Making Connections
and Building a Better World

We are all builders; whether we are building castles, building opportunities or building relationships. At The Children's Museum this winter, there is a lot of building going on — from the construction outside to the transformation of young lives inside.

"Minds-on, hands-on." That's the motto of LEGO® Systems. And it sums up what The Children's Museum is about — providing the building blocks needed to transform the lives of children and families. As we prepare to open LEGO Castle Adventure, our second exhibit partnership with LEGO, we are embarking on an experience grounded in creativity and learning that falls right in line with our mission: to create extraordinary learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families.

While our LEGO exhibit sparks the creativity of modern-day castle builders of all ages, The Children's Museum continues to strengthen our global connections to remain a global leader among all cultural institutions serving children and families. If you've visited the museum in the last couple of months, you've probably noticed the "countdown to Tut" kiosk next to the Water Clock. We are so privileged to bring the Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs exhibit to Indianapolis. We are able to do so because of our unique world-class partnership with Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, and Dr. Zahi Hawass, Chair of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. We are also in the midst of constructing a new $8 million permanent exhibit, titled Take Me There: Egypt, that will immerse children and families in a new cultural experience located in modern day Cairo. Every few years, the exhibit will change its cultural focus to another country.

Membership is an important way that the museum is able to connect with you — our members. And membership is a great way to build better connections with your family and friends. Not only does membership make a great holiday gift for family, friends and neighbors, but the value of a membership is worth much more than the cost. For example, for a member family of four that visits four times a year, membership pays for itself in just two visits. More importantly, you are creating the experiences that your children will remember throughout their lives and giving them extraordinary learning opportunities that they can get only at The Children's Museum.

So as we end 2008 and prepare for 2009, let us resolve to continue to make and strengthen connections by reaching out to others, striving to better understand our world and build a better future for all. The Children's Museum is your partner in transforming the lives of children and families!

Jeffrey H. Patchen
President and CEO