting, sorting, and more through playful discovery and problem-solving.

Museum Expansion

Akron Children’s Museum celebrated the completion of an expansion project April 11 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and by inviting children to enjoy the new areas. Officials and children at the event are shown above. The expanded space offers 10 new features, including a Rocket Exhibit, Sensory Room, Sound Studio, Wind & Air Tube Wall, two private party rooms and a redesigned Makerspace to host STEM education experiences.

Monster Mystery Scavenger Hunt at Akron Canton Airport

Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) is pleased to announce a partnership with Akron Children’s Museum featuring a new interactive experience at the airport called the Monster Mystery Scavenger Hunt. The scavenger hunt revolves around a series of friendly themed monster graphics that can be found throughout the concourse post-security.

The friendly monsters depict jobs within the airport and around the airfield including a ticketing agent, police officer, pilot, mechanic, air traffic controller, and more.

The initiative shines a spotlight on future career opportunities for young travelers, while building upon the airport’s ongoing commitment to elevating the guest experience through community partnerships. Passengers will notice the first monster graphic just after they exit the security screening checkpoint.

Each monster has a visible QR code that links to programming for the interactive component of the experience.

Soccer Shots

Delight Nights

The Akron Children’s Museum began hosting evening hours from 5-8 p.m. for those night owls who like to play late into the day! This new offering was made possible by sponsors for children and families to participate in STEAM based activities and create new memories as their little ones explore and learn through play.

The Akron Children’s Museum is in its second round of hosting Soccer Shots, a children’s soccer program with a focus on character development. Whether your child is just starting off on their soccer journey or is looking for a challenge, Soccer Shots offers programs for kids 2 to 5 years old with a focus on making a positive introduction to sports and activity while also making a lasting impact on kids and their families. It’s the reason why they are the #1 soccer program for kids in the United States and Canada and we are thankful to have this partnership.

SPECIAL EVENTS

GROWN UP PLAY DATE

This fundraiser is a highly anticipated yearly favorite of ACM’s expanding community of supporters and a pivotal element in the nonprofit organization’s financial progress. Net proceeds from Grown Up Play Date benefit the museum’s All Access Kids’ Fund and Museums For All Fund. These funds allow ACM to provide low-income children with play-based learning experiences through fresh new exhibits and more than 110 educational programs annually as well as execute its Mobile Museum, reaching over 1,500 children in the past year.

ATTENDANCE:

273

ALL ABOARD THE AKRON EXPRESS

This interactive, hands-on event features local experts and train enthusiasts exhibiting their model trains and sharing their knowledge! Visitors are able to view model train exhibits, take the controls of ACM’s own Akron Express, design a train car with Lego bricks, and little ones can even construct a wooden track of their own!

HANDS ON HALLOWEEN

No fright, all delight! Hands on Halloween is a great opportunity to put your child’s favorite costume on and bring them to the Akron Children’s Museum to have a fun-filled day with good music, Spooky Science stations, a delicious candy station, face painting, pumpkin and cookie decorating, countless activities, and free-play throughout the museum.

ATTENDANCE:

496

HANDS ON HOLIDAYS

ATTENDANCE: 438

Hands-On Holidays is our early December event to share in some winter cheer. Families are able to visit with characters from the North Pole among others and enjoy some performances. They also get to explore many stations of fun and learning and engage in STEM-based activities.

ATTENDANCE: 571

MAKE BELIEVE MIDNIGHT

Party hats, dazzling decorations, colorful confetti, and the suspense of the ball drop! Why should kids have to miss out on all the fun of New Year’s Eve? Gear up for a Make Believe Midnight celebration just for kids! Bring your little one, and your big ones too, for a magical day where we’ll prepare the monsters and the museum for a marvelous midday celebration.

OUR BOARD

Board

of Directors

Amber Genet Barkoukis - Embracing Futures

Allyson Boyd - Akron Zoo

Susan Burnoski - Apple Growth Partners

Betsy Hartschuh - Witschey, Witschey, and Firestone, Co., LPA

Ryan Hartschuh - The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Wesley Lambert - Brouse McDowell

Bill Lowery II - eXp Realty

Phil Montgomery - Finance and Budget, County of Summit

Lauren Osina - Malco Products, Inc.

