Our Mission
The mission of the Staten Island Children’s Museum is to nurture the creativity and curiosity natural to all children, to recognize and celebrate different learning styles, and to demonstrate vividly that learning can be exciting and fun. The Museum is committed to achieving these goals through programming that emphasizes direct and authentic hands-on experiences conducted in a welcoming and pleasing environment. The Museum encourages participation by visitors of all abilities and endeavors to reach beyond its walls to serve as an educational resource for the members of our diverse community, especially families and schools. Founded in 1974 and located in a historical setting on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens, the Staten Island Children’s Museum offers 40,000 square feet of interactive exhibits as well as a 4-acre East Meadow, and a picnic and performance pavilion.
The Staten Island Children’s Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operation is made possible, in part, with public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Office of the Mayor and the New York City Council. Significant support is also provided by the New York State Council on the Arts, trustees of the Museum, corporations, foundations and Museum members
Brief History
Founded by a group of parents in 1974, the museum opened in 1976 in a small rented storefront with one exhibit and program. A series of “hands-on, minds-on” exhibitions followed about history, the natural science and fine arts. By 1980, space limitations drove the museum to seek larger quarters. The City of New York invited the Children’s Museum to join the Cultural Institutions Group, which included plans for the Museum to relocate to the ground so the newly acquired 83-acre Snug Harbor. Planning, funding and renovations for the new home at Snug Harbor Cultural Center took six years to complete and in 1986, the museum opened the doors to its new home. In 2003, the facility expanded to 40,000 square feet with the addition of the historic barn and the bi-level glass passageway. In 2013, the Museum completed another capital project, with the addition of a state-of-the-art tented picnic and performance pavilion on the East Meadow, and a vertical axis wind turbine and wind scoop addition to our roof.
Board of Trustees
Gina M. Laine, President
Alfredo P. Conti, Esq., Vice President
David Oldham, Vice President
Bonnie Lauder, Treasurer
Cathy Pimpinella, SecretaryRenee Fiduccia
Alecia Giovinazzo, M.D.
Mark GiudiceMark C. Irving*
Leslie Kasegrande, Esq.
Lisa Risolo Laub*Michael McSwiggan
MaryLee Montalvo*
Joseph Paradise
Alanna Sachs
William Spiezia
Esmeralda Xheleshi
Ex-Officio
Hon. Bill de Blasio
Hon. James Oddo
Hon. Tom Finkelpearl
Hon. Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP
Portia Diamond*
*Past Presidents
Volunteer Programs
The Staten Island Children’s Museum offers exciting volunteer opportunities for teens, adults and groups.
Volunteers at the Museum will:
- • Receive the experience of working in a Museum environment
- • Develop life skills including leadership, responsibility, and communication
- • Assist various Museum departments in fulfilling the mission of the institution
- • Experience the self-fulfillment that comes from performing community service
- • Accumulate community service hours
Program Information
Applicants must be:
- • At least 14 years of age
- • Interested in working with children, the arts, sciences or cultural institutions
- • Enrolled in the volunteer program by submitting a completed application
- • Listed on the email registry to receive notifications of volunteer opportunities
How to Apply:
- • Submit a completed application Museum Volunteer Program Interest Form
- • Include a completed Personal Reference form (completed by an adult other than a family member or friend who is familiar with the applicant)
Volunteer Opportunities:
- • The Museum has a variety of volunteer opportunities available throughout the year
- • Volunteers are needed to engage visitors in public programs, co-facilitate outreaches, help with special events, support camp groups and assist with office tasks
- • Opportunities to volunteer are emailed to registered volunteers. Assignments are allocated to the first respondents to register for each volunteer opportunity
For more information, contact our Visitor Services Manager, by e-mail at visitorservices@sichildrensmuseum.org
Thank you for your interest in the Museum Volunteer Program!
Press Room
All members of the media should contact Jennifer Dudley jdudley@sichildrensmuseum.org or call 718-273-2060 ext. 150 (please be sure to include your media outlet, nature of your query, and daytime telephone number).
Photographs
Click here for photos to accompany your story.
A Brief History
All about the Children’s Museum
Founded by a group of parents in 1974, the museum opened in 1976 in a small rented storefront with one exhibit and program. A series of “hands-on, minds-on” exhibitions followed about history, the natural science and fine arts. By 1980, space limitations drove the museum to seek larger quarters. The City of New York invited the Children’s Museum to join the Cultural Institutions Group, which included plans for the Museum to relocate to the ground so the newly acquired 83-acre Snug Harbor. Planning, funding and renovations for the new home at Snug Harbor Cultural Center took six years to complete and in 1986, the museum opened the doors to its new home. In 2003, the facility expanded to 40,000 square feet with the addition of the historic barn and the bi-level glass passageway. In 2013, the Museum completed another capital project, with the addition of a state-of –the-art tented picnic and performance pavilion on the East Meadow, and a vertical axis wind turbine and wind scoop addition to our roof.
