Des Moines Children’s Museum

Union Pacific Railroad Museum

Lots of hands-on, please-DO-touch exhibits mean parents can breathe easy as their kids explore the history of the Union Pacific Railroad in Council Bluffs. In the Building America exhibit, kids can detonate dynamite, try their hand at driving a spike or explore interactive timelines. The Lincoln Collection includes furniture from President Abraham Lincolns rail car, photographs, medallions and more.Open Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission.

Des Moines Childrens Museum Debuts With Launch Party

Two moms are on a quest to open the first childrens museum in the Des Moines metro, and it all starts with a launch party on Friday.

Lamenting the fact that a city the size of Des Moines does not have its own childrens museum, Julie Burtnette and Laura Johnson started researching how to start a museum, and after receiving non-profit status in April, they launched a website and Facebook page.

Our Facebook page reaching 1,000 followers barely 24 hours after we made it public was a fantastic surprise. That’s when we realized that there is serious demand for a children’s museum in Des Moines, said Johnson.

On Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Union Park , the Des Moines Childrens Museum will debut its summer traveling exhibit Lets Play Outside! The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the museum, which has already booked more than 20 summer events.

We hope to raise enough money at our launch party to purchase a trailer to haul our exhibit this summer, since its outgrown our minivans, said Johnson. Were also starting to think about next fall and winter. Wed like to create another traveling exhibit to bring to places like libraries, preschools and indoor family events during the colder months.

A childrens museum is all about learning through play, said Johnson, and we want to create a wonderful place for young children and their families to learn, grow and most importantly, play!

Felix Adler Children’s Discovery Center

Started as a tribute to the world famous clown and Clinton native, the Felix Adler Childrens Discovery Center in Clinton houses more than 20 permanent exhibits spread over 17,000-square-feet. Kids can play with more than 10,000 KAPLA blocks, climb aboard the Brio Train Engine, make a bubble as tall as they are, play three holes of miniature golf and more.Open Wednesday-Sunday. Admission fee applies.

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Heritage Recreation And Culture Services

Ies During Open Hours $150

Parties scheduled during open hours include admission for 15 children ages 1-10, and a two hour reservation in a private party room. Up to 10 additional children can attend for the regular admission price of $6 per child.

Party hosts may arrive up to 15 minutes before their scheduled start time to set up, and stay up to 15 minutes past their end time to pack up. Party guest admission is good for the entire day, only the party room reservation is limited to 2 hours.

Party groups must have a minimum of 1 adult for each 6 children attending the party.

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Membership Is A Great Way To Support Des Moines Childrens Museum

Membership is:

• $125.00 for your entire family
• Free admission to Des Moines Childrens Museum for 1 year
• Part of ACM Reciprocal Network which means members get 50% off for 6 guests at participating ACM museums. Please use the link to see the most updated information. ACM Reciprocal Network
• Warm fuzzy feeling for supporting Des Moine Childrens Museums mission, vision, and values
• Please go to the make a purchase page to purchase a membership for your family or as a gift.

Des Moines Childrens Museum is proud to be partnering with many local libraries as part of their Adventure Pass. Check out if your library offers Des Moines Childrens Museum visits. If not, feel free to let them know youd like them to include Des Moines Childrens Museum. Our email is dsmchildren@gmail.com

Science Center Of Iowa

The 110,000-square-foot Science Center of Iowa in downtown Des Moines provides plenty of space for kids to explore exhibits related to science. Kids can build and launch paper rockets, try and build a freestanding arch, attempt to securely package an egg to survive a drop, learn more about the stars in the 50-foot domed Planetarium or catch a movie on the IMAX screen.Open daily except for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission fee applies. Planetarium shows included with admission. IMAX films require additional ticket purchase.

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National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Kids can explore 12 different aquariums full of animals found in the Mississippi River at this nationally-recognized museum. Experience permanent exhibits and dynamic temporary exhibits. Learn how to pilot a barge, watch a film in the 4D theatre, and explore how water works in the water table play area. After you’ve learned about the river, step outside and see it up close by strolling the Dubuque river walk.Open daily . Admission fee applies.

Reservations Available Monday Mornings

To allow higher risk individuals to visit the museum safely, we have a lower capacity limit on Mask Up Mondays. Reservations are not required, but we do sometimes reach capacity in the morning on cold Mondays. Reservations are available for the first hour we are open. Visit the website for additional info.

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Childhood Backyard Included Mystical Places Like The Garden Of Eden

When I was young I played these intricate imagination games like most children do. I wasnt into Barbies or dolls. I didnt like playing school. And the idea of family in the classical sense where I had children and a husband and I had to drop kids off at school wasnt my cup of tea.

Instead my entire backyard was mapped out with mystical places. There was this giant rock that I called skull rock, a triangle of a garden that had a small bird bath that I called the garden of Eden. There was a row of trees that were taller than me all lined up straight that were the border between the real world and Faerie. The little space made under the deck stairs was where the gypsies lived. I was always a gypsy. Sometimes I was a gypsy witch who was powerful, but most of the time I was a gypsy trying to survive with my fake fire and reading peoples palms.

