Best New Construction! Buffalo Spree 2018

Explore & More is proud to be listed as a Buffalo Spree 2018 Best of WNY Winner for Best New Construction!! Thank you Buffalo Spree! We are all SO excited about our new museum opening Spring 2019! The capital campaign for the new museum continues – we are $3.5 million away from our goal. Learn more about naming rights or capital gifts.

Buffalo Spree: The Best of WNY Winner 2018

“Tinkering” Leads To Ground-Breaking Innovations

Explore & More received a wonderful holiday present in December when McGard, an Orchard Park manufacturer of specialized automobile wheel lug-nuts, contacted the Museum and made an offer toward the capital campaign. It was the first major gift matched dollar for dollar with funds from The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation challenge grant!

Now McGard is surprising and delighting us once again! Their engineers and designers are creating a children’s interactive that will hone children’s abilities to match the unique patterns found in McGard’s lug nut and the special key that turns them.

The people at McGard understand that play that stimulates a child’s inquisitive nature can result in something truly remarkable. Current President Peter McCauley stated that his father, Lewis D. McCauley invented the lug nut paired with a specialized patterned key creating wheel locks that are now used by automobile companies and car owners all over the world. McGard continues to create innovative locks to secure products for a wide variety of industries that secure items such as manhole covers, fire hydrants, water and gas shut-offs, meters and fixtures. L.D. McCauley used to go the basement at his home saying he was going to “tinker”.  How wonderful that a true innovator who had such a strong foundation in tinkering in the past is supporting the “Tinker Tank” in the future Museum!

Make Summer Birthdays A Breeze

Don’t want to just hope for good weather? Rain or shine, an Explore & More birthday is always a treat! From invitations and decorations, to hands-on crafts and play, hosting your little one’s birthday has never been more fun. We are excited to introduce a 10% off discount on birthday parties scheduled during the months of June, July & August of 2018. Members receive a special 20% off party price!! Members could host a party of 12 children for as low as $121! Choose from Farm Animals, Party Princess, Construction Party and Butterflies & Flowers. Call to book your party today at 716-655-5131 ext. 14

Three-Year Grant For Literacy Enrichment Donated

Explore & More Children’s Museum announces that the Cullen Foundation has awarded a grant for the next three years to fund its Break Week Literacy Enrichment Program. The funds will enable Explore & More to pilot the Break Week Literacy Program which will target at risk 2nd grade students and incorporate the power of play in real life scenarios to help increase literacy rates in the Buffalo School District. In the short term, Explore & More will expand this program to impact more students during enrichment week and then long term to work in concert with the Buffalo School District to implement successful literacy lessons and improve student test scores.

“We believe the multi-year support will allow Explore & More to evaluate and track the long-term impact on literacy outcomes for these students, while providing critical insight for integrating best practices for within the museum for all of our guests,” said Michelle Urbanczyk, Chief Executive Officer of Explore & More. “We are extremely fortunate to have the Cullen Foundation and we are most grateful for their support.”

The development of the Literacy Enrichment Program begins immediately with the first students being served in our new museum in February of 2019. Initial Program partners will include the Waterfront School and the Enterprise Charter School.

Field trips are back! Please be aware that it will be busier than usual.