Ciera Preer - Vapotherm

Angelique Rogers - Pease CPAs

Benjamin Tegel - Auxin Group Wealth Management

Derran Wimer - Wimer Consulting, LLC

Larry Young - Intelligent Workplace Services Consultant

Christine Yuhasz - Retired Community Volunteer & Fund

Development Consultant

Executive Board Members

Phil Montgomery - President

Angie Rogers - Vice President

Susan Burnoski - Treasurer

Larry Young - Secretary

Bill Lowery, II - Immediate Past President

Ryan Hartschuh - Lifetime Trustee and Museum Co-founder

Betsy Hartschuh- Lifetime Trustee and Museum Co-founder

Benjamin Tegel - Lifetime Trustee

Capital Campaign Members

Dave Lieberth - Honorary Capital Campaign Chair

Christine Yuhasz - Capital Campaign Chair

Betsy Hartschuh - Witschey, Witschey & Firestine, Co.

Ryan Hartschuh - Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Traci Buckner - ACM Executive Director

Melissa Fashinpaur - Materion

Ron Kopp - Roetzel & Andress

Bill Lowery I - Management Consultant

Bill Lowery II - Exp Realty, Inc.

Brian Steere - Steere Enterprises, Inc.

Ben Tegel - Auxin Group Wealth Management.

Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah - Signet Jewelers

OUR STAFF

Our Staff

Traci J Buckner - Executive Director

Tessa Tegel - Operations Manager

Kat Dunlap - Manager of Education

Victoria Schmidt - Community Engagement Coordinator

Susan Lindeman - Special Events Coordinator

Paige Koenig - Visitor Experience Team Lead

Joy Edwards - Event Coordinator

Emily Carpenter - Executive Assistant to the Director

Education Team

Paige Koenig

Brock Sandrock

Melih Meric

Mary Ellen Nyszczy

Visitor Experience Team

Brandon Meeker

Cambria Barkley

Nina Robinson

Toni Harper

Joy Edwards

Isabella Stoll

Mural Wall – Art Only Boutique, Artist Dara Harper

THE NUMB RS

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Active and Ongoing Community Partnerships

Downtown Akron Partnership

Commonly known as DAP, Downtown Akron Partnership often has colorful community celebrations in which the museum participates. Most recently the museum ran a collaborative art project of creating a symbolic dragon out of participants hands at the Lunar New Year Festival. Upcoming, the museum will participate in the Sakura Festival.

Akron Zoo

In addition to attending multiple events, the museum installs the Monster Mission Course at the zoo 2-3 times per year. In addition to the month-long installations of this fun, indoor, obstacle course, Zoo members are able to visit the museum as Buy One, Get One free. Museum members are able to enter the zoo for free during these time periods.

Akron-Summit County Public Library

The library and museum often swap ideas and attend multiple events throughout the year. This year the museum attended the library’s first ever Akron Music Festival, an event gathering all ages and types of music. From instrument makers, to full band performances, to an instrument petting zoo, the Music Festival had it all.

The Akron Children’s museum was happy to bring our Boomwhackers and DIY Kazoos for the youngest music makers!

Looking Ahead - New Partnerships Starting!

Scouting for the Arts Day with Ballet Excel Ohio and Girl Scouts of NEO

This opportunity allows Girl Scouts to earn a badge by participating in a dance workshop with Ballet Excel Ohio at Akron Children’s Museum. Troops then will experience Ballet Excel Ohio’s performance of Snow White and Miss Spider’s Tea Party at the historic Akron Civic Theater.

InventHers

This is an exciting 4-week workshop series inviting middle school girls from Akron and Summit County to embark on a unique engineering adventure. Guided by experienced mentors and with support from our friends at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, participants will delve into team-based design challenges.

Kent State STEM Research

The Museum will be collaborating with students from Kent State in the College of Communication and Information on how educators, parents, and female students shape gender stereotypes about STEM learning in informal learning environments. The study will include observations, interviews with children and educators, and a small survey with parents.

The Great American Eclipse

Partnering with Stan Hywet, the Akron Children’s Museum will be celebrating the total Eclipse with activities and a viewing party.

Family Polymer Event with the University of Akron and Conexus

This large scale event focused on teaching “What is a Polymer?” is in the works. Hoping to gather families from all over Akron, the museum is working to create this new exploratory experience.

Archbishop

Hoban Museum Studies

The museum will partner with the Social Studies Department at Archbishop Hoban to provide hands-on learning opportunities for their group. This will be an enhancement to their Museum Studies program.