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I had a handful of friends that I convinced to pretend to be witches, gypsies, unicorns, and any different folk from Faerie. We gathered treasure. Our treasures were rocks, sticks, berries, nuts, leaves. We made little homes for ourselves and created our concoctions. I could play this game by myself and was probably the last to grow out of it.

And then I had to see them the next day at the bus stop, in class, at lunch. Pretty much everywhere in the real world.

Our Familys Adventures By State

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Trafficking And Child Welfare

While trafficking is not new, it is an emerging area of concern for social services, including child welfare.

Young people in the child welfare system are especially vulnerable due to factors which include but are not limited to experiences of childhood maltreatment and trauma lack of family support insufficient parental oversight/supervision multiple placements separation from friends, family, and community emotional vulnerability and intersectional identities.

Celebrate Governors Days In Grimes

Kick off summer with a grand family-friendly city celebration, Governors Days, held within the Governors District in Grimes.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, with craft and food vendors opening their booths. At 6:30 p.m., dont miss the Governors District Kiddie Parade on Main Street, featuring the Isiserettes. Children are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costumes and participate. Sams Amusement Carnival Wristband Night gives you unlimited rides until 10 p.m. for just $20. Sams Amusement will also be back Friday night from 6-10 p.m. with regular price rides.

Kick off the full day Saturday with a pancake breakfast from 6:30-10 a.m. At 7 a.m., walk off those calories with a 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run. Stake your spot for the Grande Parade at 10 a.m., with this years theme Full Speed Ahead. Get unlimited rides for $20 at the carnival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Play BINGO, watch a dance performance, catch the Hawkeye Pedal Tractor Pull and more. See a full schedule of events at governorsdays.com.

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Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center highlights the Corps of Discoverys time in the present-day Sioux City area from late July to early September 1804. Sergeant Floyds death, the only fatality on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, is the center of the story. Interactive exhibits bring history to life. The adjacent Betty Strong Encounter Center features free photo and art exhibitions that explore themes of land, rivers and people of the region.

Open Tuesday-Sunday. Free admission.

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Incidence And Intersection With Child Welfare

As previously discussed, the incidence of trafficking is widely believed to be under-reported. There is also a lack of Canadian and child welfarespecific data. A recent study resulting from a partnership between the York Regional Police and York Region Children’s Aid Society begins to address this gap. This study used police and child welfare case files to identify the intersection between sex trafficking and child welfare involvement.

Based on the data reviewed, approximately 23% of the 223 victims/survivors were child welfare involved youth, 46% were nonchild welfare involved youth, and 31% had unknown child welfare status. Nearly 60% of the child welfare involved youth reported growing up in foster care or in group homes.

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Des Moines Childrens Museum

Private parties are scheduled outside regular museum hours and include a 2-hour reservation of our exhibit space and one party room. The museum will not be open to the public during the reservation, and the party room and museum exhibits are sanitized between groups.

Party hosts may arrive up to 30 minutes before your start time to set up and stay up to 30 minutes past your end time to pack up. You will not be able to enter the museum more than 30 minutes before your start time and must have fully exited the museum by 30 minutes after the end of your reservation to allow us enough time to sanitize between parties.

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Popular Restaurants In West Des Moines

Des Moines Childrens Museum Museum Volunteer

You will help us keep the museum tidy and assist in our thorough cleaning procedures to keep everyone safe and healthy. You will also get opportunities to interact and play with children and their families. As a nonprofit, we are striving to provide an affordable place for families to go and keep our costs down with your help. Volunteers are required to wear masks and are encouraged to volunteer with friends. The Des Moines Childrens Museum is located at Valley West Mall.

Dates: Ongoing

Location: DSM Childrens Museum in Valley West Mall1551 Valley West Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50226

How to sign up: Sign up using our sign-up form, email , .

Additional information: Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

Contact:

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Bring Learning To Life

Centrally located in Downtown Des Moines, SCI features hands-on exhibits, special-format theaters and unique programming to encourage learning and fun for all ages. Through daily visitors, a statewide educational outreach programs and the NAEYC-accredited SCI Preschool, the Science Center of Iowa serves more than 300,000 people annually.

Seed Is Planted For Idea To Create A Children’s Museum

I did somehow make it into a functioning adult with a career, family, friends and no fiery temper yelling at people to use their imagination. I was very busy being an adult working, doing laundry, cooking.

Then I started having my midlife crisis. I was 35 I think having a parent die before they are 50 installs a bit of a time clock that might not be my time clock, but its still there in the back of my mind.

My life was going pretty well. I had three funny children, a job I liked enough, a great husband that still made me laugh. Except for the life changing facts that I was pregnant again and that I was about to move to Des Moines. I had no idea what I was going to do since being a parent to four kids with no close family or friends, a husband that worked long hours while I taught junior high English didnt sound feasible at all. I also was in the middle of taking classes for a library endorsement.

The list of to-dos was endless.

I did a great job pretending in front of my kids that it was an exciting adventure.

It wasnt. I had no idea what I was going to do.

When I complained to my husband how there wasnt a childrens museum here he said, Well maybe you could start one. That would be a nice project for you.

A nice project?!

A nice project is cleaning out a closet, upcycling a dresser, alphabetizing my spice cabinet. Starting a childrens museum isnt a project.

The seed was planted.

I was desperate for a friend.

I’M KIDDING. I was desperate for a real friend.

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