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Raise the Climber!
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix depends on the generous financial support of individuals, businesses and foundationsThe Children’s Museum of Phoenix is currently in the midst of a $1.5 million capital campaign to build a new exhibit in our vast Atrium space.
The exhibit will be a one-of-a-kind, 3-story climbing structure which, once completed, will rise 37 feet to the third floor level. Constructed of 37 tons of steel - the equivalent of 9 elephants (!) - the Climber will contain a flying bathtub, rowboat, rooftop and rocket ship! A platform on the 3rd floor will allow visitors with limited mobility to enter the exhibit. All areas will be enclosed with wire mesh for safety.
The Museum is already two-thirds of the way to meeting its goal of $1.5 million for the project and gratefully acknowledges the generous donation of materials and services from Schuff Steel Company and Perini Building Company, plus monetary donations from Target, and private donors
The Museum will need to raise $500,000 to complete all artistic elements on the Climber. Two other exhibits will also be installed in the Atrium during the contruction period - 10,000 Blocks, supported by the Halle Foundation and Building Big, supported by Grant and Marlene Woods and Joe and Nina Woods.
GET INVOLVED! BUY A BOTTLE CAP FOR $1!
We invite you to join our "Raise the Climber" campaign by participating in our Decorate a Bottle Cap promotion. Bottle caps are available for purchase at the admissions desk for only $1 per cap. After your purchase, take the cap into our Art Studio and decorate it using all kinds of fun items including glitter, jewels, beads, paper, etc. The caps will then be used in unique ways to decorate the Climber once erected. The bottle caps will also be available for purchase in pre-packaged quantities for businesses and or individuals to use as team building exercises, unique hands-on party activities, etc.
"Years ago when we asked people what they remembered with pleasure from their own childhoods and what they wished their children could experience - the most frequent answer was climbing trees," said Josie Young, Children's Museum of Phoenix board Member, Founder and Teacher.
"What do children learn from their experience? They learn to see the world from a different perspective. They learn to risk their bodies doing something somewhat dangerous and get that irreplaceable feeling of pure JOY of taking that risk and accomplishing a real physical challenge. They learn to pretend they are somewhere else and spy on those tiny people below them. They use their bodies in new and different ways and they learn to judge distance and to balance in space. They cross the midline of their bodies which must be done 6,000 times in order to master writing. All this can be accomplished simply by having a cooperative tree. Most of the trees here in our desert do not lend themselves easily to being climbed. Our answer to this dilemma is to build this amazing Climber that meets as many of those needs as possible."
Groundbreaking on the Climber is scheduled for mid-August with an anticipated Grand Opening of late January/early February. The Museum's Atrium will be closed to visitors during construction. However, visitors will be able to see the progress on the Climber during construction. The exhibits currently inhabiting the Atrium will be moved to other areas of the Museum.
The Children's Museum of Phoenix is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN#86-0934323.
You can also make a donation to the Raise the Climber campaign:
Online: Click Here
By Mail: Mail your donation to:
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
P.O. Box 2439
Phoenix, AZ 85002
By Phone: Call 602.253.0501 extension 4