The City of Rancho Cordova and the board of the new Sacramento Children’s Museum have announced that a site in Rancho Cordova has been selected to be the home of the region’s newest family-oriented attraction. The Sacramento Children’s Museum (SCM), a hands-on, interactive center will be located at 2701 Prospect Park Drive in Rancho Cordova, next to City Hall. The Museum is scheduled to open in January 2010.

“We are pleased and proud to be a partner in this outstanding endeavor that will be a destination attraction, not only for our City but for the entire Sacramento region,” said Rancho Cordova Mayor Dan Skoglund after the SCM board gave a presentation at the April 20th City Council meeting. The City and the Museum have been negotiating for almost a year, developing the partnership that gave life to the vision of having a children’s museum in Rancho Cordova. “Many people have been involved in the creation of what will be a gem for our community,” commented Skoglund. “They are to be congratulated for their creativity and tenacity.”

The SCM will feature various exhibit areas that will encourage children’s imaginations and prompt them to test, tinker, laugh, and wonder. Special shows, programs, and speakers will complement the exhibits. The exhibits will change several times a year. Although the Museum will appeal to visitors of all ages, it will be designed primarily for younger children up to about age eight.

The founders have developed seven distinct areas in the new museum:

· Waterways will promote wet activities such as building boats, creating whirlpools, and experimenting with water flow.

· My Neighborhood will include a gigantic “story tree” and activities that celebrate the region’s cultural diversity.

· World Market will offer fun role-playing to develop knowledge about nutrition, sorting, measuring, and counting.

· Art Studio will provide opportunities for self-expression and creativity, using a variety of materials.

· Baby Bloomers will offer safe exploration activities for babies and toddlers.

· Resource Center will be a source of parenting and child development information for parents, childcare providers, and other care givers.

· Party Room will be an area that can be rented for birthday and holiday celebrations.

Display areas planned for the future include Raceways, Airways, a Garden, and a café.

The idea for a children’s museum began with two area teachers who saw a need for inspiring learning through interactivity. They started SCM, a non-profit corporation, and soon received support from local businesses, educators, librarians, professionals, children’s advocates, and the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2006, the Junior League of Sacramento adopted the Children’s Museum as its signature project and established a committee to work with the SCM board in planning and designing exhibits and programs, raising funds, doing community outreach and public relations, and supplying a large volunteer base of professional and talented women to support the Museum.

“It is fitting that the Sacramento Children’s Museum has formed a partnership with the City of Rancho Cordova as the Museum has made it a priority to celebrate cultural diversity as part of its focus and Rancho Cordova encompasses more cultural diversity than almost anywhere else in the greater Sacramento area,” said Kathleen Palley, SCM President. “It takes people from a variety of backgrounds with unique life experiences to make a difference in our community!”

She continued that the Children’s Museum will be “a place where imaginations can roam, confidence can grow, and families can experience the power of play in a safe and welcoming environment.”

For information about the SCM, membership packets, and/or partnership opportunities, please contact Sheri Graciano, Sacramento Children’s Museum Marketing Director, at (916) 203-1814.

“Rancho Cordova is a new City – we just celebrated our 5th anniversary last July - so we identify with being ‘young’ and we are excited to be the home of this new Sacramento Children’s Museum. We welcome the opportunity to grow and mature with the Museum through the coming years,” concluded Mayor Skoglund.