Imagination Station
Hands-on Learning Comes to Life at Chico Children’s Museum…
he doors to imagination are wide open at the Chico Children’s Museum, where children can engage in a wide variety of play, from a tent in the camping room to a fantasy launch into the cosmos in Starkid Command. The interactive museum prides itself on being a safe, nurturing space for children and families to let their imaginations soar and connect with each other in any weather.
“The whole point of imagination is to engage a whole other world in your child’s mind,” says Jessica Melear, creative director at the museum. “And it’s fun! On rainy days, we’re an indoor park. When it’s 113 degrees, we have air-conditioning.”
The Chico Children’s Museum, opened in 2019, includes nearly 9,000 square feet of play area with a “please touch” philosophy that encourages children to explore a wide variety of exhibits that include a dentist’s office, veterinary clinic, agricultural area, nautical ship, glow wall and much more. “If you want to be a farmer, you can go plant carrots and potatoes,” says Melear.
While each exhibit has its proponents, she says the supermarket is by far the most popular with its young patrons. They love to grab a child-sized shopping cart or handbasket and fill it with an ever-rotating stock of plastic fruits and veggies, stopping by the flower bin for bouquets. “We’re always trying to change things there to keep it fresh,” she adds, noting that artichokes may be available one day but replaced by tomatoes during the next visit. “We constantly move things around.”
The museum was developed for children 0-12 years, but they won’t turn away a teenager accompanying a younger sibling with a parent. Melear says she’s seen reluctant teens almost embarrassed to be seen in the museum eventually connect to the play at hand. “Within 10 or 20 minutes, that teenager is in an apron serving their mom an ice-cream sundae,” she says with a laugh.
On the other end of the spectrum are the littles that find their own enjoyment. “I love it when moms bring their babies in walkers and they are just cruising through the museum,” she adds.
A key concept of the museum is the connection that can happen with adults and children when they put down electronic devices and engage together. “We aren’t a daycare,” says Melear. “We provide a great facility for you to come in and engage with your child. We are a safe, clean, fun, nourishing environment.” All adults must be accompanied by a child, with a maximum of three children to one adult.
A hallmark of the museum is its extensive Art in the Park area that has a selection of seasonal art activities rotating on a monthly basis. Staff member Esperanza Tuel often creates her own designs for the projects rather than relying on digital cutouts from the internet. “A child can leave with a completed art project at every visit,” says Melear. The museum also holds monthly scavenger hunts for children at four levels of difficulty.
“This is like a second home for some families,” says Melear, who says she always wants the place to have fresh new elements for them to explore on each visit.
While walk-in play is a standard, the museum has also become a popular place for children’s birthday parties, with options during regular hours or after the museum has closed to the public. In both scenarios, a special birthday room with kitchen is available to the celebrated child and friends. After hours, a larger number of guests have exclusive run of the whole museum.
The museum also hosts field trips throughout the school year, and is a popular destination for schools from across the North State. A dedicated Snack Alley allows visitors to bring in their own snacks. Guests can leave and return when they purchase a day pass.
In its commitment to being available to all, the museum has a dedicated sensory room with low lights and bean bags, and other calming elements to support visitors when they are feeling overstimulated. Other areas support stimulation and a wide range of movement for those with extra energy.
While the museum’s bright yellow and white façade on Main Street in downtown Chico are hard to miss, Melear doesn’t believe enough people know about the Chico Children’s Museum and the magic of what’s inside. “People exclaim that it’s like Disneyland when they enter,” she says. As the weather heats up and children who are out of school begin to claim boredom, it’s good to know there’s an air-conditioned area where an imagination can fly free. •
Chico Children’s Museum
www.chicochildrensmuseum.org
325 Main St., Chico
(530) 809-1492
