Annapolis’ Hidden Gem for Young Explorers
Nestled in an unassuming neighborhood at the head of Spa Creek in Annapolis is one of our favorite go-to places to get the kids out of the house: The Chesapeake Children’s Museum (CCM). It’s brightly colored and quirky, and the kids always have fun. The best way I can describe CCM is that it’s like going to a relative’s house where they kept all the favorite toys their kids liked playing with. They even have live animals there.
Each room has a different theme, and they are all aligned with the mission of “creating an environment of discovery about oneself, the peoples, the technologies, and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay area for all our children and for the child in us all.” My kids always love the kitchen and grocery store areas and the boat they have there. Debbie Wood, the visionary behind the CCM, wanted to create a hands-on museum for children in the Annapolis area and incorporated it 30 years ago this year. It took eight years of bouncing around different vacant storefronts before they found a permanent place to call home. The Wyre Building, where it is now located, was owned by the City of Annapolis and a creative lease agreement was struck where the CCM is responsible for all improvements and maintenance which has created a great environment for volunteer work.
CCM is great in the rain or the sun! The outdoor section has been vastly improved upon in recent years, and according to Debbie, “We continue to make the park an inviting and engaging place for children and families to explore nature together. Recent additions outside include: a four-person glider, a second nature trail, the Truck Pit which is a huge sandbox filled with pea gravel and toy trucks, the Music Playground, nature looms, a log boat with signage about the history of Black Watermen, a window exhibit about the history of local radio during the era of Black Pride and Protest, a pair of Whisper Dishes, and an outdoor amphitheater made of boulders.”
Girl Scouts can register for scheduled workshops to work on badge and journey requirements. Troops and other groups (10 or more) can arrange times to come to the museum.
CCM is a volunteer-based organization, so help from community members is always welcome! Did you know you can bring your kiddo to play while you help out as a volunteer? Some current volunteer needs are: trail maintenance, garden care, animal care – water changes, toy cleaning, and laundering of costumes. They are also looking for a volunteer bookkeeper who is familiar with Quickbooks. How can you help out? The CCM offers lots of events all year long. Here are some upcoming dates to jot down in your calendar:
Every Monday: Art and Story Time with Mrs. Spears and Puppy the Puppet
Every Wednesday: Crafternoons
Every Thursday: Guided nature walk for all ages
Be sure to visit (or re-visit) Chesapeake Children’s Museum this summer and have fun with your kids while discovering more about our surrounding area!
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