Let's Celebrate - It's Party Time at KiDiMu!

Online, May 20, 2013 (Newswire.com) - On Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu), a hands-on, nonprofit children's museum on Bainbridge Island, will host the Third Annual Birthday Bash to mark an anniversary of opening its doors in current location, steps away from the Seattle ferry and SR-305. The celebration will feature free family attractions, demonstrations and entertainment. All are invited to join in the festivities and enjoy a free-admission day at the museum.

"KiDiMu's Birthday Bash is such a joyful reminder of the community commitment to provide a permanent home for early learning on Bainbridge Island," said KiDiMu's executive director Susie Burdick. "We are excited to share this special occasion and thank the families, generous supporters, volunteers and the community at large for their ongoing support," Burdick added.

A DAY OF CELEBRATION AND "SNEAKY LEARNING"
Local performers from Kitsap and King county, as well as community partners and volunteers will help KiDiMu make the day special for visiting families.

Program highlights include a Plush Pet Clinic with Winslow Animal Clinic. At 10:30 a.m., visiting vet, doctor Lisa Barnfield, will offer well-check exams to children's plush friends and share tips on how to become responsible pet owners. At 11 a.m., Mr. Megy will invite the Bash guests for hands-on science experiments. Then, at 11:30 a.m., local musician David Webb will lead a sing-along guitar concert, featuring folk hits for kids. At noon, Roberto the Magnificent will add some magic to the celebration with his performance, to be followed by the Reptile Man show, featuring the reptile petting zoo to begin at 1 p.m.

In addition, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., families will enjoy complimentary face painting, sidewalk chalk, tattoos and balloons from KiDiMu! Throughout the day, officers from the BIFD will make surprise appearances to offer children an up-close look at their fire truck. Also, local vendors and community partners will offer giveaways, including special treats from the Popcorn Chef and Bainbridge Bakers. Vanasse Studios will provide a photo booth to help the guests capture their special memory free of charge. Sweet Wheels and Bainbridge Bakers will help "power" visiting KiDiMu Explorers by offering snacks for sale.

The event would not be possible without the generous community partners who also believe in the museum's mission. "KeyBank is delighted to return as a presenting sponsor of the Kids Discovery Museum's Annual Birthday Bash," stated KeyBank's Vice President and Area Retail Leader, Charles Robertson. "Learning through creative play so our kids can imagine more, discover more, and grow more is critical to their success, and KeyBank is proud to support this important work of the Museum."

Along with KeyBank, other community partners join in support of the festivities, including: Town and Country Markets, Trans4Media, Popcorn Chef, Vanasse Studios and Winslow Animal Clinic.

Birthday Bash opens a month of celebration on ravine Lane for both Kids Discovery Museum and Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA), which are Ravine Lane neighbors. As the art museum opens its doors to the public, thanks to a generous donor, the children's museum will be offering free admission that weekend on June 14 and 15; and also June 22 and 23 for the Family Weekend, a special event presented by both museums to celebrate the arts and offer family activities.

A YEAR OF LEARNING PLAY AT KiDiMu
It has been a busy year at Kids Discovery Museum since the last celebration, with tens of thousands of visitors from Kitsap and King Counties, and beyond, many Head Start field trips, and hundreds of free passes distributed among families in need through Helpline House and the Kitsap Regional Library system.

Last fall, the Museum added two new exhibits. The "Air and Magnets" installation, offered in partnership with Hands On Children's Museum in Olympia, encourages problem solving and critical thinking, while visitors manipulate colorful balls and gears. "Race Car," constructed by the Kitsap Soap Box Derby team, inspires KiDiMu Explorers to use their imagination to travel near and far. Both have already proven to be a big hit with kids and kids-at-heart of all ages.

Last January, the museum welcomed a new executive director, Susie Burdick, a longtime islander, who came to KiDiMu with extensive background in nonprofit leadership and fund-raising, spanning the arts, and health and human services sectors on local, regional and national levels. Burdick replaced Susan Sivitz, who left for Boston to pursue her education at Harvard University and was instrumental in managing the transition from the original rented space the KiDiMu-owned, permanent home on Ravine Lane.

Under Burdick's leadership, the museum enjoyed several opportunities to reach out to the community by participating in various community events and offering new programs. Discovery Friday and Family Fun with Fine Arts feature STEAM-themed (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) hands-on activities to inspire KiDiMu Explorers. And a monthly Sensory Sunday, a series developed in partnership with Island Autism Moms and Dads, which premiered on the third Sunday in April, invites families affected by autism or a similar sensory challenge to explore the Museum, while enjoying a safe, welcoming environment and therapist support. KiDiMu's goal is to grow this program in the future and partner with other community organizations in support of the families with autism.

On May 25, KiDiMu will become a Blue Star Museum third time in a row to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families through Labor Day. This year, KiDiMu will be joined by Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) and Bainbridge Island Historical Museum (BIHM).

STAY UP TO DATE
For the latest information on the museum's Birthday Bash, summer camps and Blue Star Museums program, please visit KiDiMu's website www.kidimu.org and sign up for the weekly newsletter, follow KiDiMu via social media or call 206-855-4650.

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