2015-2016 ANNUAL REPORT
Table of Contents Amazeum Mission / Core Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community Outreach & Accessibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Tinkering/Building a Region of Makers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Financials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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The Amazeum 2015-16:
34,000 HERSHEY’S LAB EXPERIMENTERS 1000 EXPERIMENTERS
100 GALLONS
OVER
First Year by the Numbers
1,000
MORE THAN
5,300
43,560 SQ.FT. OUTDOOR SPACE
PEOPLE ATTENDED BIRTHDAY PARTIES
CHILDREN & CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATED IN EARLY LEARNER WORKSHOPS
AT THE SCOTT FAMILY AMAZEUM
100
PARTICIPANTS
100
BIRTHDAYS
550 MUSEUMS AVAILABLE TO SCOTT FAMILY AMAZEUM MEMBERS
30,945 UNFIELD TRIP VISITORS
WITH
THROUGH OUR RECIPROCAL BENEFITS PROGRAM
ENOUGH TO FILL
8,012 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS, OUR MEMBERS
WOULD FILL BUD WALTON ARENA 1.65 TIMES!
SCHOOL
424 BUSES HAWAII
TOTAL NUMBER OF GUESTS:
ALASKA
311,000
Amazeum Mission
To engage the imagination of children and their families through interactive exhibitions, programs and resources while creating an excitement for lifelong learning.
Core Purpose
The Amazeum exists to spark and nurture the curious and creative spirit in all of us. This approach helps develop the innovative thinking needed to build strong communities and meet 21st century challenges. 4 | Scott Family Amazeum 2015-16 Annual Report
Dear Amazeum Community, On behalf of the staff and board, we would like to thank you for helping us give the joy of curiosity and creativity to Northwest Arkansas. For more than a decade, leaders and volunteers in this community worked hard to turn the dream of a children’s museum in Northwest Arkansas into a reality. After raising more than $26.5 million, we opened the doors to the Scott Family Amazeum on July 15, 2015. With 311,000 people in attendance, the Scott Family Amazeum began its launch year as more than just a children’s museum. We are a place where children and families can come to learn, play, explore and create together; a place that empowers children to ask questions, solve problems and innovate; and most of all, we are a place where everyone has fun. We are committed to providing each guest with an excellent experience because we believe that a visit here is just the beginning of a life-long journey of learning. By sparking and nurturing curiosity and creativity in our guests, we are giving them tools and skills to become innovative thinkers. Our vision is to build a community of creative problem solvers, one guest at a time. Our first year exceeded our own expectations: 311,000 guests 8,012 member households 30,000 children and teachers attended Unfield Trips 15,000 visited the Amazeum at no charge through accessibility programs like Amazeum for All and Priceless Nights presented by Tyson Foods We are proud of these accomplishments, but we know our first year was just the beginning of a life-long journey of learning, asking questions and exploring in this community. We look forward to expanding our reach through a variety of programs both inside and outside our walls. We have taken on a local and national leadership role in the growing community of tinkerers, inventors and designers known as the Maker Movement, and we will continue to support initiatives that provide more access to maker spaces. We also plan to launch programs targeted to teens including a volunteer program for girls who have a passion for making and engineering. There will be much more to come, and we invite you to learn more about the Scott Family Amazeum and all we have to offer. Once again, thank you for helping us turn a dream into a reality and for your ongoing support as we continue to dream and build a place where everyone is empowered to play, learn, ask questions, create, innovate and have fun. Sam Dean, Executive Director amazeum.org | 5
Education Sparking Curiosity & Creativity Through Education The Amazeum itself is our largest single education project. Our guests constantly show us new ways of using and learning in the space. Children’s favorite exhibits and experiences evolve over time. Our guests develop amazing bonds with our team members. Children feel safe interacting with our educators and look to them for inspiration. We offer a variety of drop-in programming, unique play experiences, workshops and camps. All programs are rooted in our core purpose of sparking curiosity and creativity in all of us, because children learn best when they experience learning by using their hands, bodies and minds. 6 | Scott Family Amazeum 2015-16 Annual Report
Early Learner Workshops Learning opportunities start early at the Scott Family Amazeum. We offer Early Learner programs for several age groups and each workshop requires the participation of an adult caregiver. Baby Buds programs are designed for children 6-17 months, focusing on physical growth, social emotional development and emerging language skills. Toddlers 18 months to 3 years old and their caregivers participate in Discovery Tots, which targets language, big body and fine motor skills. Great Pretenders workshops focus on role-playing, collaborative play and creative movement for children 3-5 years and their caregivers. One Saturday a month, children 4-6 years and their adults gather for Zing Adventures, exploring unique ways to experience our exhibits. Each month’s workshop explores play through a different theme and begins with an invitation to play for both the child and the adult. An educator then guides them through developmentally appropriate STEAM activities. Educators demonstrate options for expanding the learning and encouraging exploration.
