CMEE Launches $2 Million Campaign for Future Expansion
Bridgehampton’s Children’s Museum of the East End (CMEE) officially launched a new Capital Campaign on Saturday during “Rocket Day,” a free community event held at the museum where families make and launch their own rockets. The campaign has already raised half of its goal, with help from the Board of Trustees and leading donors, and aims to surpass $2 million in 2014.
The plans for the museum, which opened in 2005, include adding new interactive exhibits, expanding their current programming to serve even more children and families, establishing an endowment and ensuring a sustainable future for the museum.
“Given the growing needs of the community, we have been presented with an exciting opportunity to expand our service to the children and families who need us,” said the Museum’s Director, Stephen Long. “The Campaign for CMEE will make the museum one of the most innovative children’s cultural organizations of its size in the United States, and will help us expand our role as a leading resource for local families in the community.”
As part of the announcement, CMEE outlined their plans for expanding on the existing museum exhibits. The enhancements include a new outdoor miniature golf course, designed to teach children the physics and math concepts in a fun and engaging environment, a new energy exhibit where kids can touch and handle wind, water and solar power as they learn about sustainable resources, and a redesigned ship exhibit that teaches children about the six simple machines while they clamber up rope cables and tubes that reach 25 feet into the air.
CMEE is also creating a new “maker space” intended especially for older siblings where they can create their own projects, ranging from stop-motion animation films to fiber arts, as well as an expanded exhibition space for infants, an interactive tractor that will promote learning through play, and a renovated visitor services area and lobby.
The campaign will also enable CMEE to grow its partnerships with local social service organizations to address vital issues affecting underserved families in the community, such as assisting parents and children affected by domestic violence, educating young families about childhood obesity and the importance of nutrition and promoting literacy and language acquisition for immigrants.
CMEE is located at 376 Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton. Call 631-537-8250 or visit cmee.org for more info.