Dear Friends,

We are pleased to report that in fiscal year 2022 joyful discovery returned to the Museum!

During the year, over 250,000 children and adults visited the Museum seeking playful learning and discovery experiences that were so limited during the Covid health crisis. The return of visitors highlights the enduring appeal of the Museum as a joyful, safe, and welcoming destination and is a tribute to our dedicated staff and generous supporters, who sustained the Museum during a time of extraordinary challenges. 

Much was accomplished during the year. We opened two new exhibits, Dinos in Space, and the Fenway Farms Rooftop Garden. Our Explore It Summer Camp expanded from four to six weeks and welcomed 144 campers, almost double the prior year. Our work in school readiness and early childhood development continued and included a partnership with Horizons for Homeless Children to create a pilot program, Powerful Playtimes, which supports parents and children contending with homelessness. The Museum again hosted the fun and inspiring Boston Public School’s Countdown to Kindergarten Citywide Celebration event for over 400 children entering kindergarten. Our beloved Morningstar Access program for children with disabilities and special or other medical needs, which was paused during the pandemic, resumed welcoming over 900 participants in 15 sessions. Thousands of visitors enjoyed special events at the Museum, including our annual Spooktacular, an Imagination Carnival, and Snowmazing winter themed activities.

Our Waterfront Initiative to address the Museum’s vulnerability to sea level rise took another step forward as we secured one million dollars in seed funding for project capacity building and next step feasibility planning.

Finally, the Museum leadership team and board completed many months of work and finalized the Museum’s 5-year Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2022-2026. The plan responds to changing market circumstances and opportunities, and evolves the Museum’s operating model to engage children and families in playful learning experiences wherever they are, including in the Museum, in school, in the community, and at home. 

We continue to be grateful and amazed by the Museum’s staff, supporters, and families who continue to make the Museum experiment possible. The Museum continues to be at the forefront of hands-on play and playful learning, making joyful discovery experiences possible for all children and families.

Carole Charnow              David Healy

President & CEO             Board Chair