Children’s Museum Of Manhattan Announces Opening Of Splashy New Outdoor Water Exhibit, “Dynamic H2O” In Its Sussman Environmental Center
New Interactive Exhibit Set to Open Memorial Day Weekend Celebrates Water, and Explores the Remarkable Story of How New York City Gets its Supply from Upstate
New York, NY – May 17, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced the opening of Dynamic H2O, a new outdoor water exhibit offering children of all ages and their families a fun place to chill while they explore water’s importance to a healthy lifestyle and learn about its role in our New York City environment. The wet and wonderful exhibit in the Sussman Environmental Center at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street), featuring hands-on interactives and cool, colorful graphics, will open May 28, and run through September, weather permitting.
Dynamic H2O dives into NYC’s water supply system, which delivers about 1.1 billion gallons per day to 9.5 million New Yorkers, and whose world-class drinking water travels downhill from upstate watersheds extending more than 125 miles from the city in what is widely considered an engineering marvel.
The exhibit features a 16-foot interactive water table that will enable children to investigate the path of NYC’s water as they play and explore. The experience begins with the water cycle up in the clouds. With the press of a button, kids become rainmakers. Small floating droplets allow them to follow the currents as they progress downstream, flowing past lily pads and an area where kids can pretend to fish. Continuing along the stream, there are many hands-on opportunities for fun and discovery. Children can experiment with flow, pressure, and even plumbing! As the water reaches the city, kids can build their own hi-rise towers from Duplo Lego Blocks on mini-NYC’s priceless waterfront property!
“Our municipal water system is one of New York City’s greatest treasures,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “Dynamic H2O offers our guests a chance to have fun and stay cool while learning about the important role water plays in the city and our lives.”
Additional highlights of the 800-square-foot, three-level exhibit include:
- An interactive of NYC buildings designed to help children understand how gravity and pumps are essential in providing water to houses and skyscrapers across the city
- Magnetic tubes that can carry water allow visitors to create the aqueducts and tunnels that transport the water from upstate to NYC. Children will be challenged to piece together enough pipes to span the “100 miles” from the Catskills to the city.
- Outdoor laboratories, where children can enjoy inquiry-based exploration, assuming the roles of some of the people involved in maintaining NYC’s water supply including marine biologists, ecologists and other scientists.
A wide range of educator-led workshops will take place throughout the exhibit’s run. Participation is free with admission.
The exhibit was made possible in part by Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and Will Blodgett, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Additional support for education programs was provided by the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Dynamic H2O replaces the Children’s Museum’s City Splash exhibit.
For more information about Dynamic H2O and to check out a video of its water table, please visit www.cmom.org, and https://www.facebook.com/cmom.nyc/videos/10154134102741941/, respectively.