Baldwin UFSD Partners with Long Island Children’s Museum for Unique Educational Experience Open to K-5 Families
The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) welcomed hundreds of Baldwin Union Free School District students and their families for a special evening dedicated to S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) learning. Located in Garden City, New York, LICM is a hands-on, interactive learning space dedicated to inspiring creativity, curiosity, and discovery in children and families. Through over a dozen engaging exhibit galleries and a wide range of educational programs, LICM provides opportunities for children to learn through play in the areas of science, art, culture, and early childhood development. The museum was closed to the public and opened exclusively to Baldwin families for this unique educational experience.
The district’s 4th annual Baldwin Family S.T.E.A.M. Night immediately set the stage for an unforgettable celebration of curiosity, creativity, and connection. Open to families with students in grades K-5, the well-attended museum allowed attendees to rotate through engaging, hands-on stations, including creating binary code bracelets, experimenting with flying fish, and participating in exciting animal encounters. From discovery to design, every corner of the museum became a space for learning and wonder.
Through this partnership with LICM, families were able to fully explore the expansive facility on Museum Row, which features 14 interactive galleries designed to spark creativity and collaboration, free of charge. Students engaged in a wide range of hands-on exhibits, including Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out, where they learned about the role emotions, memory and imagination play in everyday life; Bubbles, which demonstrated scientific principles through playful experimentation; and Sound Showers, an immersive exhibit focused on sound and acoustics.
“It was a powerful reminder that when schools and families come together, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls and becomes an experience our children will carry with them for years to come,” explained fifth grade teacher and S.T.E.A.M. Night collaborator, Ms. Lynette O'Brien. “This event is a true reflection of what makes our community so strong—our dedicated teachers, supportive families, and students who are eager to learn and explore. Thank you to everyone who helped make the night such a meaningful and memorable experience.”
Participants also scaled the two-story Climb-It@LICM sculpture featuring winding pathways and multi-level exploration and stepped into a simulated newsroom to experience what it is like to be a news anchor firsthand.
The event reflected Baldwin UFSD’s commitment to innovative, real-world learning experiences while strengthening the home-school connection.