Camps During Spring Break and summer, more than 300 children ages 6-11 attended weeklong camps that explored STEAM through a fun, engaging themed week.
Unfield Trips The Scott Family Amazeum adds a twist to the traditional school visit. With the help of a group of local teachers and administrators who make up the Amazeum Council of Educators (ACE), plans for school visits to the Amazeum were developed. These visits were dubbed “Unfield Trips” by a Fayetteville teacher because they connected to curriculum and empowered teachers to inspire learning before, during and after the visit. They were beyond the norm and provided more flexibility than some learning opportunities. The name stuck.
In our first year of operations, more than 30,000 school children visited on an Unfield Trip. More than 25,000 of those visits were free to the schools thanks to a grant from the Walmart Foundation, which covers Unfield Trip admission for students in Benton and Washington counties. The education team has added new elements to enhance the Unfield Trip experience. A robust library of resource material is available on the Amazeum website for pre- and post-visit learning opportunities. Post cards are provided to each student after the visit, along with writing prompts. In our opening year, we received thousands of post cards showing the amazing experiences students had at the Amazeum.
Homeschool Family Outreach Our work with homeschool families established a solid foothold for expanding. We began by hosting two Homeschool Days so families could meet our team members, experience activities and network with each other. Our efforts with homeschool families will continue to grow over the coming years.
Pop-ups, Zinglits, Flash Plays In addition to the wonderful learning and interaction opportunities offered by exhibits and activity spaces, the education team has developed a number of Pop-ups, Zinglits and Flash Plays that spark curiosity and ignite learning.
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Community Outreach & Accessibility The mission of the Scott Family Amazeum is not bound by our architecture, nor does it exclude any community. The grassroots efforts to bring the Amazeum to life took hold in the communities that make up Northwest Arkansas; and, thus, we have made efforts to ensure that everyone who wants it, has a path to our doorway or is able to interact with us in some fashion. Our team has traveled to Fayetteville, Springdale and Carroll County, and set up Amazeum-style experiences at farmers markets, street festivals and expos. 8 | Scott Family Amazeum 2015-16 Annual Report
Amazeum for All
Priceless Nights
While we have worked hard to keep admission to the Scott Family Amazeum as affordable as possible, not every family is able to visit. To reach these families, we implemented the Amazeum for All program by partnering with non-profit organizations working with underserved communities to provide guest passes for the families they serve. In our first year, more than 900 guests visited the Amazeum using an Amazeum for All pass.
More than 14,000 guests came to the Amazeum during Priceless Nights by making a donation in lieu of admission. Wednesday evenings have increased accessibility to those families who cannot afford admission as well as families who may not be able to visit during regular hours. These evenings are sponsored by Tyson Foods.
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Tinkering: Building a Region of Makers The making and tinkering vibe is alive and well in Northwest Arkansas, and the Scott Family Amazeum is playing a key role in building a region of makers. We are a convener and facilitator of local makers and creatives, connecting them to national resources and talent, amplifying the vitality of Northwest Arkansas.
