named programs · 5 · from sources
what they call their work
Birthday Parties
Private party experiences for children, including all-day museum access and themed celebration rooms.
Field Trips
Guided learning experiences for groups of children, including activities and demonstrations tailored to various educational topics.
Generation Creation
Creative workshops that encourage children to explore their artistic abilities through various mediums.
Nature Niños Activity
Hands-on activities focused on nature and environmental education for children.
Wee Story Time
Interactive story sessions designed for young children to promote literacy and engagement.
activities · 7 groups
what they do
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Family & Children's Hands-On Learning Events 9 activities
- Conducting Summer CampsOffers full-day summer camps for children ages 5-8, focusing on hands-on exploration and free play, with free museum admission for campers and one adult during the camp week.
- Deliver school and group field trip programsThe museum offers field trip programs for groups of 10 or more children at $9 per child, with one free adult admission for every five children. It also provides specialized educational programs such as "COLOR-GORIES," "SENSE-SATIONAL SENSES," and "ELECTRICITY INVESTIGATORS – POWER UP!" for Pre-K through grade 5 students, aligned with curriculum standards.
- Host daily and recurring educational programs for children and familiesThe museum hosts daily and weekly programs such as Wee Storytime at 9:30 AM, Generation Creation at 1 PM, and Family Brain Boost on weekends with bilingual science activities. Monthly programs include "Harvesting Health" on the first weekend and special events like Desert Discovery Day, providing structured, hands-on learning aligned with exhibit themes.
- Hosting Educational Programs and EventsHosts a variety of educational programs and special events, including daily Wee Storytime, monthly "Harvesting Health" program, Family Brain Boost, Generation Creation, Desert Discovery Day, Nostalgia Night for adults, and interactive jazz programs for students. The museum also offers specific programs for Pre-K–K students on colors and senses, and for grades 1–4 on electricity.
- Hosting Special Events and ProgramsHosts a variety of daily, weekly, and monthly programs and special events, including Wee Storytime, Harvesting Health, Family Brain Boost, Generation Creation, Desert Discovery Day, and Nostalgia Night for adults, complementing its exhibits and engaging visitors in diverse activities.
- Operate seasonal and special event programmingThe museum hosts full-day summer camps for children ages 5–8 focused on hands-on exploration and free play, with free admission for campers and one adult during their session week. It also runs special events such as Nostalgia Night for adults 21+, Art after Dark, and Discovery Nights.
- Operating Summer CampsOffers full-day summer camps for children ages 5-8, focusing on hands-on exploration and free play, with free museum admission for campers and one adult during the camp week.
- Providing Educational Programs for GroupsOffers field trip programs for groups of 10 or more children, summer camps for ages 5-8, and specific educational programs like "COLOR-GORIES," "SENSE-SATIONAL SENSES," and "ELECTRICITY INVESTIGATORS – POWER UP!" for various age groups, often including free museum admission for participants.
- Providing Educational Programs for Schools and GroupsOffers field trip programs for groups of 10 or more children, as well as specific educational programs like "COLOR-GORIES" for Pre-K–K students, "SENSE-SATIONAL SENSES" for Pre-K–K, and "ELECTRICITY INVESTIGATORS – POWER UP!" for grades 1–4, and an interactive jazz program for grades 4–5.
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Museum Membership Benefits Program 5 activities
- Offer discounted and free admission programs for low-income, military, and community partner familiesThe museum provides half-price admission for up to four people to families with EBT/SNAP or WIC cards through the ALL Kids Play program, free admission for military children, free admission via Pima County Public Library Act One Culture Pass (two visits), and free or pay-what-you-wish access during special events like Discovery Nights and Art after Dark.
- Providing Accessible Admission ProgramsOffers various programs to make museum admission more accessible, including discounted admission for families with EBT or WIC cards, free admission on specific evenings (Discovery Nights) and at the Oro Valley location, pay-what-you-wish admission for Art after Dark, free admission for military families, and free admission for Pima County Public Library cardholders with an Act One Culture Pass.
- Providing Inclusive Museum Access ProgramsOffers various programs to make the museum accessible, including discounted admission for families with EBT/WIC cards, free admission for military families and library cardholders, and a scholarship program for memberships. It also provides accommodations like noise-cancelling headphones and wheelchairs.
