Local Families Flock to Children's Museum Explore-a-Thon 2008

by Ann Lobue; photos by Jillian McAlley

(June 13, 2008) Over 300 children, parents and grandparents from all over Westchester County came to the boardwalk at Rye Beach on Sunday, June 1 to walk a mile as part of Explore-A-Thon 2008, which raised funds to build the Westchester Children’s Museum (WCM). Larchmont and Mamaroneck families were well-represented among the walkers. Special guests included youth from the Port Chester Carver Center, the Westhab Shelter in White Plains, and the Elm Street Community Center in Yonkers.

Along the way, children stopped to participate in hands-on educational activities that reflect the museum’s philosophy of “learning through play.”

“This year’s Explore-A-Thon offered more art, science, music and movement activities to stimulate a child’s mind and senses,” said WCM Board President Corinne Zola, a Larchmont resident and parent of two Explore-A-Thon participants. “While having fun, children learned about things like gravity, surface tension, solar and wind energy, and underwater ecology.”

Zachary Zola experiments with velocity and physics as he tries to create a marble roller coaster.

Projected to open in late 2010 at the former Rye Playland Bathhouses, the Westchester Children’s Museum will be the county’s first children’s museum. Last month, the Westchester County approved the expenditure of $8.8 million towards the renovation of the museum’s intended site.

Jake Mason experiments with water pressure

The WCM is in the midst of a campaign to raise the funds needed to build the museum experience and operations, with a goal of reaching $7 million in cash and pledges by the time the County completes its work in late 2009. The museum is nearly halfway to that goal with major donor support continuing to grow. Among the newest donors to the campaign are several Larchmont residents who have pledged their support and are now part of the Founding Family donor circle.

For now, the Westchester Children's Museum operates as a "museum without walls" providing as much programming around the County as possible. To learn more about the campaign to build the Westchester Children's Museum, visit www.discoverWCM.org or call 914-421-5050.

Ann Lobue volunteers with the Westchester Children's Museum.

Front Page

Print This Page
Email this page