WOW! Celebrates 10 years of Play For All!
Did you know that many of your favorite programs and exhibits here at WOW! are made possible by Play For All?
We have some incredibly exciting news to share with our WOW! family! This spring, WOW! Children’s Museum was honored on a national stage, receiving the 2026 Outstanding Practice in Children’s Museums award from the Association of Children's Museums (ACM). Out of museums across the entire country, WOW! was one of just three institutions recognized for going above and beyond in our service to the community. Our team traveled to San Diego to accept the award, and honestly, we are still beaming with pride!
Celebrating 10 Years of Play for All
While this national recognition is a huge honor, the real magic is what it represents right here at home. The award was given specifically to celebrate our Play for All initiative. Now in its 10th year, converging beautifully with WOW!’s 30th birthday, Play for All is the heartbeat of everything we do. It’s our promise that every single child in our community deserves a safe, inspiring place to play, grow, and learn, regardless of financial, cultural, or accessibility barriers.
If you’ve spent time at the museum, you have likely experienced the impact of Play for All without even knowing it. It is the foundation that allows us to host and subsidize so many of our community's favorite experiences, including:
Sensory-Friendly Playtimes: Monthly low-sensory mornings offered for just $1 so neurodiverse families can explore the museum comfortably.
Littlest Learners: Our popular Wednesday morning program, offered at no additional charge to families.
Welcoming Celebrations: Vibrant, inclusive community events throughout the year, from Family Pride Night and Juneteenth to Día del Niño and Girls in Science.
Museum Access: Deeply discounted $10 annual family memberships (compared to our standard $169 rate) for local families receiving public assistance, ensuring long-term, sustained access to play.
School Outreach: Subsidized field trips that bring the joy of the museum to Title 1 and Head Start classrooms.
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community
"Play for All is our commitment made visible," says Joanna Cagan, WOW!’s Executive Director. "Every piece of it exists because we believe play is the right of every child, and that WOW! should reflect the full community we serve. It informs our daily operations and our strategic planning, and we are a better museum because of it."
An award like this doesn't belong to the museum staff alone—it belongs to you. Play for All is entirely donor-supported. It is made real by the generosity of our members, partners, and donors who believe in the power of play.
Thank you for being part of our story, for playing alongside us, and for helping us make WOW! a place where everyone belongs.
