KID Museum introduces students to STEM and 21st-century skills in coding, design engineering, and 3D modeling – activating them as “makers” who build agency, confidence, and creative problem-solving in the process. Participants learn to experiment with coding or 3D design, developing skills in open-ended building experiences or design challenges that inspire them to create personally meaningful projects. Youth also connect with instructors and classmates as collaborators throughout the process. The museum's signature inquiry- and exploration-based approach is preserved in week-long summer camps; free, DIY, creative projects that keep kids and families engaged at home; paid, real-time, instructor-led programs: isn't it amazing what creativity and ingenuity can produce?

Headquarters: MD-Montgomery County

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Montgomery County; MD-Prince George's County; VA-Fairfax County

Age Groups Served: Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17)

Population(s) Served: All

Schools They Work In: Aidan Montessori School; Alef Bet Montessori Elementary School; Argyle MS; Bannockburn ES; Barrie School; Bethesda ES; Bradley Hills ES; Bullis School; Burning Tree ES; Children's Manor Montessori School of Germantown; Children's Manor Montessori School of Rockville; City Kids Homeschool Group; Classical Conversations Bethesda Homeschool Group; Colonel E Brooke Lee MS; DC Scholars Public Charter School; Delaware Technical Community College ; DuFief ES; Einstein HS; Elizabeth Seton HS ; Evergreen Montessori; Fallsmead ES; Forest Oak MS; Gaithersburg ES ; Georgetown Day School; Green Acres School; Ivymont School; Jewish Primary Day School; Langley ES ; Living Grace Christian School; Loiderman MSHS; Loudoun Country Day School; Mason Crest ES; Maury ES; Montessori School of Alexandria; Montgomery College ; Montgomery Village MS; Neelsville MS; Norwood School; Nur Montessori; Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School; Oyster-Adams Bilingual School; Parkland MS; Pinnacle Academy; Primary Day School; Rock View ES; Rolling Terrace ES ; Sidwell Friends; St. Bartholomew School; St. Patrick's School; The Howard Gardner School; The River School; The Siena School; The Summit School; Tyler ES; Washington Episcopal School; Watkins ES; Westland MS; Westminster School; Whole Kids Academy


  • Number of people served annually:   55,000
  • Percentage of field trip students from high needs schools:   47%
  • Number of high school students trained as mentors and apprentices:   300
  • Number of schools served each year at KID Museum:   200

Awards & Recognition

KIDfest, KID Museum’s signature family festival, named a “Best Local Festival” by Bethesda Magazine. 2018

Cara Lesser, KID Museum Founder and Executive Director, received the Montgomery Women’s Rising Star Award for 2018, as one of the county’s “best and brightest.”

Washingtonian Magazine named KID Museum “One of 24 Local Charities Worth Your Time and Money.” 2017

Appointed as a regional hub for Making Spaces, a national initiative by Google, MakerEd, and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, now in its second year. 2016 - 2018

Named one of the “Best Places to Take Kids” by Bethesda Magazine. 2016

Listed as one of the “12 Best Makerspaces in America Where Kids Learn to Create,” by Fatherly, a national blog aimed at fathers. 2017

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics recognized KID Museum’s work making a difference in the lives of Latino Youth. 2015

Washingtonian Magazine named KID “Best New Creative Zone for Kids.” 2015

White House Office of Science and Technology and Policy invitations: White House Maker Faire, White House Hour of Code, roundtable on increasing diversity and opportunity in STEM education; and White House Tribal Youth Gathering’s Innovation Festival. 2014, 2015

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for KID Museum is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

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