Our friends at The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover have been busy filling up the August calendar with a wide variety of fun programs and events designed for families to come enjoy. These offerings at CMNH are always changing from month to month. Below are details about the August line up with some annual must do’s and while others are all new! Be sure to plan for your August visit ahead!
Free Admission into CMNH
Through August of 2023, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is offering free admission for Childcare Providers from NH Licensed centers/facilities. The free admission applies only to the childcare provider and one of the following proof of employment is required: valid ID with business card, pay stub, or center ID. The museum is able to offer this free admission because they are a recipient of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) INSPIRE! Grant for small museums. Learn more: https://childrens-museum.org/visit/accessibility.
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is once again participating in a Military Appreciation program called “Blue Star Museums” this summer which offers free admission for active or retired military members, their spouses, and their dependent children from Armed Forces Day (Saturday, May 20) through Sunday, September 3, 2023. This year’s free admission program is made possible by the museum’s generous sponsor, Service Credit Union. Visitors can learn more on CMNH’s website about this and other admission discounts: https://childrens-museum.org/visit/accessibility.
Included with Admission
No matter which day you visit the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, you can plan on enjoying not only the museum’s many hands-on interactive exhibits, but also activities, projects and crafts all included with admission. For example if you visit on a Wednesday, you might get to try a Wacky Art Wednesday art project to take home. If you visit on a Thursday, you might get to explore a Learning Garden activity. On Fridays, guests can join in a Science Friday experiment sponsored by the State of New Hampshire on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan. Every day the museum is open, museum educators will offer you and your children a chance to try something unique. https://childrens-museum.org/things-to-do/programs/early-learning.
CMNH’s 40th Anniversary Year
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire has welcomed literally millions of visitors over its 40 years! We’ve scheduled some fun anniversary events to help us celebrate (see below), and are doing an online nostalgic photo contest to help capture our stories: https://childrens-museum.org/things-to-do/40th-anniversary-in-2023. Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for sponsoring our 40th celebration events.
Summer at CMNH
Book a Summer Group Visit to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. Self-guided Group Visit dates are available through September 1 of 2023 and you can reserve your date and time online today! These trips are great for organizations offering summer camps! Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org.
Summer Museum Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Sundays 9am-Noon. The museum is closed on Mondays. Before visiting, the Museum is asking guests to reserve and pre-pay online to help stick to their capacity limit, which is currently at 50% of its actual capacity, or 250 individuals. Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org.
Volunteer at CMNH
Volunteers with all kinds of skills and backgrounds are welcome. To be considered for a volunteer role, see CMNH’s website for volunteer roles and descriptions, as well as the application form. The age requirement to volunteer is age 14 and up without an adult, and younger children may volunteer
with an adult for some roles. Learn more: https://childrens-museum.org/about/volunteer.
Members Get More
Messy Member Monday: PAINT!
Monday, August 14, 9-11am
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Members of all levels are invited to play in the outdoor Play Patio for an exclusive morning of messy fun! This special Member-only event will feature paint! Be prepared to get messy and maybe plan to visit the Dover Adventure Playground splashpad after! The inside Museum exhibits will not be open for play, but Members will have access to the restrooms. Space is limited. Online reservations are still required, but as always FREE for members. Reserve your spots online at www.childrens-museum.org.
August Member Reciprocity Between CMNH & Seacoast Science Center
This August, Children’s Museum of New Hampshire Members can visit the Seacoast Science Center for FREE! To visit Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH, online pre-reservations are required by visiting www.seacoastsciencecenter.org.
When reserving, choose “Admission Ticket”, then “Pass Holder Admission”, select your date and time, choose “SSC Guest Pass as type of discount, then type in the code CMNH23. Please present proof of your Children’s Museum of NH membership when you arrive at Seacoast Science Center. Kids under age 3 are free. Please also be aware that SSC visitors are responsible for the Odiorne Point State Park use fee: $4 adult, $2 ages 6-11, no charge for children under age 6. This free admission applies to the number of people within your CMNH Membership, so for example if you have a “You and Me” CMNH Membership, you can get the member adult and child into the Seacoast Science Center for free. If you have guest options on your CMNH Membership, you can use the number of guest options for free admission into SSC as well. Don’t forget that CMNH Members now have e-membership cards. Information on how to access your e-membership cards can be found here: https://childrens-museum.org/membership/families.
