Childrens Museum of the Sierra

The Children's Museum of the Sierra Oakhurst, California

    The Children's Museum of the Sierras is dedicated to the empowerment of the child. The museum accomplishes this by allowing children to build self-confidence and explore careers in a playtime environment. Interactive exhibits include Medical and Emergency Services, Banking, Theater, Natural Sciences, and even Restaurant Work. Children are allowed to explore these settings for themselves and let their imaginations take over.

    The focus is on ages 2 through 12. Many visitors to the museum are from a rural background, and teachers report that the experience improves both socialization and English language skills. Children with special needs are also welcome, and the staff is knowledgeable in this area.

    Local community members are a source of exhibit ideas, construction, and maintenance. Entrance fees are kept low so that access to the museum is available to those that need it the most. This enables the Children's Museum of the Sierras to accomplish their goal: "using the imagination to explore the adult world of work, science, and art by self-set goals."

The Children's Museum is a great place to play with real instruments and develop life-long interests.

The Theater Arts exhibit includes costumes, musical instruments, and a real stage.

Children experience possible future employment in firefighting and emergency services through play.

Students learn about nature through a mixture of technology and hands-on materials.

The Good Cents banking exhibit includes a lesson in accounting basics.