Current Press Releases
March 2020
Celebrating 100 Years of Women Trailblazers
January 2020
Black History Month: Celebrating Black Trailblazers in February
Science Takes Center Stage During Con Edison Second Saturday Science! Workshops
December 2019
Celebrating Staten Island and Staying “Home for the Holidays” in December
November 2019
October 2019
Experience American History In November at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
New Lineup of Con Edison Second Saturday Science! Workshops Announced
Cultural Celebrations in October at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
September 2019
It’s a New Season at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
August 2019
Staten Island Children’s Museum Seeks Performing Artists for Funded Residency Program
July 2019
Chill Out & Relax with Summertime Programs in August
June 2019
It’s Maritime History Month in July!
Staten Island Children’s Museum Announces New President & Members of Board of Trustees
May 2019
Celebrating Gay Pride Month In June
Come One, Come All to the Carnival & Science Spectacular! Saturday, June 1, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
April 2019
May is Music Month at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
March 2019
Embracing Planet Earth in April at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
February 2019
Celebrating Women’s History Month in March at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
January 2019
Black History Month Celebrations at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Con Edison Second Saturday Science! Winter & Spring 2019 Weekend Workshops Announced
December 2018
All About Animals in January at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Staten Island Children’s Museum Gets “HELP” from Northfield Bank Foundation
November 2018
Celebrating Winter Holidays in December at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Staten Island Children’s Museum to Host Annual Circle of Friends Business Luncheon
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in November
October 2018
Staten Island Children’s Museum Proudly Curates P.S. 1 Student Art Display at South Shore ShopRite
Halloween Harbor at Snug Harbor!
Con Edison Second Saturday Science! Fall 2018 Monthly Workshops
Recognizing the Contributions of Employees with Disabilities during October
September 2018
Nominate a “Kid of Achievement” for the 2018 Circle of Friends Business Luncheon
Staten Island Children’s Museum Will Host Free Family Emergency Preparedness Festival
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in September
July 2018
Summer Nights & Star Gazing during August
June 2018
Honoring America’s Military during special programs in July
May 2018
Celebrate Pride Month in June at the Staten Island Children’s Museum!
Come One, Come All to The Carnival & Science Spectacular! Saturday, June 2, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Check Out Our Summer Mini-Camps at Open House on Saturday, May 12
April 2018
The Staten Island Children’s Museum Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month during May
Celebrate Spring during April events at the Children’s Museum
March 2018
NYC Public School Spring Recess Week Programs & Activities
February 2018
Celebrate Women’s History Month & the Hindu Spring Festival Holi during the month of March
NYC Public School Lunar New Year & Midwinter Recess Programs & Events
January 2018
Celebrate Black History Month at the Staten Island Children’s Museum
Staten Island Children’s Museum NEW Winter Fun Camp!
June, 2017 – Daylight Hour Campaign
May 2017
Carnival & Science Spectacular 2017 Announcement
Blue Star Museums Announcement
April 2017 – Prince Day 2017
March 2017
February 2017 – Love for Animals Weekend
January, 2017 – New Year’s Eve (Day) Celebration and Chinese New Year Celebration
December, 2016 –
Sensory Imaging Exhibit Opening and Museum Intern Ambassador Program
November, 2016 – Circle of Friends Awards Business Luncheon
October, 2016 – Not So Scary Halloween
July, 2016 – Jennifer Dudley Named New Director of Development
June, 2016 – SICM Elects New Board President
June, 2016 – Free Summer Music & Dance
May 2016 – CASA AnnouncementPS38 CASA Program
April, 2016 – SICM Exhibit Manager Named “Rising Star”
February, 2016 – Celebrate David Bowie
June, 2015 – Boogie Woogie Wednesdays are Back!
March, 2015 – Get Ready for Camp
February 10, 2015 – Announcing the New Morse Code Station Exhibit
February 4, 2015 – Staten Island Children’s Museum Announces P.S. 38 CASA Performance
November 20, 2014 – What Can You Build with a Cardboard Box?