Summer “Learning Garden” Fun
Thursdays through September at 10:30am during Morning Play Session (9am-Noon) and 2:30pm during Afternoon Play Session (1-4pm)
Learning Garden activities will be on Thursday mornings and afternoons, and will include a guided activity around different themes. There will also be garden themed “tinkering” activities each week. Weekly themes could include learning about pollinators, planting seeds, making pots, seed balls or flower art, garden harvesting, and more.
The museum’s Learning Garden is located next to the Dover Adventure Public Playground in Henry Law Park, and is available for visitors to explore when the museum is open (depending on the weather).
Food from the garden will be used for museum programs, offered to garden visitors to take home, or donated to a pantry if the harvest allows.
This summer the Learning Garden will have a “three sisters” garden bed that includes beans, corn, and squash. A “three sisters” garden includes three main crops of various Indigenous peoples of North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans. When planted together, the “three sisters” work together to help one another thrive and survive. Garden activities are included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Learn more at www.childrens-museum.org. The Learning Garden is sponsored by Whole Foods.
August Garden Program Dates and Themes:
- Thursday, August 3, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Flowers
- Thursday, August 10, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Vegetables
- Thursday, August 17, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Insects
- Thursday, August 24, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Nature Prints
- Thursday, August 31, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Vegetables / Harvesting
Science Fridays
Fridays, August 11, 18, and 25 at 10:30am during Morning Play Session (9am-Noon). 2:30pm during Afternoon Play Session (1-4pm)
Join us for Science Fridays! New each week and included with regular Museum admission, Science Friday drop-in programs engage children in experiments and activities that focus on fun, and act as a jumping-off point for learning about science concepts. Sponsored by the State of NH on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan. Want to join in? Simply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon play session that correspond to the date of the Science Friday you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.
August Science Fridays Dates and Themes:
- Friday, August 11, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Fizzy Drips
- Friday, August 18, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Instant Snow
- Friday, August 25, 10:30am or 2:30pm: Shaving Cream Rain Clouds
Gallery 6 Art Exhibition
Ocean Awareness with Bow Seat on view through September 30, 2023
This exhibition features artwork from students ages 13-18 from around the world who submitted their work to “The Ocean Awareness Contest” hosted by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit whose mission is to educate and engage youth in environmental conservation and advocacy through the arts. Artwork themes include students exploring their connection to water, creatively communicating the need to protect this vital resource, and addressing the climate crisis and its impact on oceans. Gallery 6 is sponsored by Bank of America, The Fuller Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Abbie F. Moseley Charitable Trust, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Visit www.childrens-museum.org to learn more.
Teddy Bear Clinic & Picnic
Thursday, August 10, Clinic: 9-11am, Snack in the park: 11-11:30am
Kids and their favorite stuffed friends are invited to join us for our annual Teddy Bear Clinic, a fun event that helps educate kids about what happens at the doctor’s office. Each child’s stuffed animal is checked-in and given an ID bracelet, then children take their animals to meet with a volunteer doctor or nurse for a check-up. If needed, animals can be taken to the surgical table for stitches, band-aids and ribbons. Each animal receives a certificate of good health at the end of the process. Upon leaving the museum, children will be offered snacks-to-go that they can enjoy on the way home, or outside in the park. Online reservations are required. Please reserve for the morning play session from 9am-noon online at www.childrens-museum.org.
