In 2025, Kidzeum was voted the Best Family Fun Spot in the Illinois Times Best of Springfield competition. Kidzeum is that and so much more. It is a place where children explore new skills, think critically and engage in hands-on learning.
Kidzeum recently received a grant of nearly $150,000 from the National Science Foundation to engage the community in designing a cutting-edge center for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education. The project will position Kidzeum as a learning hub where children and families engage with hands-on science and technology activities in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them.
Kidzeum executive director Leah Wilson is the driving force behind this initiative. She envisions Kidzeum as an essential learning hub for informal science where kids can begin to see themselves as engineers, scientists or mathematicians. Dr. Catherine Haden of Loyola University and Dr. David Uttal of Northwestern University are collaborators.
“Being selected for this funding reflects national confidence in Kidzeum’s approach to learning through play,” says Wilson. “It also positions our work as part of a broader effort to improve student competency in STEM subjects by expanding access to programs in informal educational settings.” Adding art creates opportunities to foster creativity and innovation and makes STEM concepts more interesting and relevant for learners who gravitate toward the creative fields.
Community involvement makes this project unique. “Too often STEAM programming for young children is designed for communities rather than with them,” says Haden. “This project offers a fundamentally different approach – one that positions parents, educators and community members as experts and genuine co-designers.”
A young engineer proudly displays a 3D print project.
Uttal is excited about the partnership between Northwestern University and Kidzeum. “This innovative approach could serve as a model for other institutions across the country, helping to make science education more accessible and relevant to a variety of communities,” he said.
Kidzeum is hosting a series of workshops and focus groups, inviting input from a diverse cross-section of urban and rural constituents. This will involve identifying existing community assets that support STEM/STEAM education and barriers that must be overcome. The first workshops took place in early February and more will follow.
By co-designing the center with the community, the intent is to develop exhibits and programs that not only teach important STEM/STEAM concepts but also connect to the daily lives and experiences of learners. Programs that help young children develop an interest in STEM/STEAM can lay a foundation for a stronger labor pool for the future.
“We can’t underestimate the value of pretend play,” says Wilson. “When children put on a white coat, pick up a toy stethoscope and pretend to give mom a physical, they are building memories that can turn into dreams. And dreams can turn into goals. And goals can become reality.”
The STEAM center will be housed on the first floor of the Kidzeum in two rooms that were totally renovated in 2022 with funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Museum Capital Grant Program. The goal is to launch the center within the next three years, pending additional funding for implementation.
Everyone who has an interest in expanding STEM/STEAM programs for children is invited to participate. For more information on how to get involved, visit https://kidzeum.org/education or email leah.wilson@kidzeum.org.
Karen Ackerman Witter is a former board president of Kidzeum. She is a frequent contributor to lllinois Times, and many of her articles relate to science, technology, engineering, art and math.
This article appears in Parent Spring 2026.