November 8, 2014 – 23rd Annual Circle of Friends Honorees
October 1, 2014 – Now Accepting Nominations for Kid of Achievement
September 19, 2014 – Children’s Museum Recieves Prestigious IMLS Grant
August 27, 2014 – This Fall’s Fix- Up and Festival
June 20, 2014 – Staten Island Children’s Museum Announces Artist Line-Up
June 12, 2014 – SIBOR Makes Generous Donation
April 4, 2014 – Children’s Museum Appoints New Education Director
March 6, 2014 – Get Ready for Summer Camp!
February 24, 2014 – Staten Island Children’s Museum Announces New Website!
Film and Television Locations
The Staten Island Children’s Museum, located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens in lovely downtown Staten Island, offers an almost 40,000 square foot facility, with nine exhibits, several classrooms, plus a four acre Meadow with a permanent tented pavilion for your filming needs. Just a 25 minute ferry ride or quick drive from Manhattan, we offer plenty of on-site parking, and a beautiful unique and sun-filled facility — perfect for your shoot! Our experienced and professional operations team makes filming at Staten Island Children’s Museum a pleasure for you.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Dudley at jdudley@sichildrensmuseum.org or call 718-273-2060 x 150
Thank you for your interest in, and support of, the Staten Island Children’s Museum.
Employment Opportunities
Per Diem Early Childhood Educator
We are seeking for immediate hire a Per Diem Early Childhood Educator to develop, implement and evaluate our signature “Tot’s Time” drop-in program, which runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. The successful candidate will be a warm and energetic individual who has a demonstrated history of teaching creative and nurturing programs in a classroom setting for children birth – age 5 and their caregivers. This is a short-term contract with potential for renewal.
TO APPLY: Please letter of interest and resume to: kjarmon@sichildrensmuseum.org and use subject line: Early Childhood Educator and your name.
The Staten Island Children’s Museum is an EOE; a background in early-childhood education, education, music or art a plus; candidates with a commitment to working with diverse populations are preferred.
External Affairs Internship
Got camera skills? Have a yen for well-ordered systems? Want to help promote creative opportunities for children to learn through play, exploration, and experimentation? You may want to work with us!
We are seeking an organized individual to serve as an External Affairs Intern in our exciting and fast-paced development department. Reporting to the Director of External Affairs, the EA Assistant will help cultivate donors and members through public relations and marketing outreach, research, data entry, and assisting in the execution of a variety of projects and events.
The ultimate purpose of the position is to help raise funds and visibility to support The Staten Island Children’s Museum’s unique educational exhibits and programs for children and families.
Details about the internship and information on how to apply
Part-Time Museum Educators
Seeking part-time Educators: with open availability Tuesdays – Sundays 9am – 5pm. Educators work in various capacities delivering school programs at the Museum and in the schools, working with families in our exhibits, leading programs and classes for young children, hosting kids birthday parties and representing the Museum at local community outreach events. Applicants should have a degree or be in the process of pursuing a degree in education, science, visual arts, theater, or related fields or have at least one year of experience in a related field of work. Successful candidates are dependable, energetic, self-motivated, like working with children, possess excellent public speaking skills. Hours include weekdays, weekends, holidays and occasional early evenings. $15- $17/hr.
Please put “Museum Educator” and your last name in subject line with a resume and cover letter to sicmjobs@gmail.com
Visual Arts and Theater Teaching Artists
Seeking qualified and experienced Teaching Artists for the current school year. We are looking for flexible and creative individuals for In-school and After-school residencies with our partnership schools on Staten Island and in Brooklyn. Teaching Artists must have a passion for arts education, 2 or more years of experience teaching their art form(s) and knowledge of the NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning. For more information, please see the Visual Arts and Theater Teaching Artists Job Announcement
Please put “Teaching Artist” and your last name in subject line with a resume and cover letter to sicmjobs@gmail.com
The museum is an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Employer. SICM is a smoke and drug free workplace. No phone calls please.
School Fundraisers
The Museum accepts requests for donations to support local school fundraising efforts. If you are interested in our donation request program, you must send your request in writing on your school’s letterhead. Please include the name and date of the event, your school’s tax identification number and your email address. The Museum will make every effort to accommodate requests with four-free passes to the Museum, no more than once per year.
Please send requests to:
Membership & Development Coordinator
Staten Island Children’s Museum
1000 Richmond Terrace
Staten Island NY 10301
The Cultural After School Adventures 2018-2019
We had the great honor of working with three local schools, thanks to the generous support of New York City Council Members Debi Rose and Steve Matteo. Please click on the links below to see pictures of the work we did together.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan
