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| Photos courtesy of Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. |
Naples, FL, USA (February 29, 2012) — Southwest Florida is now home to a new family destination, as Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’MON) opened its doors to the public yesterday. Conceived in 2002 by Allyson Loos to address the need for more inclusive family experiences in Collier County, the mission of C’MON is “to provide an exciting, inspiring environment where children and their families play, learn and dream together.”
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| Fishing Pier “At the Beach” |
Jack Rouse Associates, along with educational consultant Mary Sinker, provided overall planning, design development and fabrication and installation project management for C’MON’s 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space. Through the museum’s 12 galleries, children and families learn about such topics as regional history, agricultural, geography and weather, all while enjoying an environment of engaging and cooperative play. JRA and Sinker based the design on three interrelated principles: an appreciation of children’s play behavior, knowledge of how an environment can influence play and learning, and an understanding of children’s developmental milestones.
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| A Trolley in “The Street” |
Specific exhibit areas include:
- An outdoor edge maze and amphitheater
- Journey Through the Everglades
- Banyan Tree
- At the Beach
- World Café
- Produce Market and Farm
- The Street
- Mother Nature’s House
- ABC Lot (Toddler Area)
- Curious Kids (Pre-Teen Area)
- Pet Vet
- Green Construction
- Art Gallery and Studio
According to the museum’s website, exhibits were created to meet Florida’s Sunshine State curriculum standards, and all are accessible for individuals with developmental, hearing, physical, social/emotional and visual challenges.
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| A delivery truck connects the “Farm” to the “Produce Market.” |
The museum offered a special opening weekend to its 2,000 members, and a feature from the Naples Daily News lauded it as a “hit” and included some pint-sized “thumbs ups” from its early reviewers. When interviewed for the article, Heather Patton, director of external affairs, said that kids were “crying as they were leaving” and that the museum “had kids here comparing it to Disney World.”
For more information on the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, please visit www.cmon.org
Jack Rouse Associates plans, designs and realizes exceptional visitor experiences for entertainment, cultural, sport and corporate clients around the world. www.jackrouse.com