This year, Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum is focusing its Give 716 campaign efforts on funding accessible educational programs like Au-Some Evenings.

At Explore & More, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive museum that provides opportunity for all children. This year, we are asking for your support to further our educational programs and services that benefit the educational development of young Western New Yorkers.

Donations received during this year's Give 716 campaign are critical!

Funding for Au-Some Evenings runs out this year and without additional monetary support, we may not be able to continue to host these types of free programs that have been so important to local families.

We host Au-Some Evenings on the second Friday of each month during the school year. They provide a FREE night at the museum for children with autism and sensory processing needs, their friends, and their family. It gives everyone an opportunity to play and learn together in an understanding and supportive environment, while building their own community.

Educators from Buffalo State University are on site to lead instructional activities and provide educational resources for caregivers.

Since we opened our Canalside location in 2019, we've worked hard to make our exhibits and play spaces accessible, including our Indoor Playground (which was made possible through a past Give 716 campaign), the wheelchair lift in our Community Treehouse, and sensory-friendly rooms throughout the museum.

To help make everyone's visit as enjoyable and engaging as possible, we have developed customized visual, social, communicative, sensory, and behavioral supports. Guests will find these supports throughout the museum – from our sensory backpacks to universal changing tables to call-ahead accommodations.

The museum's staff has also been recognized by the Buffalo Common Council during National Diversity Employment Awareness Month, and we pride ourselves on being an inclusive space, welcoming of all individuals of all abilities into our museum to learn, play, grow, and work!

Thank you for your support!

The mission of Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum is to provide best-in-class play experiences where all children, families and the community can explore, learn, and develop together.