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Tinkerfest More than 30 artists and makers, including local students, converged on the Amazeum for the first Tinkerfest in our space in October 2015. Each shared their unique work and abilities with more than 1,600 guests. Within a few hours, children with tools and guidance dismantled a car, a city grew from a pile of cardboard, guests learned to sew and to solder, and a heap of discarded technology was gutted and the parts became pieces of art. By providing tools and inspiration, guests discovered their own creativity.
Maker Convening In May, we hosted a convening of area groups and individuals working to build makerspaces, FabLabs and innovation hubs. Whether focused on post-secondary education or on entrepreneurs, each of the facilities in the works can support our community. The day allowed the leaders to showcase their plans and to learn from each other how they can collaborate. Our goal is to ensure that these spaces serve a diverse set of needs and wide-ranging population.
Amazeum on the Rocks As adults, we do not always proactively model playfulness. Amazeum on the Rocks, our 21 and older nights, provides a safe place for adults to play without fear of failing or embarrassment. These high-energy evenings provide guests with quick bites, adult beverages and the opportunity to play in the museum and participate in activities based on a theme.
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Financials Revenue and Support
Year One was outstanding with attendance and membership exceeding all of our expectations! We are proud to have served this community while remaining financially stable.
Through June, 30, 2016
Admissions and memberships
$1,956,064
Contributions and grants
$3,043,217
Gift shop and cafĂŠ sales
$424,946
Less: cost of goods sold
- $218,194
Net gift shop and cafe sales
$206,752
2016 Mission Delivery 7%
Program Core Support
18%
Fundraising 75%
Special events
$137,185
Investment income Total Revenue and Support
$2,462 $5,345,680
Expenses Program expenses General and administrative
$2,476,565 $600,368
Fundraising
2016 Revenue Sources
$219,928 6%
Total Expenses
Admissions and Memberships
$3,296,861
Contributed Revenue Change in Net Assets
$2,048,819 57%
Net Assets, Beginning of Year Net Assets, End of Year
$23,239,710 $25,288,529
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37%
Other income* *Other Income includes earned income from Curiosity Corner, Zing CafĂŠ, birthday parties, camps, workshops, special events, facility rentals and investment income
Board of Directors (As of June 30, 2016)
Board Officers
Directors
Advisory
Jill Drewyor, President Mitchell Williams Attorneys at Law
Kelly Carlson Arvest Bank
Nancy Leake Downtown Bentonville Revitalization
Lisa Morstad, Vice President Forecast5 Analytics
Don Frieson Sam’s Club
Kalene Griffith Visit Bentonville
Kathleen Dalton, Secretary Procter & Gamble
Denise Garner Feed Communities
Shelli Kerr City of Bentonville
Ken Mantel, Treasurer Nickelodeon
Galen Havner Bentonville Public Schools
Bob Arvin, Past President Walmart
Eric Scott Cheyenne Industries
Leadership Team (As of June 30, 2016)
Sam Dean, Executive Director Erik Smith, Director, Exhibits & Programs Mindy Porter, Director, Education Molly Rawn, Director, Development & Communications Randy Graham, Director, Guest Services
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Donors Without the support of our donors, members and volunteers who give their resources, we could not give the joy of curiosity and creativity to Northwest Arkansas. Thank you for being amazing!
