Neighborhood North: Museum of Play

06/19/2026

06/19/2026

🖤❤️💚 Juneteenth at Neighborhood North

At Neighborhood North, we join communities across the country in recognizing Juneteenth—a holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.

Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward justice and equity. It is also a time to reflect, learn, and celebrate Black history, culture, and contributions that continue to shape our world today.

As a children’s museum, we believe in creating spaces where young learners can explore history in age-appropriate, meaningful ways—helping them understand the past while imagining a more inclusive future. 🌟

We encourage families to take time to learn together, ask questions, and celebrate the importance of this day.

06/18/2026

We love being with mini makers in our Maker Space— where creativity, curiosity, and innovation come together! From building new ideas to experimenting, creating, and problem-solving, every project is an opportunity to learn and grow. There's nothing better than turning imagination into reality and sharing that journey with little makers. 🚀🔧✨

06/17/2026

📣 Just a quick heads up for our visitors!

On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:00–2:00 PM, the museum will be a bit busier than usual as we host the Trails Summer Camp, now through July 24th!

We're excited to welcome these wonderful kids and share the museum experience with them! During that hour, you can expect a little extra energy, excitement, and activity throughout the museum.

If you're looking for a quieter visit, you may want to plan a different time. Otherwise, come enjoy the fun atmosphere with us as we inspire the next generation of explorers and learners!

Thank you for your understanding and support ☀️

06/16/2026

Meet Our Summer Intern: Estella Shi! 🌟

"Hi! I'm Estella Shi, a graduate student studying Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, and I'm thrilled to be spending my summer with Neighborhood North.

I was drawn here because I believe every child deserves joyful, hands-on opportunities to learn and belong, and that's exactly what this museum makes possible. I'll be helping behind the scenes with community research and strategy, and I'm excited to be part of such a welcoming community. See you at the museum!"

Please join us in welcoming Estella Shi to Neighborhood North this summer!

06/16/2026

Meet Our Summer Staff: Bree Mycyk! 🌟

"Hello! My name is Bree Mycyk, and I recently graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) with my Occupational Therapy Assistant degree. I look forward to continuing my education and career within the pediatric field.

I first heard about Neighborhood North through my fiancé when he took our 3-year-old there to play. After learning more about the museum’s mission and values, I knew I wanted to be part of the team.

Seeing children encouraged to get messy, explore, and learn alongside their peers truly made my heart sing. Combined with the strong sense of community involvement, it is clear that Neighborhood North was thoughtfully created by people who are passionate about supporting and inspiring our youth."

Please join us in welcoming Bree to Neighborhood North this summer!

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

We have to admit- our staff was a little distracted today! 😊 It was hard to stay focused while so much creativity and fun were happening outdoors at our All-Day Graffiti Art Camp.

Under the guidance of artists Max Gems Gonzales and Cori Angeline, our middle school students worked together to create an amazing collaborative graffiti mural that showcases their teamwork and artistic voices. We're excited that the finished mural will soon be installed on the windows of the Tribune Building for the community to enjoy!

But the artmaking didn't stop with visual art. Max and Cori also had students drumming, creating rhythms together, and bringing even more energy to an already incredible day!

The mural is filled with words the students chose to describe their city and that reflect what they value, hope for, and believe makes their community special. Check out some of the words they selected and see if your favorites made the list!

06/15/2026

We were honored and excited to serve as presenters at last week's Learning Landscape Conference at !

This unique one-day conference created space for educators and practitioners to share ideas, experiences, and effective practices that inspire learning and action around science, ecology, and climate.

Our session focused on rain gardens and how these innovative landscape features can transform stormwater runoff from a source of pollution into a valuable resource. Participants learned the basics of rain garden design, explored plant selection and site considerations, discussed the role rain gardens play in supporting healthy urban ecosystems, and examined the infrastructure needed to collect and manage rainwater. We also connected this lesson to student learning.

Beyond presenting, it was a joy to spend the day learning from our peers. We were inspired by the diverse approaches educators are taking to connect learners with science and the environment. We are grateful to be part of this network and of building an ecosystem of support for the next generation of environmental stewards.

Thank you to the organizers, fellow presenters, and attendees for making Learning Landscapes such a meaningful day of learning, collaboration, and shared purpose.