Wonderworks receives $110K in Grants for New Flooring, Renovations and Expanded Programming
Wonderworks patrons seem to be very happy with the new additions to the space which were made possible through grant fudning.. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, OR - Wonderworks Children’s Museum is up and running again and the agencies future is looking brighter than ever thanks to multiple grant awards totaling $110,000.
Wonderworks briefly closed from December 24th to January 15th in order to check the first item of business off their to-do list by putting a $10,000 grant from the Juan Young Trust, to work. The grant helped to by pay Garry Denney Floor Covering to install new sensory friendly flooring and ensure that kids and parents alike can now enjoy a much softer array of sounds when they enter the museum.
Prior to the installation of the carpet the bare concrete floor had created an echo effect in the room that when coupled with the excited voices of children could be quite overwhelming for children (and parents) with sensory issues.
In addition to being sensory friendly the new floor also makes it a much softer place for tiny tots to roll around. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
The installation of new flooring also gave staff and opportunity to reorganize the space in order to make it more welcoming to children with sensory issues.
“Part of the goal of the transformation is making sure kids walk in and saw the things that they are familiar with and that are anchors for them. That way Wonderworks didn’t totally change because that can dysregulate some kids,” said Karly Aparicio, Wonderworks Board Member and outgoing Board Chair. “But then to also create some new ways for them to interact with the space like the cafe, the lounge, and more hands-on stuff.”
“Come pose of a photo!”
“No!”
“Please?”
“No! I wannt to slide.”
This patron of Wonderworks certainly has their priorities in order. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
The larger portion of funds, which are in the process of being put to use came from the JTMF Foundation & The Ford Family Foundation in the amounts of $50,000 each. These grants will allow Wonderworks to finish the unfinished storage space in the back of their building in order to create a community classroom.
“Our hope is to provide programming to support children’s development (music, art, yoga, etc.) and parenting support (breastfeeding support, New Parenting Classes, etc),” said Aparicio.
The current musical instruments available at Wonderworks are a piano and a marimba. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
The Museum focuses on providing a space for open ended play and is a beloved landmark of the community that provides a hub of enjoyable and affordable activities for kids of all ages. In fact many of its board members were formerly Wonderworks kids.
“Wonderworks was founded in the 1970’s by a group of moms that were looking for ways for their kiddos to have engaging play and so they started a co-op model,” said Aparicio. “If you talked to anyone who had memories of Wonderworks at that time, they had it all over town. They had it in a basement here, a church here, a closet there. And so the board bought this building from the Port in late 2008-early 2009 and that’s when Wonderworks became a centralized space.”
“The guiding tenets of the organization have always been centered on imaginative, open-ended play with no technology,” said Aparicio. “We want kids to be able to come in and just be kids.”
Soooooo cuuuuuuute. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
The organization is run by two staff members and a dozen or more volunteers who have kept the organization running for over 40 years. They could however always use a few more helping hands.
To sign up to be a volunteer visit wonderworksgorge.org.
Wonderworks needs volunteers to operate, but also for some behind the scenes stuff such as handyman and maintenance work. Their board is also seeking a new Treasurer.
To make a monetary donation click here.
Specific items that Wonderworks needs donated include: a chalkboard, old coffee tins and props for the children’s cafe, pretend cafe supplies, musical instruments, storage cubbies for toys and activities, a raceway rug/play mat, and STEM related materials for learning activities.
Annual museum memberships cost between $120 per family or $200 per care provider.
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