by John Dowd
Besides school, and at-home learning, there are some in that valley that believe further education for young children is limited. One such person is Anita Wotkyns. Having moved to the area several years ago, she was stricken to learn that there were no such facilities like ones she had worked with where she moved from. These facilities are called children’s museums, and provide an alternative learning space for kids.
According to Wotkyns, these are “spaces for a community that revolve around play.” These buildings often involve topics like science, math and more, and bring these topics to kids in various ways. Wotkyns, who is spearheading a project like this for the Bitterroot, said these are “amazing places built on their level.” She said children’s museums are “safe and fill children’s needs for exploration and imagination.”
In order to do this, Wotkyns created a group called Bitterroot Discovery, whose goal is to eventually build a children’s museum that brings these lessons and opportunities to children in Ravalli County. The space would be early learning focused, and would try to get families and caretakers involved with the children who visit. When asked about the ages the space would target, Wotkyns was hesitant to give an age. To her, these spaces really do not target specific ages, but developmental stages. She explained that this could be anywhere from 18 months old to 18 years old. These spaces try to find “what ignites that passion for learning,” said Wotkyns.
So far, the only available place close to the Bitterroot that attempts to fill this need would be the SpectrUM Discovery Area, which is run out of the Missoula Public Library, in Missoula. However, according to Wotkyns, this space is more geared towards older children and focuses on STEM learning instead of fitting into the definition of a traditional children’s museum.
The space Wotkyns is proposing would also be an area for the community to volunteer and “really feel like they are involved in the growth and development of the next generation,” said Wotkyns. Her goal is really to get the community involved in extracurricular learning, and she hopes to even design it to work better with parent and caretaker schedules.
So far, the organization Wotkyns started has partnered with the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) and is working on building up a board and a volunteer base. Wotkyns explained that the RC&D works to help new nonprofits get their legs under them. Wotkyns believed it was a good idea to partner with an already established organization to help her through the process. The Bitterroot Discovery Children’s Museum is working through the non-profit status of the Bitter Root RC&D, being fiscally associated with the established organization. However, Wotkyns hopes her organization will be transferring to their own 501c3 nonprofit status in the coming year.
They recently finished their first fundraiser, which was called the Great Bitterroot Gingerbread Journey. The fundraiser collected volunteer-made gingerbread creations that were then displayed around the valley. Participants would travel to see the various pieces and vote through a raffle, with the grand prize being $1,000. According to Wotkyns, they were able to raise between $12,000 and $15,000.
Interested parties can learn more about Bitterroot Discovery Children’s Museum by visiting bitterrootdiscovery.org, or by emailing Wotkyns at anita@bitterrootdiscovery.org.