Why Support The Children’s Museum Group?

For nearly 100 years, The Children’s Museum Group has inspired curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning for children and families across Connecticut.

You may remember us from our longtime home on Trout Brook Drive, where Conny the Whale welcomed generations of visitors. Others may know us through Roaring Brook Nature Center, The Children’s Museum Preschool, or our Mobile Museum programs that bring science, wildlife, and STEAM learning directly into schools and communities.

In 2025, flooding forced the closure of our museum space on Mohegan Drive, leaving the organization without a permanent museum home for the time being. But our mission did not stop.

Today, The Children’s Museum Group continues to evolve while staying true to the same mission we have carried since 1927: inspiring curiosity through hands-on learning 

From January through April 2026 alone, our educators delivered:

• 418 programs

• Reached 11,485 people

• Visited 118 locations

• Served 54 cities and towns

• Offered 72 unique program types

Every week, our educators bring hands-on science experiments, engineering activities, wildlife encounters, portable planetarium experiences, and creative learning opportunities directly to children and families across Connecticut.

Your donation helps support:

• Hands-on Mobile Museum programs in schools, libraries, camps, and community centers

• Wildlife care and environmental education at Roaring Brook Nature Center

• Play-based STEAM learning at The Children’s Museum Preschool

• Care for our live animal ambassadors

• Access to educational experiences for communities across Connecticut

Much of this outreach has been made possible through federal funding, including the ASEND Grant, which has provided approximately $100,000 annually, and the CSA Grant, which contributed $1.6 million over four years. This funding has allowed us to reach children and families who need these programs most and expand access to hands-on learning opportunities throughout our community. Both grants are scheduled to end this fall.

As grant opportunities become increasingly limited, community support is more important than ever. Your donation helps ensure we can continue bringing high-quality STEAM, wildlife, and hands-on learning experiences directly to children and families throughout Connecticut.

Community support now plays a critical role in helping us continue and expand these programs. 

We are also excited to participate in the 2026 Birdies for Charity program, which runs through June 2026. Every donation receives a 15% bonus thanks to the generosity of Webster Bank and Aetna, helping your gift make an even greater impact

The Children’s Museum Group has changed many times over the past 99 years, but our mission remains the same: creating moments of curiosity, discovery, and connection that inspire children to explore the world around them.

With your support, we can continue that mission for generations to come.