OMSI Opportunity
Dear Play Labs community partner,
As summer winds down and back-to-school season approaches, I hope this message finds you and the families you serve doing well. I wanted to share a few updates about the Play Labs program as well as upcoming events for educators and families with young children that may interest you.
HELP OMSI TRANSFORM PLAY LABS!
In the past year alone, we partnered with 14 organizations to provide 68 Play Labs programs to over 570 families! Thank you for being a part of this shared success. However, we are nearing the end of the Play Labs program in its current format and are currently gathering information for an upcoming redesign of the program, which will launch in 2026.
We are interested in learning from you about which Play Labs program elements are essential to your families, which are nice, and which are not important. Your thoughts will inform the upcoming program redesign and can help us tell the Play Labs story to potential future funders. Please take a moment to complete the short survey before September 3. We are grateful for your feedback and look forward to ongoing collaborations with your organization and to a robust Play Labs program of the future!
Please feel free to reach out with additional questions or comments. Please note: your survey responses are not anonymous.
2025 PLAY LAB DATES: FIRST-BOOKED, FIRST SERVED WHILE FUNDING LASTS.
We are currently booking through the end of 2025 for Play Lab programming in its current format while funding lasts! Availability is outlined below, and all program elements (including family memberships) will be first-booked, first-served. Book now to reserve your preferred dates! Email register@omsi.edu for bookings (I have also copied them on this email). You are more than welcome to reserve more than one program!
At the museum: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Morning sessions 10am-11:30am; afternoon sessions 3pm-4:30pm.
At your location: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Morning sessions 10am-11:30am; afternoon sessions 3pm-4:30pm.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT OMSI!
Did you know that OMSI offers STEAM-focused professional development certified through ORO? All trainings are designed with plenty of hands-on activities and discussions to keep you engaged while you learn. Your PD ticket includes same-day museum general admission for the participant! Tickets open for purchase starting September 10 at www.omsi.edu/educator-resources! Space is limited, purchase early! If the dates below don't work for you, reach out to bring me to your training site!
Saturday, October 11 9a-1p: Supporting Young Scientists
Saturday, December 13 9a-1p: Supporting Young Mathematicians
Saturday, February 14 9a-1p: Supporting Young Engineers
Saturday, April 11 9a-1p: Supporting Young Mathematicians
Saturday, June 13 9a-1p: STEAM for Infants and Toddlers
SAVE THE DATES!
OMSI has several upcoming events for families, communities, and educators. Mark these dates on your calendar and I’ll share more information on how to participate as I have it!
Just for educators: OMSI Educator Open House. FREE event with required registration. Wednesday, October 8, 2025 from 5:30-8pm. Come and explore all that OMSI has to offer, chat with our education team, plan your field trip, explore professional development opportunities, and more! Educators in the Oregon Registry Online can earn one FREE hour of professional development credit in Learning Environments and curriculum with a self-guided on-site activity. Email me for more information: adouglass@omsi.edu.
Please note: this opportunity is for education professionals only and is not appropriate for families. “Education professionals” includes anyone working with or caring for children in a professional capacity.
For families: Early Learning Community Partners Family Science Night. FREE for families affiliated with an early learning partner. Tuesday, February 10, 2026. More information coming soon, please reach out for de BEFORE sharing with your community: adouglass@omsi.edu.
For everyone: Community Science Nights at OMSI. Ticketed events, some tickets are available for FREE to community partners. These evenings center culturally-specific audiences and are co-designed with partners and BIPoC staff. Each evening offers a variety of experiences such as dance or musical performances, talks from leading scientists, culturally specific science trivia, bilingual story times and other special events. If your organization would like to receive free tickets to distribute to your community/ies who share these culturally-specific identities, please let me know! Please note that everyone is welcome to attend, even if you don’t identify as a member of the community being centered.
October 10, 2025 | Black Community Science Night
November 8, 2025 | Native American Community Science Night
I appreciate you reading this far and for your partnership in OMSI's Play Labs programs. Please let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to seeing you at OMSI soon!
With very warm regards,
Annie
Annie Douglass, MS Ed (she/her)
Learning Strategist, Early Childhood Engagement
ORO Master Trainer and Organizational Representative