The Spark City Children’s Museum has not yet found a home in Jefferson County, but thatap not stopping organizers from hitting the road this summer to bring the museum to children.
The Golden-based nonprofit is readying a converted school bus to serve as a free mobile museum that can visit different places throughout the county for 17 weeks starting June 20.
“We have so many great things — we just want to supplement and complement,” said Spark City Children’s Museum founder Katherine Broome. “Parents are always looking for additional places to take kids.”
The school bus is a converted Denver Public Schools bus that Spark City bought at auction and will include an artist-painted mural on the side.
The museum will be based on role-playing and simulate adult life for kids age 2-6. There will be a kitchen, grocery store, orchard, farm and a cafe. There is also an outdoor component.
The museum has deals in place with several day cares and year-round preschools as well as Lakewood and Jefferson County Head Start to visit their parking lots throughout the summer. Spark City also is in negotiations with several other local entities that would allow for more of the public to see what the museum has to offer. For dates and times as they are announced, visit .
“Itap a chance for kids to experience the adult world on their level while interacting with their peers,” said Jackie Falkenstein, a board member for Spark City Children’s Museum.
Broome said she always enjoys watching kids pretend and play with one another no matter how long they’ve known each other.
“Itap amazing to see kids who don’t know each other create these scenarios,” Broome said.
The bus was converted at low cost to the nonprofit, with many materials second-hand. Broome said she got an estimate of more than $100,000 to repurpose the bus as she wanted. Thanks to the help of lots of volunteers, including her husband and in-laws, they’ve done it for about $20,000.
Broome said it can also show kids that almost anything can be recycled or reused.
“We want kids to see they can take an everyday piece of furniture and turn it into something fun,” she said.
with the hopes of one day finding a permanent location for a children’s museum somewhere near her home. She put out a survey to parents last year, which is how she connected with Falkenstein. There are now 10 women on the Spark City board of directors.
Broome said the city of Golden has been a big help in getting the organization off the ground with advice from the city’s economic development commission.
“I think itap a cool idea that she and her group are approaching appropriately,” said commission director Steve Glueck, who added that he helps many local businesses by offering help on where to find aid and possible locations to set up shop.
“Mostly, the city appreciates people who have ideas for small businesses and attractions of all types,” he said.
After the summer season ends, the nonprofit will shift its focus to a capital campaign to raise money for a permanent home.
The museum is inspired by the Pretend City Children’s Museum in Orange County, Calif., and the idea for a mobile museum came from the Bronx Mobile Museum in New York.
Falkenstein said that having a permanent spot in Jefferson County would give parents a good option for a children’s museum, but this summer the museum can come to them.
She said: “It would be really nice to have something that is more accessible.”