Updated: 1/25/2012 
Hands On Children's Museum
Olympia, Washington
Description

Hands On is designed for parent-child interaction, so you can have fun too! Add to your child's Museum experience by talking with them about what they see and do as they visit the exhibits.

Mission

The Hands On Children's Museum stimulates curiosity, creativity and learning through fun, interactive exhibits and programs for children, families and school groups. At Hands On, we believe that all children deserve respect and the opportunity to learn and that families are important as children's first teachers and as their partners in learning. Our programs and participatory exhibits are designed specifically to encourage interaction and inquiry, as well as participation from the entire family. We believe that learning occurs in a variety of ways, and that experiential learning is essential for proper brain development. At Hands On, we know that communities are enriched when diverse groups work creatively together to educate our children. We actively partner with social service agencies, public schools, service clubs, public libraries, and other community organizations to bring interactive education to the community.

History

Since its founding in 1987, Hands On has evolved from a fledgling "museum without walls" to the premier provider of hands-on science and art education in Southwest Washington. In 1998, the Museum moved from the tiny storefront facility to its current location on the State's Capitol Campus. After just three years in this location, Hands On hosted more visitors per square foot than any other children?s Museum in the Northwest! In the past 10 years, the Museum has outgrown its space three times and recently won $9 million in Public Facility District funds to be used to construct a permanent facility on Olympia?s downtown waterfront.

Programs
FREE EDUCATION PROGRAMS

PlayWise: Early Learning Program for Children 2-5 years and their parents or caregivers, Every Friday, Regular Hours (Sep-May) Summer Hours (June -Aug), 10-11am & 11:30-12:30pm Fridays 11am-12pm
Free Friday Nights from 5:30-7:30pm: Our Early Learning Specialist leads you and your child through Activity Stations, Storytime and an Art Project to help you develop in your important role as your child's first teacher. Free with museum admission or membership.
FREE Friday Nights: FREE Museum admission 5 pm-9 pm on the first Friday night of every month! A different theme, featuring special guests and activities, each month!
Parent Education Classes: Hands On occasionally offers special classes for non-traditional parent groups, such as Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Foster Parents, and Families of Children with Autism.
Power Parenting Series: 1st Tuesday of every month, 6pm - 8 pm, Learn how to master those difficult parenting challenges. Meet and exchange ideas with other parents as your children enjoy FREE supervised play in the Museum! Pre-registration is required to ensure adequate staffing for childcare. To register, call Hands On at (360) 956-0818 or the Family Support Center at (360) 754-2629. *Parents bringing children need to arrive by 5:50pm to allow for transition time. For a list of current topics and speakers, call Hands On. Co-sponsored by the Family Support Center.
Reading Nooks & Parent Resource Center: Visit our Reading Nook & Parent Resource Center in the Museum's Early Learning Gallery. Provided in conjunction with South Sound Reading Foundation and Providence Maternal Health.
Special Guests & Events: Visiting Artists; Hands On invites professional guest artists from around the region to make special appearances, teach workshops, and display their art in our Museum galleries.
Museum Guests: Throughout the year, Hands On welcomes special community guests who share their time and talents with the Museum. Recently, we've hosted: The Budd Bay Buccaneers - Sea Shanties and Songs of the Sea; Wild Washington with the Tacoma Nature Center; Children's performer Johnny Keener; Glass mosaics with Central GlassWorks; Wild animals from Experience Nature Project; Harmonica Pocket; ...and more!
Special Event Outreach: Hands On participates in many community events, providing Museum staff to lead fun, educational activities for children of all ages.
Facilities
Performance Areas
Services
Hands On Parties

Hands On Parties are available 7 days a week! Choose from 5 exciting party packages to fit every budget including the all inclusive Blow-Out and Themed parties, after hour private museum parties, weekday Bargain parties and more!

DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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