Kidspace Children's Museum Wins National Award
Kidspace was awarded $7,500 for its achievements. A total of $20,000 was distributed to three museums
Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena received a Promising Practice Award for its outdoor learning environment and accompanying programs presented by the MetLife Foundation and Association of Children's Museums April 25 at ACM's annual conference in Denver, said a spokesperson in a news statement.
"The outdoor play opportunities that museums like Kidspace are offering strike a positive emotional chord with kids," said Sibyl Jacobson, President of MetLife Foundation. "Research indicates that children playing outdoors are more motivated to interact, to learn and to be active."
Kidspace Children's Museum includes 2.2 acres of interactive gardens and integrates features from the local region that are often missed by city residents, said Kidspace Museum spokesperson Timithie Gould.
The "Interpretive Arroyo," a miniature recreation of Pasadena's most famous geographical feature, invites children to play in its steam and learn how an infrequent rain can turn a dry creek bed into a rushing river, Gould said.
Opportunities for physical play are abundant as children ride tricycles on special tracks, traverse a 6-foot rock wall, negotiate a root wad climber or climb a giant spider web. The outdoor play opportunity at Kidspace Children's Museum serves as a vital community resource in metropolitan Los Angeles County, he said.
"Children are less physically active and as a result we see obesity, developmental and behavioral problems on the rise," said Kidspace executive director Tracy Bechtold.
"Kidspace believes in learning through play and strives to connect children to the natural world and promote fitness and healthy eating," Bechtold said.
Kidspace was awarded $7,500 for its achievements. A total of $20,000 was distributed to three museums, including the Long Island Children's Museum and The Children's Museum of Brownsville, Texas in honor of exhibits, programs and outreach that supports a love for the outdoors, active play and balanced nutrition for children and families.