STRATEGIC PLAN 2014 – 2018

The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry’s newly adopted strategic plan (2014 – 2018) will help guide the Museum in its planning, activities and initiatives of the next five years. As part of its new plan, CML will focus on the POWER OF PLAY and its necessity and benefits for the well-being of all children. CML will work to customize experiences to engage the interests of its most important audience groups while focusing on its current site to help refresh and re-imagine experiences that take place at the Museum.

MISSION:

Engage young children’s potential by inviting families of all backgrounds to explore environments and experiences that spark imagination and stimulate curiosity through the power of PLAY.

VISION:

The Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and its stakeholders believe that in the next generation, the Charleston area can become a community where all children enjoy an increasing level of well-being, because:

– It shines a bright light on its youngest citizens as capable, creative and full of promise.

– Its families actively connect around common interests and priorities for their children.

– It values and invests in life-long, life-wide and life-deep learning.

– Its families of all backgrounds appreciate its shared civic, cultural, historic and natural assets.

– It prepares its children to participate in the region’s expanding economic opportunities and career prospects

Play Framework

goals
Explore, consolidate and advance CML’s understanding of and distinct approach to PLAY for its audiences; how it will translate its expertise into play and learning experiences and environments and customer service; and how it will communicate its value and benefits to stakeholders and partners.

actions
– Develop a Platform for PLAY
– Invest in internal capacity
– Infuse PLAY approach into experiences and environments
– Develop CML’s public voice on PLAY

outcomes
– Establish a common frame of reference for PLAY across CML
– Host training workshops on PLAY, CML’s PLAY Approach and the State of PLAY in Charleston
– Update exhibits and outdoor areas with added PLAY value, including PLAY messages
– Increase PLAY-based programs with different types of PLAY
– CML’s Platform for PLAY shared with the community

Early Connections

goals
(birth-3 years)
A set of services, experiences and supporting practices that enables CML to serve its youngest audience and their grown-ups, contributes to the area’s early childhood resouces and distinguishes CML through developmentally, “just right” PLAY-based experiences and environments that make young children’s potential visible.

actions
– Expand & enhance CML’s services and experiences for Birth – Three Years
– Distinguish CML’s contribution and increase its visibility in early childhood
– Develop a comprehensive, researched based Early Connections program

outcomes
– Rethink and refresh early childhood space • Create “Tod Pods” in each exhibit area
– Establish an array of program options for new parents
– Serve as a community resource for Early Connections
– Offer in-depth program option
– Increase impacts for children and parents

Families together

goals
A broad, flexible approach to engaging families of all backgrounds with varied interests and children of different ages that is capable of serving the family as a cohesive, on-going group as well as supporting relationships and interactions among family members.

actions
– Articulate a shared vision of family engagement
– Build internal capacity to engage with families of all backgrounds
– Reflect family-friendly approaches in policies and services
– Integrate engagement strategies for families of all backgrounds into exhibits and programs

outcomes
– Training workshops to prepare staff to interact with families from diverse backgrounds and varied interests
– An active membership option for low-income families and offer convenient free times
– Exhibits refreshed to support family engagement, including messages about families and family learning
– Host conversations with families across Charleston to update and inform CML’s plans, including regular visits to CML’s neighborhood with PLAYWork supplies

STRATEGIC PLAN 2014 – 2018

MISSION:

VISION:

Play Framework

Early Connections

Families together

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