Signature Sponsors
Recreate PMS
2016 Donors 3M Arkansas Arts Council Arkansas Children’s Hospital Visit Bentonville Cox Communications Energizer Battery GE Foundation General Mills Haizlip Studio Illinois River Watershed Partnership Lion Brand Yarn Company Nabholz Construction Nickelodeon Procter & Gamble Rich Family Foundation Sam’s Club Smile Shoppe Pediatric Dentistry Sunny Delight TekTrendz 14 | Scott Family Amazeum 2015-16 Annual Report
The Hershey Company Tyson Foods Walmart Foundation Walmart Museum Walmart Stores Walton Family Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation Whole Foods Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation Bob and Theresa Arvin Jim and Sharon Bilgischer Sam Dean* Jim Demaree Hershey and Denise Garner* Bob Kohler and Laura Goodwin Galen and Debi Havner Johnelle Hunt Larry and Sandy Mahoney
Jon and Amy Pahl Mike and Gisel Ruiz Eric and Elda Scott* Lee and Linda Scott Andrew and Barbara Taylor Amanda and Robert Wahl Mrs. and Mr. Keri Wilkinson Tom and Cindy Youngblood* Eric and Lois Zorn This list includes all donors who made a gift during the Scott Family Amazeum’s Fiscal Year (July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016) *indicates that donor is also a Charter Contributing Member
Charter Contributing Members Enrique Acuna and Monica Herrera Frances and Mike Adams Henry and Amy Alvarado Katherine Barton Barry and Melissa Baxter Blair Bennett and Thomas Colella Rod and Stacy Bigelow Richard and Elizabeth Bond Susan and Bill Booth Michelle Burian Robert and Julie Burkhart Trent and Beth Burner Jeffrey and Christina Byron Chris and Jenny Champlin Missy and Jeff Clifton Myles and Cynthia Cochran Chris and Ladonna Combs Delano and Ginger Cotton Ms. Jennifer D’Angelo and Mr. Kirk Koehler Scott and Meagan Danielson Ella and Stuart Dean Samuel Dean Brittany and Jacob Deans Shana and Matthew Desmit Susie and Adam Dill Nathan and Kimberly Duhamel June Ekenseair Jason and Allison England Wade and Jennifer Esty George and Rosemary Faucette Carolyn and Mike Fincher Matthew and Erin Foster Linda Fulton Mr. and Mrs. Randy Gottlieb Nathan and Bryn Greene Glenn and Harriette Habern Stacey and Kris Hanby John and Kristy Huddleston Cheryl Hull
Courtney and Matt Kistler Misty and Edward Landers Peter Lane Eve and Scott Lemaster Eric and Keri Letson Scott Letts and Laurie Smalling Judy and Steve Marquess John and Kristen Mauck Marybeth and Charles Mayfield Becky and Tom McCoy Ms. Brandi McKinney Munson and Mrs. Brandon Munson Victor and Cassie Michalski Jason and Jennifer Miller Pat and Bob Moore Angie and James Muldoon Jennifer and Kit Nowlin Amanda and Will Nunnally Mark and Amy Pacifico Theodore Payne and Shirin Odar Kathy and Don Pederson Betsy and Loyd Phillips John and Laura Phillips Marsha and John Phillips Simone Pisciotta and Kathleen Kress Teresa and Matt Pratt Terry and Jan Price Trent and Amanda Ragar Ashley and John Rausch Charles and Susan Redfield Vicki and Mel Redman Bridget and Marc Rogers Chris and Leila Runyan Ken and Carol Sanders Becky and Dave Schoewe Eric and Elda Scott Keisha and David Scott Shannon Shoptaw David and Deborah Short
Carl and Deborah Simpson Cheryl and Aaron Sluyter Gwenda and Brian Smith Wendy and Chris Sooter Adriana and Heath Stacey Glenn and Peggy Stein Mark Switzer and Beverly Redden Patrick Travis Gail Trolinger Christina and Gary Wahlig Jim and Lynne Walton Scott and Angela Whitlow Keri and Shane Wilkinson Christopher and Amber Williams Ms. Jennifer Wills and Mr. Brian O’Dell Ed and Jennifer Winant Bobby and Denise Wright Salena Wright Brown Tom and Cindy Youngblood Charter Contributing Members joined between November 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. We make every effort to acknowledge our donors, sponsors and contributing members appropriately. If we inadvertently omitted your name, please let us know.
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