Thank you to our Teddy Bear Clinic Sponsor, Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Kick Off to Kindergarten
Sunday, August 13, 1-3pm
Join us for Kick Off to Kindergarten at The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. We’re thrilled to welcome any students who are entering Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year for an afternoon celebration of this exciting milestone! We will have a Kindergarten crown craft, a scavenger hunt, special guest costumed character Biscuit the Dog with book reading at 2pm (“Biscuit Goes to School”) with a meet and greet, library card sign-ups with Dover Public Library, and more! This event is FREE to attend for any students entering Kindergarten and their families. Be sure to pre-register on our website at www.childrens-museum.org.
Please note: This is an independent event hosted by the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire and is not affiliated with any school or school district. Kick Off to Kindergarten is sponsored by the State of New Hampshire on behalf of the UNIQUE College Investing Plan.
Summer Camps
The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover offers several 3-day, half-day summer camps throughout the summer, for the older kids (Discovery Camps). CMNH Members receive discounts on summer camps and registration is first come first served. Camps include playtime in the museum exhibits and outdoor play (weather permitting). Camps are limited to 12 children, and registration for each camp closes two weeks before start of camp. Learn more and register online at www.childrens-museum.org.
3D Print It Camp
Tuesday, August 15 – Thursday, August 17 from 8:30am-11:30am
Sign up today for this 3D printing summer camp at the Children’s Museum of NH in Dover, for ages 7-9+. Designed as an introductory course, campers will have an opportunity to learn how 3D objects are printed from the ground up using free and accessible software. Each camper will get to bring home a 3D printed object that they design themselves. Cost is $150 for Members and $165 for Non-members. Learn more and register at www.childrens-museum.org.
Coming Soon
Toddlerfest
Tuesday, September 19 – Saturday September 30
Museum Hours: Wednesdays – Saturdays, 9am-Noon or 1-4pm; Tuesdays & Sundays, 9am-Noon
Now that the big kids are back in school, it’s time to celebrate our youngest visitors! During Toddlerfest, visitors to CMNH can enjoy crafts in our art studio that will stretch those budding fine and gross motor skills. Children and their caregivers will bond over special projects and activities that embrace early development. Every year we assemble a dynamic line-up of special guests that will share their expertise – explore music, art, dance, literacy, science, and more! See the website for details about special events, including a 40th Birthday Party for the museum on Saturday, September 23, complete with cake and a bubble show with Sages Entertainment at 10 am! Toddlerfest programs are included with museum admission and as always free for museum members. Online registration and pre-payment required. Visit www.childrens-museum.org for tickets or to learn more.
Books Alive: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
September 29 & 30, 10-10:30 am or 2-2:30 pm
Member-Only Meet & Greet: Saturday, September 30, 8:30-9am
Eric Carle’s Very Hungry Caterpillar has an insatiable appetite! But this adorable caterpillar has inspired generations of kids to love reading, and the museum is excited to welcome him to our popular Books Alive program. Books Alive seeks to make reading a regular family experience.
Museum educators will be reading Carle’s bright and beautiful books, often emphasizing animals and the natural world, throughout the day. A friendly costumed Hungry Caterpillar will be available for hugs, high-fives, and photos from 10-10:30am during the morning play sessions (9am-Noon) and from 2-2:30 pm during the afternoon play sessions (1-4pm). There will also be a variety of Hungry Caterpillar-inspired literacy, math, and creative activities for all guests. Free with museum admission.
Books Alive is sponsored by Eastern Bank Community Foundation, Arthur Getz Charitable Trust, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Shaheen & Gordon, and Newburyport Bank. Want to meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar? SImply reserve spots in the museum’s morning or afternoon
play session that corresponds to the date of the Books Alive program you want to join – it’s included with museum admission, and as always, free for Members! Reserve online at www.childrens-museum.org.
For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org
About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
The 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, interactive exhibits for children from newborn to middle school. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art, natural history, and S.T.E.A.M.. Open year-round, the Silver LEED-certified museum specializes in creating memorable family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies, and educators. A central part of the museum’s mission is ensuring accessibility, and the “Reach All Initiative” works towards this goal by welcoming over 28% of yearly visitors for free or reduced admission. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org
Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
6 Washington Street, Dover NH 603-742-2002
