ANN ARBOR HANDS-ON MUSEUM
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Mission Statement
The Mission of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center is to create moments of discovery that inspire curiosity, exploration and respect for STEM and the natural world. Our Vision is a world where curiosity today leads to more purposeful lives tomorrow.
About This Cause
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (AAHOM) and Leslie Science & Nature Center (LSNC) have each been educational anchors of the Southeast Michigan community for over 30 years, providing quality learning experiences for people of all ages. Their rich individual histories have contributed greatly to their success as a unified organization. The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum (AAHOM) and Leslie Science & Nature Center (LSNC) have each been educational anchors of the Southeast Michigan community for over 30 years, providing quality learning experiences for people of all ages. Their rich individual histories have contributed greatly to their success as a unified organization. The idea for LSNC was born when Dr. Eugene and Emily Leslie deeded their property to the City of Ann Arbor upon their deaths in 1976. During their lives, they invited neighborhood children to play freely on their land and wished this tradition to continue for generations to come. Leslie Science Center, as it was called at the time, opened in May 1986 and was intended as a place where children could learn about conservation and ecology. In July 2007, the organization separated from the City and became Leslie Science & Nature Center, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This provided LSNC with a more sustainable governance structure, yet retained City of Ann Arbor ownership and responsibility for the buildings and grounds. Today the LSNC site comprises 50 acres of ponds, woods, and prairie, and features raptor enclosures, indoor classrooms with live animals, outdoor spaces for play and learning, and an expert staff of interpreters and educators. AAHOM and LSNC began collaborating shortly after LSNC gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. Together we led joint-programs such as Critters Up Close, in which LSNC brought wildlife ambassadors to AAHOM, whose educators led participants in animal-themed activities. After years of partnership, the boards of the two organizations began discussing the possibility of formally uniting. The decision was finalized in June 2016, making the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and Leslie Science & Nature Center a single nonprofit provider of science and nature education. Our unified organization offers more opportunities to the regional community, and is projected to experience operational savings of more than $4 million over the next decade. The mission of AAHOM and LSNC is to create moments of discovery that inspire curiosity, exploration, and respect for STEM and the natural world. Together we envision a world where curiosity today leads to more purposeful lives tomorrow. Since uniting, we have further invested in strategic partnerships, developing Unity in Learning—a coalition of organizations devoted to informal science education in Southeast Michigan. Since 2017 we have been partnered with Yankee Air Museum (YAM) in Belleville, a provider focused on the marvels of aeronautical engineering and the history of American aircraft. We also have a growing partnership with the Challenger Learning Center at St. Clair County Community College (SC4) in Port Huron, where visitors can take part in an immersive aerospace-themed experience. AAHOM and LSNC’s formal merger, and our extended partnerships with YAM and SC4, have expanded both our geographical reach and the possibilities of our programming through multidisciplinary collaboration, enabling us to better serve our greater community and the many school districts we work with in Ypsilanti, Detroit, Port Huron, and across 11 counties in Southeastern Michigan.