The Peoria PlayHouse project is built on a solid partnership between the Junior League of Peoria, the Peoria Zoological Society and the Peoria Park Distrcit. As part of the larger plan to revitalize the campus at Glen Oak Park spurred by the expansion of the Peoria Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Peoria Playhouse will be situated at the newly designed entrance to the zoo at the Glen Oak Pavilion.
The Peoria PlayHouse will prepare every young child to learn by offering the hands-on experiences essential for healthy brain development. It will feature interactive exhibits and programs that stengthen families and complement formal education, ensuring that all children are stimulated to participate and learn. These positive learning experiences will instill in our children a lifelong love of learning, and encourage an appreciation of our cultural institutions as they mature.
It will be an educational resource for teachers and parents. All of the exhibits in The Peoria PlayHouse are acessible to children with special needs and every component included therein is tied to an Illinois Early Learning Standard. The Junior League of Peoria is working with internationally-recognized education consultant Mary Sinker and exhibit designers Jack Rouse Associates to make sure that the way children play in this house will help them as they go to school to learn and that their play here will enhance their capacity to learn. Further, the museum will seek accreditation from the American Association of Museums, distinguishing it from other children's museums in Illinois.
Until the doors of our museum are open, we recognize the great need for educational programming and activities for children in our area. To meet this need, the Peoria PlayHouse provides free educational activities for children on a regular basis and at various community events.
For more information, visit www.PeoriaPlayhouse.org.
Information provided by the Junior League of Peoria