About the Nonprofit
Visit Our Website
The San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum (SLOCM) brings together children, families and communities for quality interaction; celebrates play and creativity; collaborates with schools and social service organizations; and builds a creative community that enriches the quality of people's lives, especially children. Its mission is to inspire learning through play.
The facility boasts three floors of interactive exhibits and captivating spaces designed to inspire investigation and imaginative play. Exhibits are augmented with rich complementary programs and activities in the sciences, arts and humanities, with many directly related to the Central Coast: a gum wall, trolley, and photographic collages of our downtown and surrounding hills.
SLOCM serves children ages two to ten and their families. In 2019, more than 60,000 guests visited the Museum, and the Museum’s 620th household membership was sold. Eighty percent of Museum guests are SLO County residents. SLOCM is the field trip of choice for dozens of local classrooms.
According to the Association of Children’s Museums, children who visit museums are better prepared for school – and life. The greater the number of children reached to share the magic of learning, the better off we all are. To that end, the Museum works in partnership with local schools and preschools to provide learning experiences not commonly found in today’s curricula. In addition, the Museum reaches deep into the community by providing free admission to clients of organizations like Friends of Prado, CASA, the SLO County Library and Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as free nights and discounted admission for our underserved neighbors. Hundreds of free admission passes are donated annually in support of fundraising efforts by schools, service organizations and other non-profits.
At the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum's core is a "learn by doing" philosophy, much like Cal Poly's. The Children's Museum experience is designed to be tactile, investigative and imaginative.
SLOCM is led by a volunteer board of eleven, an executive director, and eight part-time staff members. They work closely together to offer a world-class informal learning institution for the children and families of the Central Coast, and to make it possible for all county children to experience its unique programs and exhibits.