- Providing Membership and Scholarship ProgramsProvides free museum admission for members and offers a scholarship program ("Gears & Stars Memberships") to assist families with membership costs. Additionally, it offers discounted Family Fun Memberships to employees of supporting companies and a special membership program for nonprofit organizations.
- Support community access through membership and scholarship programsThe museum offers Gears & Stars scholarships to help families afford memberships, discounted Family Fun Memberships for employees of partner companies, free admission for members, and a special nonprofit membership program allowing organizations to provide free museum access to their clients or employees.
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Children's Educational Birthday Parties 4 activities
- Host birthday parties and private eventsThe museum hosts birthday parties for up to 40 guests, offering all-day museum access, 90 minutes of private room use, options for popcorn/cotton candy/snow cone machines, and return visit passes for child guests. Private event spaces accommodate up to 300 guests and support external entertainment and catering.
- Hosting Birthday Parties and Private EventsHosts birthday parties and private events, providing all-day museum access, private room use, and optional amenities like special machines, designed to be enjoyable for children and low-stress for parents, accommodating up to 40 guests for parties and 300 for other events.
- Hosting Birthday Parties and Private EventsHosts birthday parties for children, offering all-day museum access, private room use, and optional amenities like special machines. The museum also provides space for other events, accommodating up to 300 guests.
- Providing Birthday Party and Event Hosting ServicesHosts birthday parties for children, offering all-day museum access, 90 minutes of private room use, and optional amenities like popcorn/cotton candy machines. The museum also provides space for other events, accommodating up to 300 guests and allowing external entertainment.
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Interactive Children's Museum Exhibits 3 activities
- Operate interactive museum exhibits focused on STEM, culture, and playThe museum operates 14 galleries of interactive exhibits including Bodyology, Imagine It!, Sense of Place, Investigation Station, Electri-City, Pet Vet, Whistle Stop, Gravity, Community Care, and Wee World, offering hands-on learning in science, health, engineering, Tucson landmarks, and imaginative role-play. These exhibits support play-based exploration of the human body, electricity, transportation, public safety, and the Sonoran Desert environment.
- Operating Interactive Children's Museum ExhibitsOperates a children's museum with 14 galleries of interactive exhibits, including Bodyology, Imagine It!, Sense of Place, Investigation Station, Electri-City, Pet Vet, Whistle Stop, Curiosity Courtyard, Gravity, Community Care, and Wee World, focusing on hands-on learning, STEM, culture, and the Sonoran Desert.
- Operating Interactive Children's Museum ExhibitsOperates indoor and outdoor exhibits with daily activities and programming focused on various themes including the Sonoran Desert, human body, STEM, community roles, and imaginative play. These exhibits include Bodyology, Imagine It!, Sense of Place, Investigation Station, Electri-City, Pet Vet, Rooted Heritage Garden, Curiosity Courtyard, Gravity, Whistle Stop, Community Care, and Wee World.
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Desert Botanical & Cultural Heritage Gardens 1 activity
- Maintain outdoor and garden installations for interactive learningThe museum maintains the Rooted Heritage Garden and Curiosity Courtyard, offering hands-on, interactive experiences focused on Sonoran Desert ecology, creativity, culture, and inclusion. The Courtyard includes musical instruments like drums and xylophones and space for reflection.
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Accessible Facility Services for Cultural Venues 1 activity
- Providing Mobility AssistanceMakes a non-motorized wheelchair available for free on a first-come, first-served basis for visitors.
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Uncategorized 7 activities
- Conducting Field Trip ProgramsOffers field trip programs for groups of 10 or more children at a rate of $9 per child, including one free adult admission for every five children.
- Offering Free and Discounted Evening/Weekend AdmissionOffers free admission on Thursday evenings from 5–7 pm for Discovery Nights at the Tucson location, free admission on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Oro Valley location, and pay-what-you-wish admission on the second Saturday of each month for Art after Dark.
