Washington, DC National Children’s Museum Launch Zone at National Harbor: A Preview of the Coming New Children’s Museum
Last week the kids and I were invited to the Launch Zone to learn about the new offerings and programs, and a good deal has changed since I reported on the free children’s learning site back when it opened. Although the upcoming National Children’s Museum (NCM) at National Harbor is scheduled to open in 2013, kids can get a taste of what the museum will offer NOW at this interactive, free play space.
Here is what the Launch Zone has to offer for your family:
Toddler Tuesdays – Free Drop-In Programs for Children Age 2-4 and Their Parents from 10:30am-2:30pm
Tuesdays at the Launch Zone are all about toddlers and preschoolers. Activities have a different theme each month and include games, art projects, stories and movement for kids and parents to experience together (it’s a drop-in program, not a drop-off). No reservations are necessary.
Upcoming themes: September – The Sun and Stars, October – The Wizard of Oz, November – The Human Body.
You can find Toddler Tuesdays on the A Parent in Silver Spring calendar.
Special Weekend Programming and Themes
On Saturdays and Sunday, the Launch Zone goes big with the learning projects for families who stop by. With a different theme each week based on a seasonal or interesting educational topic, kids age 3-8 are the stars of the Zone. Here are the upcoming weekend special celebrations in learning:
September 10 and 24, 11am-4pm at Launch Zone : Get Eggcited for Better Breakfast Month - Come learn how to make your own breakfast with the School Nutrition Association.
September 18, 12pm-6pm at Lane Manor Park in Adelphi: 30th Annual Hispanic Festival – The NCM is an exhibitor and invites families to take part in cultural dances, sample cuisine from various countries, enjoy live entertainment, an interactive children’s and teen area, carnival rides and games. Free admission.
October 8, 11am-4pm at Launch Zone: Dino-Mite Dinosaurs – Join a dinosaur dig, skeleton puzzles, claw printing and more.
You can find all of the Launch Zone’s weekend activities on the A Parent in Silver Spring calendar.
Developing Programming for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Families with a child with ASD are invited to help make the upcoming NCM as accessible as possible. Be part of the prototyping by assessing the social story for the museum and help create a successful visit for children with ASD.
Drop-In Play and Learning ANYTIME
Looking for a fun way to spend a day with your child? Head to National Harbor and visit the Launch Zone. In addition to the free rotating open play and arts and crafts options available during the week for children, you can ride the ferry/water taxi, play on The Awakening, hit Family Fest the last two Saturdays remaining on September 3 and 10, climb on the Calleva Pirate Ship Course (there’s a weight minimum, best for bigger kids), visit the Peeps store, eat, shop and explore all the National Harbor has to offer.
Hours and Location
Now until September 6th: Open Sunday 11am-5pm, Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-7pm
September 7 – October 31: Open Sunday 11am-5pm, Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
For years my two oldest children have awoken on Saturday mornings and immediately started begging my husband and I to take them to “the outside zoo” or “the inside zoo.” The outside one is, of course, the Smithsonian National Zoo where my family and I are FONZ members.
“The inside zoo” is my kids’ nickname for their beloved Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. This is also their favorite place in the world to attend with their school class for a field trip!
They call it thus because of the truly amazing taxidermy in the Hall of Mammals. They also go crazy for or the O. Orkin Insect Zoo which has 15 incredible habitats for over 65 live species of arachnids, centipedes, crustaceans, insects and millipedes. They can spend over an hour with the many preserved species, interactive displays, video presentations, hold-the-creepy-crawler opportunities and tarantula feeding demonstrations, rivaled only by how long they can play scientist in the Children’s Discovery Room.
I’ve had the honor of serving as a parent chaperone on one of Charlie’s class field trips to the Natural History Museum. How lucky are we that our DC-area kids have some of the best museums in the world for their class trips? But with budget cuts at many schools, field trips are becoming rarer experiences all the time.
