Nonprofit organization celebrates 50,000 served and the launch of ‘Dream the Museum’ Campaign

Columbia Play Project, a nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, has rounded out its fourth year with exciting milestones and a bright future. The organization was founded with the mission to create exploratory play spaces and shared play experiences for the young and young-at-heart that inspires them to discover their passions. To date, Columbia Play Project has served over 50,000 Clark County based residents through their mobile children’s museum with events spanning from their signature Play Days to collaborations with other local organizations.

With success in the launch of their play kits, growing demand for the Mobile Children’s Museum, and increased interactions at pop-up children’s museum events, Columbia Play Project recently announced their latest endeavor to bring more play to Clark County – a brick and mortar location. 

‘Columbia Play Project’s Board of Directors has long envisioned a full-scale, brick-and-mortar children’s museum designed to captivate and engage both children and their caregivers in meaningful exploratory play”, said Executive Director Jeanne Bennett.  “Our vision for a dynamic playspace dedicated to STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math) play-based education is set to serve not only Clark County, but also the broader metropolitan area. With no current children’s museum along a 175-mile corridor, stretching from Olympia, WA to Salem, OR, the need for experiential learning is tremendous and our community is ripe to fill that need.’’

Columbia Play Project is working to ensure their museum is inclusive and accessible to all, and is currently seeking input via an open survey that has already garnered over 300 responses. The museum efforts also include personal interviews with key community organizations such as the Northwest Association of Blind Athletes, Harper’s Playground, and local school districts.

If you would like to participate in dreaming the museum, you can fill out Columbia Play Project’s open survey at www.columbiaplayproject.org/dream.