Our History
The program provided Karen with resources, community connections, and a deeper understanding of starting a business. We were able to hit the ground running with connecting with people throughout the community. We started with a series of community meetings and had info booths at area festivals and were quickly able to build a strong volunteer base. The community response to the BRCM was strong and eager to make this happen. The community is ready to have a space where families and educators of young children can come to play and learn.
With our volunteers we were able to participate in the Cool Breeze Festival, Fall Foliage Festival, and create marketing tools, begin the museum design concept, search for a building space and much more.
We established our board of directors and became a registered 501 (c)(3) in September 2017 and have been working hard to bring the BRCM to life.
We have made it one of our priorities to support area businesses and have been working hard to partner with businesses so that we can support each other and grow. One project that has come out of this effort is Museum Without Walls business partnership.
We have also begun partnering with area schools and libraries where we will be bringing programing in the near future.
We are truly grateful for the tremendous community support we have already had and all the connections we have made with so many people eager to serve our young children, which have allowed us to come so far so fast. We have big plans for the future of the museum and are thrilled to already be working in our beautiful Central Shenandoah Community.
Blue Ridge Children’s Museum honors the Indigenous people who have lived and worked on this land historically and presently.
BRCM seek opportunities to engage in meaningful relationship building for our shared futures and acknowledge with respect that we live, learn, and play on the traditional territory of the Monacan Indian Nation. We pay respect to their elders and knowledge keepers past, present, and emerging.