Con Edison Sponsors "Build Your Own Roller Coaster" Summer Exhibit at Westchester Children's Museum - Now on View

Rye, NY – (August 6, 2014) – Westchester Children’s Museum (WCM) is presenting interactive, educational exhibits to the county’s youngsters at Rye Playland this summer with the generous support of Con Edison. The museum’s exhibits – centered on a “Let’s Build” theme and housed in the historic North Bathhouse – allow children to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and architecture in an engaging, hands-on environment.

The museum’s “Build Your Own Coaster” exhibit – which teaches children about force, energy and friction – was made possible through a gift from Con Edison’s “Power of Giving” program. The program supports over 1,000 nonprofits in New York City and Westchester with the goal of strengthening neighborhoods and improving lives.

“Con Edison’s community partnerships support the arts, environmental stewardship, civic awareness and educational initiatives in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Jane Solnick, Con Edison’s Director of Westchester Public Affairs.

“We’re truly grateful to Con Edison for their ongoing support of Westchester Children’s Museum and this summer’s exhibit,” said Tracy Kay, WCM’s Executive Director. “Their donation powers a creative and interactive experience that engages children and makes learning fun. We thank Westchester for welcoming us so warmly, and invite families to visit and learn with us regularly.”

Accompanying “Build Your Own Coaster” this summer is the “KEVA Planks” exhibit, which allows children to experiment with art and architecture via thousands of uniform building blocks. Both exhibits will run through September and offer a preview of Westchester Children’s Museum’s vision. The two exhibits have already attracted over 4,000 eager visitors, many of whom have returned twice or more to experience the museum’s creativity.

“Let’s Build” exhibits are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free with donations accepted. Entrance to the “Let’s Build” galleries is from the Playland Boardwalk.

The full museum will be constructed in the North Bathhouse on the famed boardwalk at Rye Playland, bringing new life to the Rye landmark. While discussions are currently underway regarding the reinvention of Playland, the Westchester Children’s Museum is proceeding independently and is not affected by the Playland review process. The WCM is in the midst of a $10 million capital campaign to raise the funds for architectural renewal of the historic landmark buildings and to install state of the art interactive exhibits. Visitors to the exhibits will also have an opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at the full 20,000-square-feet of space that will be transformed into a vibrant, light-filled, interactive children’s museum.

For further information regarding Westchester Children’s Museum or exhibit hours, please contact Julie Sootin, Development Director, at (914) 421-5050 orjsootin@discoverWCM.org.

About Westchester Children’s Museum (www.discoverwcm.org)

Westchester Children’s Museum (WCM) will be a learning laboratory providing children, families, and school groups throughout Westchester County and the surrounding region with the opportunity to nurture curiosity, enhance knowledge, and ignite imagination through hands-on exploration. WCM is committed to broadening knowledge of the arts, the environment, multiculturalism, and the local and global communities in an educational and recreational atmosphere. Until its physical home is completed in 2015, WCM is dedicated to fulfilling its educational mission through its Museum Without Walls program, which has brought hands-on educational programs to more than 13,000 children. For more information or to get involved, please visit www.discoverWCM.org.

Photos: Children learn and play with Westchester Children’s Museum’s “Build Your Own Roller Coaster” Exhibit. (High-resolution versions available upon request.)