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Salem YMCA Family Room

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Hours:Daily 8:30am-1:30pm only
In/Outdoor:Indoor
Cost:$$ see below
Category:Museums
Other Ideas: Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House - Home of the Alcotts; Old Sturbridge Village; Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA); MIT Museum


salem ymca family room photoThe Salem YMCA Family Room is now located in the North Shore YMCA building.

The Salem YMCA Family Room is a terrifc for kids of all ages to create, learn and explore. Preschoolers will love to dress up in the dramatic play area, use their imagination on our climbing structure and learn to cook a healthy meal in the kitchen/dining area.

Older children will learn about our North Shore oceanic resources in the tidepool, will take home themed arts and crafts project and will have access to educational computers with age-appropriate software for toddlers to teens!

Here is what your family will experience:

  • Learn about local marine life at the tidepool.
  • Be the star of stage and screen.
  • Experiment in the science center.
  • Be creative in our craft area.
  • Make music and merriment.
  • Hands-on learning and fun will spark your imagination.


Specialized exhibits will rotate in the museum to provide fun and learning for all!

Call for more information (978) 741-1811

COST↑ top

$10 for a non-YMCA family, or $5 for a non-member child of a YMCA member adult

WEBSITE↑ top

www.northshoreymca.org/pages/11446_salem_ymca_family_room.cfm

LOCATION↑ top

294 Essex Street, YMCA building, Salem, MA, 01970 map
Phone: (978) 741-1811

REVIEWS↑ top

4-starHappy To Have Found Out
Best place for toddlers we have found in a long time. The cost $4.50 is worth every penny. My kids 2 & 4 had a great time pretending to be the fire cheif, the postmaster and the short order cook. We created a mask and a pop up card for halloween. We were abIe to bring our lunch in. While we were there we sign my children up for art classes. My family would recommend a visit to anyone with small children
1-starNorth Shore Children's Museum
This place was a total waste of time. It is like a dirty playroom you would find at a mall. Most of the toys were broken and had missing pieces. The craft was gluing cotton balls to a paper plate. My 4 year old was bored in 5 minutes. I thought the first room was just a walk way to the 'Museum', didn't realize it was the whole museum untilafter I paid to get in. Save the money and take your child to a nice park.
1-starFilthy and Uneducational
just went this past week (June 2006) and I am astonished that they call this a museum. there was not one educational museum-like aspect to this place. it is very small, about 800 sq ft. Everything is filthy. The play clothes are dirty. The one table was filthy. Non of the computers were turned on (at 10:30 am) because the worker claimed she 'was feeling lazy.' the aquarium was a bath tub sized water bath with one live lobster a few ocean shells and UNFILTERED water. this place should be closed per the board of health, or just a shear waste of money. (Note this place is at a new location next to the Salem YMCA and is now a part of the YMCA). the place is a disaster.
5-starAnother Great Visit
My 6 year old son and I just enjoyed another great visit to this museum! This time, we spent most of our time in the sandbox building a castle complete with shark infested moat! We also spent some time playing with the fire trucks and station, and of course we spent some time on the tugboat! I like the fact that we could leave to roam around Salem a little, then return later at no additional cost! I also enjoy catching up with other parents while our children play (within our eyesight, of course). Thank you North Shore Children's Museum!
4-starPlay Learning Just For Fun
Finally! A place for kids to be kids; not mini adults! I have three kids 10 and 8 year old boys and our little girl is three. Trying to find something that works for them as a group is a monumental challenge! My guys were not keen on the idea of going to a 'museum' two Saturdays ago. But after dragging Bridgit to their games over the lat few week, even they saw it was only fair. Who did Paul and I have to drag out? yup, the boys! Bridgit had fun playing in the sand and playing dress up on stage. The boys played like boys! In period costumes they became the mob bosses and thepirate of the amazing sailing ship. For us, it couldn't be more kid friendly and because we could bring in lunch for them, incredible family friendly! I understand that the YMCA is working in conjunction with the NSCM..makes me look forward to our next visit!! The down part is that there is no time limit. Always good to help me make my exit!
5-starThe North Shore Children's Museum Is An Asset To The North S
I have been visiting the North Shore Children's Museum for the past three years. My family loves it and is activily supporting it. With any place that serves children you are bound to have times when things are broken and pieces missing. There is plenty to do for all ages and a great place to meet our friends. If we ever have a problem with staff or an exhibit we let them know right away and they address it. I find it extremely education for my 3& 5 year olds. I also have an infant now and it is so easy for me to watch and interact with all my children with out worry. My only issue with the museum is the parents who do not supervise their children and let them run, throw and hit things. This is not a problem with the museum but with the individual parents. The Museum is an asset to our community and we need more families to be proactive in supporting it. It is a non-profit organization with a very small budget and deserve more recognition from the community. Visit soon and see for yourself.
1-starForget It Go To The Park Or Beach
This place is not educational nor is it a museum. The music room had three instruments-- all of which were broken. The 'tide pool' contained plastic frogs and a couple of live crabs-- there were not any educuational materials or signs explaineing tide pools. Many of the exhibits were broken, dirty and poorly maintained. The only staff member present was a parent volunteer who had her own children there-- they were very territorial and kept grabbing things away from the other children. A trip to the park or beach with your children would be more fun and more educational!
1-starIt's Not Worth The Trip
This place is not educational nor is it a museum. The music room had three instruments-- all of which were broken. The 'tide pool' contained plastic frogs and a couple of live crabs-- there were not any educuational materials or signs explaineing tide pools. Many of the exhibits were broken, dirty and poorly maintained. The only staff member present was a parent volunteer who had her own children there-- they were very territorial and kept grabbing things away from the other children. A trip to the park or beach with your children would be more fun and more educational!
1-starRecent visit
On a recent visit to the Children's Museum Salem, we were greatly disappointed in the overall lack of cleanliness and disarray of the exhibits. Some specific examples would be 1)the tide pool provided no educational material for young children to read and learn and was poorly maintained for having a live lobster in residence 2) the music room was extremely dusty and provided musical instruments that were broken and chewed on and 3) the puppet theater provided old, dusty puppets that were dirty and in need of being washed. It was not obvious that a staff member of the museum was available to circulate around the museum to assist with picking up the exhibits. Again, it was a disappointing visit which is unfortunate seeing that it has the potential to provide a great escape for children.

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