- Offering Inclusive Sensory-Friendly ExperiencesOperates the MyTime program, a recurring initiative providing a quieter, sensory-controlled museum experience for children with special needs and their families, including half-price admission after 1:30 pm on weekdays. The museum also provides noise-cancelling headphones for visitors with sensory sensitivities.
- Offering Sensory-Friendly Museum ExperiencesOperates the MyTime program, providing a quieter, sensory-controlled museum experience for children with special needs and their families, including recurring sessions and half-price admission during specific weekday hours.
- Operating Free and Discounted Admission EveningsOffers free admission on Thursday evenings from 5–7 pm for Discovery Nights at the Tucson location, and pay-what-you-wish admission on the second Saturday of each month for Art after Dark, as well as free admission on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Oro Valley location.
- Provide inclusive access programs for underserved and neurodiverse familiesThe museum offers the MyTime program weekdays from 3–5 PM, providing a quieter, sensory-controlled environment with half-price admission for families needing supportive experiences, particularly those with children with special needs. Noise-cancelling headphones and a non-motorized wheelchair are also available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Providing Interactive Jazz ProgramsProvides an interactive jazz program for students in grades 4–5, led by young professional musicians from the Tucson Jazz Festival.
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financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$2.86M
Contributions & grants$1.96M68%
Program service revenue$767K27%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$135K
expenses
Total expenses$2.06M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$1.27M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.84M
Cash$1.30M
Investments$0
Liabilities$253K
Net assets$1.58M
Liquid reserves7.5 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue +94.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HILARY VAN ALSBURG | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 50 | $125K |
board members · 23
- ADAM FOARD — MEMBER AT LARGE
- ADIBA NELSON — MEMBER AT LARGE
- ADRIANA MARINEZ — MEMBER AT LARGE
- BRANDY DUJMIC — MEMBER AT LARGE
- CARLOTA LARSON — MEMBER AT LARGE
- CHRISTOPHER PASTORE — MEMBER AT LARGE
- CODY CASSIDY — MEMBER AT LARGE
- ENRIQUE ALDANA — MEMBER AT LARGE
- ERIC RENAUD — TREASURER
- GEMMA THOMAS — MEMBER AT LARGE
- GREG TAYLOR — OUTGOING CHAIR
- ISAAC FIGUEROA — MEMBER AT LARGE
- JO ANN GOLDEN — MEMBER AT LARGE
- JOSEPH HOWELL — MEMBER AT LARGE
- KRISTEN WENDLER — CHAIR
- MARC SERRA — MEMBER AT LARGE
- MICHAEL SHINER — MEMBER AT LARGE
- MIKE HERNANDEZ — MEMBER AT LARGE
- NICOLE MANEVAL — MEMBER AT LARGE
- STEFANIE TELLER — MEMBER AT LARGE
- STEVE PANGBURN — SECRETARY
- TED BURHANS — MEMBER AT LARGE
- TRAVIS CRADDOCK — MEMBER AT LARGE
relationships · 54
who they work with
- ASTC Network — Is a member of ASTC but does not participate in the ASTC Passport Program.
- AZ Humanities Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Angel Charity for Children Partner — Hosts camp programming at the Angel Charity for Children Education Center.
- Archwell Health Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Arizona Commission on the Art Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Arizona Community Foundation Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Arizona Complete Health Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Arizona Complete Health Partner — Sponsors the "Community Care" exhibit.
- Arts Foundation of Southern Arizona Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- BeachFleischman Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Caterpillar Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Citi Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- City of Tucson Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- City of Tucson Ward 6 Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Cox Communications Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Desert Valley Pediatric Dentistry Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Encompass Health Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- FRED & CHRISTINE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION Funder — Supported by the foundation.
- FRED & CHRISTINE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION Funder — Supports the ALL Kids Play admission discount program.
- First Things First Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- HSL Properties Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- KAI FAMILY FOUNDATION Partner — Sponsor of the daily Wee Storytime program.
- Kinder Morgan Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Marshall Foundation Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Oro Valley Children's Museum Partner — Satellite location of Children's Museum Tucson
- O’Rielly Motors Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- PHILIP J & CAROL J LYONS FOUNDATION Funder — Supports the ALL Kids Play admission discount program.
- PNC Bank Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
- Pima County Partner — Corporate partner whose employees receive discounted museum memberships.
+ 24 more