KeyBank partnered with the First Niagara Foundation to make a generous $500,000 donation to Explore & More Children’s Museum, helping to build our new 43,000 square foot museum on the waterfront on the South Aud Block of Canalside. KeyBank Upstate New York Regional Executive Gary Quenneville said, “This new museum will help children learn in a fun way for years to come. Explore & More’s mission mirrors our mission, helping our communities thrive, and we are proud to support their efforts.” Thank you for investing in our community and our children!
Explore & More Gift Shop!
At Explore & More, our Gift Shop features educational toys for children 6 months old and up. During your visit to our museum, be sure to check out our Festive Fun for Little Ones $10 gifts and under table, and our free holiday gift-wrapping with any gift shop purchase. Donations for gift-wrapping are appreciated and all funds will help to give the gift of play to families in need through FISH of East Aurora. Here are a few of our featured toys that make great gifts this holiday season:
Hape Double Bubble – $23
6 months +
Double Bubble by Hape is a wire bead maze that has a wooden base with four sturdy suction cups that can hold this toy to smooth surfaces. This portable and engaging toy provides your child with stimulating interactive play.
Hape Architetrix Constructor Set – $23
97 Pieces, Ages 7+
The Architetrix Constructor Set by Hape, includes 97 bamboo rods and plastic connectors to build shapes and structures that start flat and build dimensions. Your child can build 3D structures like rocket ships, and houses while developing fine motor skills. This set is similar to the Polysticks that can be found in our “Inside Architecture” exhibit at Explore and More.
Melissa and Doug Catch and Count – $25
Ages 3+
Catch and Count 10 magnetic fish with this wooden fishing set from Melissa and Doug. Use the 2 wind-up fishing rods to match, sort and count the fish, or use the spinner to play as a game! Find the fish and fishing poles in our “Food for thought” exhibit at Explore and More!
Hape Fix-it Tool Box – $25
17 pieces ages 3+
Little builders can practice their tinkering skills with the Fix-it Tool Box from Hape. This toolbox includes a hammer, wrench, screwdriver, nuts, bolts, and other wooden tools to practice building skills. Fix up little projects and also build structures to encourage children to develop hand-eye coordination skills, and also teaching them basic building techniques.
December Break Week
Looking for something fun AND educational for your kids to do this Winter Break Week? Bring the whole family to Explore & More for a week long STEM celebration. Children and their caregivers will explore a different STEM concept each day from December 26th – December 30th. Activities will be hosted in our workshop room from 11:00am – 2:00pm. These activities are free for members or included with paid admission thanks to our generous supporters at National Grid and the Charles D. and Mary A. Bauer Foundation. Check out this year’s program schedule below:
Tuesday, December 26th – Magic with Magnets!
Explore the world of magnet play through hands-on experiential activities and create a take home art project that will remind you of your fun-filled day.
Wednesday, December 27th – Making a Mess!
Does your child LOVE making a mess? But do you hate having this mess in your own home? Join Explore & More education staff in a day of messy play with ice painting, oobleck, bubbles, and a messy take home art project.
Thursday, December 28th – Wild Weather!
Join Explore & More and Channel 7’s Andy Parker as he brings the weather machine to the museum! The weather machine will be at the museum from 11:00am – 12:00pm. There will also be a weather take home project that will continue the conversation at home. This project will be available from 11:00am – 2:00pm
Friday, December 29th – Animal Adventures!
Explore & More will have a live animal presentation join us for this animal adventure. In addition to exploring the unique animals with our guest, visitors will be go home with their own animal art project to remember a fun day at Explore & More!
Saturday, December 30th – Construct, Design, Create!
We close our our STEM celebration with a large scale build in the gym. Visitors will use our Imagination Playground, Rig-ama-jig, Action Stackers, Kapala blocks and more to design and build life size structures. In our workshop room, visitors will use their imaginations to plan and construct a unique creation using recycled materials.
Why pick just one day to come and play? Renew your membership today to participate in all of these programs for free!
Day After Thanksgiving – Family Fun Day
The holidays are a time to spend with family and loved ones, and there’s no better way to continue those Thanksgiving celebrations than by spending the day together at Explore & More! Gather the whole family for a special day of learning, playing and fun-filled activities at the Museum.
On Friday, November 24th from 11:00am – 2:00pm, children of all ages and their caregivers are invited to join us for a hands-on art project of designing snow globes to celebrate the holiday season! Free for members and included with paid general admission, this activity is designed to extend the experiential learning of our Museum exhibits into a take-home art project that you and your family can continue to enjoy.
With our hands-on snow globe activity, children will develop and improve their fine motor skills as they engage in manipulative, exploratory play – all while utilizing their scientific thinking in terms of measurements and number operations. And, each child will leave with a distinct work of art that expresses their personal interest, which only reinforces their sense of personality and wonder.
While our special activity only lasts through the early afternoon, the Museum will be open from 10:00am-5:00pm for a full day of fun! Don’t forget to stop by the front desk and renew your membership or purchase a gift membership for a loved one at a special 10% off Black Friday discount.
Additionally, members receive 15% off in our gift shop on November 25th only. Check out our great selection of educational toys that will keep your little ones busy playing and learning without even noticing!
Chris Jacobs Delivers Funding For Explore & More
On a beautiful sunny day in August on Buffalo’s Waterfront, standing near the construction site of the new Explore & More Children’s Museum, New York State Senator Chris Jacobs announced a state grant that he secured to support of the new museum at Canalside and its construction.
“The number of visitors at Canalside continues to grow, as does the impact the revitalized waterfront is having on the community,” said Jacobs. “Major investments in projects like Explore & More Children’s Museum will help get this project completed as soon as possible, ensuring that we continue to build on the momentum already underway.”
The Explore & More Children’s Museum project will be the recipient of a $500,000 state grant. “The success of projects like Explore & More will do so much more besides enriching the overall Canalside and waterfront experience for everyone who visits,” said Senator Jacobs. “It will create jobs, attract more visitors and spending from outside the state and region, and further advance our goal of Buffalo’s waterfront becoming a year-round destination.”
Two additional grants were also given by the Senator to the Buffalo Heritage Carousel project and for a major expansion at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.
Explore & More Board of Trustees, staff, donors, business and community leaders and members of the Capital and Advancement Committee were in attendance to thank Senator Jacobs for his on-going efforts and support on behalf of the museum.
This support will allow Explore & More to continue to provided critically important informal learning experiences for all and ensure that Explore & More will be an important asset to the wellbeing of all children and families in Western New York.
