CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF ACADIANA
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d*********t@c****f.o*g
Mission Statement
MMISSION: Learning by Doing. MISSION INTERPRETATION: The Children's Museum of Acadiana (CMA) is dedicated to creating an immersive and engaging environment where children and their families can actively explore, discover, and learn about everyday experiences, diverse cultures, and the uniqueness of individuals. We are committed to enriching the lives of children from all socioeconomic backgrounds, fostering self-expression, building self-esteem, and promoting respect for others. At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that children learn best through hands-on experiences. As an educational resource for both educators and families, the CMA serves as a catalyst for innovative and creative learning approaches. We strive to nurture a future generation of museum enthusiasts by instilling a lifelong love for museum experiences and recognizing their essential role in the educational journey. Our mission is to empower children to embrace curiosity, ignite their imaginations, and cultivate a passion for exploration. By providing interactive exhibits and dynamic programs, we aim to create lasting memories, inspire critical thinking, and foster a love for continuous learning. The Children's Museum of Acadiana is committed to: • Serving the developmental needs of children aged infant to ten, along with their families and teachers, by offering a diverse range of participatory exhibits and programs that cover a wide array of subjects. • Designing and delivering exhibitions and programs that stimulate analytical thinking and foster interaction with visual, auditory, and physical aspects, promoting human development and fostering cultural understanding. • Engaging a broad audience and inspiring imagination, curiosity, critical thinking, and a sense of realism in children and adults alike. • Cultivating and sustaining a volunteer program that instills in individuals a lifelong dedication to community service, while fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. • Enriching and expanding the school core curriculum through collaborative partnerships and innovative educational initiatives. • Attracting and leveraging a diverse staff and board of directors who are passionate about children's development, bringing creativity and expertise to enhance the museum's offerings. The CMA aims to have a meaningful impact on familes across Acadiana by providing a secure and nurturing environment where they can explore, learn, and actively engage with the museum's interactive exhibits and education enrichment programs. Through these experiences, we empower them to discover their potential and expand their horizons.
About This Cause
The Children's Museum of Acadiana (“CMA”) is a private non-profit corporation founded in 1990 by 3 women who felt the need for a hands-on children's museum in the Lafayette area. The CMA is located in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana and opened to the public in January 1996. In almost 30 years of operation, the CMA has served children and their families through Museum visits, programs, and outreach. As an educationally based site for educational enrichment field trips, the CMA serves 45,000 annually from 37 parishes in central and south Louisiana. The CMA also works collaboratively with over 27 agencies in the Acadiana region to promote various missions that benefit children and their families. Children who visit the CMA are delighted with a range of activities that stimulate their creativity and provide an opportunity to learn while playing. A sampling of the many interactive exhibits available include: Ami the Acadian Ambulance, Louisiana Culture Corner, Health Gallery (Carson Animal Hospital Vet and Eye), Sensory Sea, Super 1 Foods Grocery Store, Bubble Factory, ReUseum (Recycled Art Projects), Knowledge Nook, Café des Amis Restaurant, Wee Acres (Toddler Exclusive), CGI STEM Street, Itty Bitty Builders Construction Exhibit, and various interactive activities throughout the CMA. In the Museum’s outdoor courtyard, children and their caregivers can enjoy playing or relaxing in the Kiwanis of Acadiana Harmony Park. The CMA hosts over 6,000 children on field trips each year. The CMA has developed 6 hands-on educational-based programs for children PreK-4th grade, 5 of which are active and include: “Touch, Look, Learn, and Listen,” a toddler to 5 year old program; “Money Wise: Earn, Spend, and Save,” exposing 1st and 2nd graders to wise spending choices; “Got Math” showing 3rd and 4th graders math principles in real-world scenarios; and “100th Day” Celebration,” reinforcing the concept of “one hundred” to K and 1st grade. Launched in Spring 2018 is a traveling field trip program, “CMA on the Go” that CMA staff brings to schools to educate students about STEM concepts and related career opportunities. In Fall 2018, the CMA began offering a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) field trip. The CMA’s educationally-based programs were designed to enhance and extend classroom curriculum. The CMA also develops educational elements for rotating gallery exhibits. Stuffee, a large anatomical doll, visits local schools and organizations to teach children about internal organs. The CMA does community outreach through the CMA Away We Play Program by sending Museum representatives to approximately 25 annual local community events and festivals offering children art & craft activities. Throughout the year the CMA hosts numerous workshops/camps, seasonal paid events, and birthday parties. Regular programing includes the Garden Club through which children learn to cultivate edible plants, Daily Discoveries during which a different STEAM activity is offered every weekday throughout the summer, STEAMKids Sunday which provides guests access to STEAM activities one Sunday a month, and monthly private access for children on the autism spectrum through Mornings at the Museum. The CMA hosts 4 holiday-programmed themed special events: a “not so haunted” Spooktacular Halloween event and the Twinkle Light Night (TLN) Christmas party, New Year’s Noon and Carnival Countdown, and an Easter Spring Fling party. The Museum’s annual fundraiser is Friends of the CMA Festival Parking in which RVs rent space during Festival International every April.