That’s why I’m a fan of the Kleenex Save the Field Trip sweepstakes on Facebook. As back to school season nears, Kleenex is helping support more field trips for students. Register your school, because the 100 schools with the most votes on Facebook will win $5,000 each to use towards field trips!
All you have to do to register your child’s school for the chance to win is “like” the Kleenex Facebook page and click the pink “support your school” button on the Facebook page, then follow the instructions. After you register, promote the voting to your fellow parents, the school faculty and staff.
What a great way to pay for more school buses, Metro tickets, IMAX and Butterfly Pavilion passes!
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Open every day of the year except Christmas 10am-5:30pm Located at the intersection of 10th Street and Constitution Ave. NW on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Visitor information Free, except for Butterfly Pavilion Special Exhibit & IMAX Films
You can NEVER have too many school field trips!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Kleenex. I readily agreed to write it because I believe field trips are so fun and educational, and attending museums such as the Smithsonian Natural History with my kids? That’s so my bag, baby!
My family and I can’t wait to combine two of our loves: art learning and the Nats! And this event is totally free. It’s a summer Saturday home run!
A Q-and-A session with two Nationals players will begin at noon; between 12:15 p.m. and 1 p.m. children will be able to pose for pictures with the players.
Highlights of the event will include:
An opportunity to take pictures with players
Decorating picture frames for your family’s photo with the players
A station to make pennants and big fingers
Face painting
The Courtyard Café will offer traditional ballpark fare for purchase, including hot dogs, popcorn and ice cream
After the event concludes a special, docent-led tour titled, “Runs, Hits, Errors: The Boys of Summer at the National Portrait Gallery” will be offered. The tour will meet in the F Street Lobby at 3:15 p.m
Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery at Eighth and F streets N.W.The museums are located above the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, except Dec. 25. Admission is always free.
See you there!
Kogod courtyard pic courtesy Elvert Barnes on ipernity via a share alike license, Nationals pic courtesy the National Portrait Gallery.
Kites of Asia
Saturday, March 19
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Throughout the National Mall building
Admission: Free
Experience the beauty and artistry of kites from across Asia, with a special focus on India and Nepal.
Activities
Make your own kite.
Design a hachimaki headband.
Color Indian and Nepalese art.
Build an anemometer and learn how to measure force and direction of wind.
View a static display of Pan-Asian Kites.
Experience the grace of indoor kite flying.
Watch Nepalese and Indian dance and music performances, demonstrations, and workshops.
And don’t forget that the Air & Space Museum offers a free storytime for kids EVERY Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11am, and every Saturday at 1:30pm. The target age is 3-6 years and kids must have an adult companion. This recurring event is listed in the A Parent in Silver Spring calendar.
Celebrate Black History Month and introduce kids to Civil War history on their level.
Attention American Girl lovers and families searching for free, fun ways to make American history accessible to their children: This Saturday the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is hosting a free event featuring American Girl Addy Walker and introducing a new self-guided museum tour for families!
And if you attend on Saturday, the museum is giving away one Addy doll, and your child could win!
This Saturday February 5, to celebrate the kick-off of Black History Month, kids are invited to bring their own American Girl dolls to the National Museum of American History and answer Addy’s questions between 10AM and 2PM. The answers to the questions can be found along the brand new self-guided Addy’s World tour, which teaches the children about Civil War history on their age-appropriate level. Then at At 2:30PM, on e correct questionnaire-answering child will bring home his or her own Addy doll. The winner must be present in Flag Hall at 2:30PM.
Here’s a little video about the new self-guided tour that will now be available at the museum on Saturday and through August. The Addy’s World guide is recommended for families with elementary-aged children.
And if you check out the exhibit and tour and your child brings her American Girl doll along on the museum adventure, be sure to take a photo and upload it to the museum’s Flickr group.
Washington, DC National Children’s Museum Launch Zone at National Harbor: A Preview of the Coming New Children’s Museum
