Nonprofit Envisions Children's Museum for Northern Virginia

The Junior League of Northern Virginia is helping a group of advisers put money and plans in place to open a children's science center in Northern Virginia.

At a meeting at the Reston Town Center on Feb. 2, the Children's Science Center Board, a nonprofit organization, outlined its vision and goals for building a Children’s Science Center in the Dulles Technology corridor.

The Board of Directors, made up of a cross-section of local supporters , said it is confident a suitable site will be located and, with additional fundraising and community interest, the Children’s Science Center could be opened in the next two to four years.

A great deal of the planning and “imagining” has already begun.

The Children’s Science Center is a “signature project” of the Junior League of Northern Virginia, which has committed $250,000 and 250,000 volunteer hours to this effort.

Volunteers with the Junior League’s “Museum Without Walls“ programs, brought to fairs and festival around the region, have seen firsthand the need for these Science Technology Engineering Math-focused programs, especially among economically disadvantaged youth in the community.  

While many families will visit children’s museums while traveling to other cities, that option is not always available to the underprivileged in Fairfax County. Exposure to these disciplines at an early age, and in an interactive, experiential way is a key step in keeping all children interested and inspired by math and sciences, the group said.

“We envision children will come on a frequent basis, as they grow,” said Jill McNabb, Children’s Science Center Board member. At the virtual tour meeting, she gave details about the conceptual plans the Board has developed along with their advisers: museum experts, educators and children.

“This Center is of our community,” McNabb said.

The Children’s Science Center Board believes not only will school groups and families visit the museum and participate in events and activities, but the Museum Without Walls can travel to more schools once a proper organization is in place.

The group outlined many of its goals at the meeting.

When asked what they needed now, Nene Spivy, chair of the Children’s Science Center Board,  said the group would like to “build a circle of interest, of friends, advisers, volunteers and connectors,”  to spread the word this project is gaining momentum and is possible in the forseeable future.

“We are at the phase where we need to build a groundswell of support,” said Gary Crum, another Children’s Science Center Board member. “In the meantime, we’ll continue Museum Without Walls programs and spread the word about what else we have planned.”

To learn more about the plans for a Children’s Science Center in our area, visit the Children's Science Center website  and subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter  or join their Facebook page.

To experience a Museum Without Walls program with your children, visit the Children's Science Center kiosk at the Discover Engineering Family Day Festival at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19,  The event is free and runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More info:

Another “Imagine Their Future” information session/virtual tour is planned for March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Visit the Children’s Science Center website for details and/or to register.