The Virgin Islands Children’s Museum (VICM), whose doors opened in 2016, hosts a myriad of programs dedicated to literacy, accessibility, and child development. Their latest program is “Yoga For Kids,” a collaboration with Breathe St. Thomas, which takes place Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. at VICM in Buccaneer Mall.
The VI Children’s Museum, located on the island of St. Thomas, is an interactive educational playspace where child-led learning, undirected play, family engagement, and creative expression are prioritized and encouraged. The museum hosts a wide array of STREAM-centered activities (Science, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Technology) that can be curated to support most age groups and learning styles.
Amber McCammon, executive director of Facilities and Programs, works with her colleagues to guarantee that the exhibits in the museum showcase an array of concepts and themes that ensure that every child can find an activity that supports their unique interests.
“We strive to create a space that is inclusive and inviting. We have exhibits that explore space, geology, shapes and color, V.I. plants and animals, art, culture and early-childhood literacy just to name few. The exhibits are enjoyable for various age groups and developmental stages,” McCammon said. “We sometimes have parents ask, ‘When are you getting new exhibits?’ Not realizing that as their children grow, they get to see each exhibit with new eyes and can continue to Explore, Play and Discover at the VICM!”‘
“Each week we host Toddler Tuesdays during which we do art, science or music activities that maximizes a toddler’s learning potential while building their hand-eye coordination. Additionally, we have a space within the museum that is dedicated to children age two and under. This space is equipped with cushions, toys and books that help connect new moms and their little ones while kickstarting their love of learning,” explained Chantel Hoheb, executive director of Operations and Development.
One of the foundational pillars of the museum is ensuring that the space is accessible to all children within the community. As such, VICM participates in the “Museums for All” (MFA) Program, an initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The MFA program enables low-income families to visit VICM for a reduced admission fee of $2 per person with the presentation of a valid SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) or W.I.C. card. “We are grateful for community partners like VINGN who have supported this program, which ensures more of our funding can go towards our operations,” stated Hoheb.
A territory-wide initiative provided through VICM is the “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library” program, which provides a free, age-appropriate book monthly to children under the age of five who register for the program. Currently, over 880 children are registered in the territory.
“The VI Children’s Museum takes literacy seriously and we’re always on the lookout for community partners to help support these initiatives. We want to do our part by making sure children have access to resources like books and a safe place in which to enjoy them, like our super comfortable Book Nook, which is frequently used for Story Time. In addition to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and our Book Nook, we also have a Books for Peace Library located outside on our porch. The Books for Peace Library was created by Kashish Chainani from Antilles School, who applied for grant funding to build the library and source the books. The rolling library, built by My Brother’s Workshop, allows children and parents to take books they’re interested and leave books they enjoyed for others to read at no cost to the reader,” Hoheb said.
The main challenge in keeping the museum open and operational is funding. “The children’s museum is financially sustained through grants, corporate contributions, individual donations, museum memberships, admissions, event space rental, fundraisers and sales from the gift shop. We love the work we do, however, coming up with the funding to upkeep the facilities, pay staff and maintain our programs, while still having to fundraise with such a small team is even more challenging. We invite members of the community and businesses to consider donating money, time, or services so we can ensure the growth and longevity of the museum and the continued success of one of the few child-centered spaces on the island,” she said.
To learn more about the programs offered by The Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, hours of operation or to donate, visit https://www.vichildrensmuseum.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @vichildrensmuseum.
