As this year comes to an end, it is the perfect opportunity to pause, look back, and appreciate the powerful steps our organization has been able to take in partnership with our community.
OMSI always strives to bring fun-filled, eye-opening, and impactful science experiences to learners throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, but, of course, each year brings unique challenges locally, regionally, and globally.
We know our strengths as a national leader in museum-based and outdoor science education. So how do our unique experiences intersect with the needs of our community? And how can we have the biggest impact not just today but in building toward the future?
Last year OMSI reached more than 1.1 million learners, creating transformative learning opportunities that were as unique as each visitor and participant. From a student’s first sleepaway camp, where they discovered a lifelong passion, to cutting-edge museum exhibits that toured across the country, to programs brought directly to schools designed to engage all types of learners, OMSI evolved our approaches to science learning to make our experiences accessible and engaging for all.
Regional Educator Program
Last year was the second year collaborating with Tamarack Elementary School in Hillsboro through our Regional Educator Program. OMSI’s embedded educator delivered STEAM programming to over 3,100 students last year through in-class design challenges, summer camps, an afterschool club, and field trips, helping students apply their learning to real-world projects.
Sustainable Fishing Design Challenge
We also debuted a new design challenge in the Turbine Hall focused on the science and importance of sustainable fishing practices. The challenge asks visitors to practice sustainable choices in a grocery store, imagine new uses for old fishing nets, and more. The experience was also done in collaboration with a team of teens over the summer, giving them valuable career experience and opportunities for real-world skills building.
Aira and Accessibility
In 2024, OMSI expanded its offering of Aira, a visual interpretation service that offers a technological solution to support individuals with visual impairments, from its museum campus on Water Ave to both of its camps. This service is free for everyone visiting OMSI and is an important step in making the museum and other OMSI buildings accessible to everyone.
Teen Tech Center
The Best Buy Teen Tech Center at OMSI continued providing space for youth to learn new 21st-century skills, discover new technologies, and experiment with interests in a safe environment. One summer intern at OMSI, Ashley Tran, shared her virtual reality project, which started in the Teen Tech Center. Her innovative work inspired others in the Center to dip their toes into VR for the first time and helped her gain the confidence to start college the following fall.
The support of OMSI’s visitors, members, donors, and partners has made all of this work possible. But, in true OMSI fashion, we are already planning for an even bigger year ahead. We can’t wait to inspire curiosity and create unforgettable moments with our community at the many events, programs, exhibits, movies, and more that we have in store for 2025. Together, let’s make it a year of discovery, connection, and boundless possibilities!