Vision, Mission, Core Values
Vision
The FLIP Museum is filling the void left by the closure of the Portland Children’s Museum and building a new ecosystem for play-based learning that serves the entire metropolitan region.
Mission
The FLIP Museum creates multicultural children’s museums that bring children and their adults together to learn, connect, and build community through play. Through hands-on experiences in arts, STEM, culture, and open-ended exploration, we support cognitive development, social-emotional learning, and family engagement during the most formative years of childhood. We are committed to creating welcoming, accessible spaces where all children can develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Core Values
FUN
We keep fun in mind when we design our exhibits because we know that children will continue to engage as long as they are having fun! At The FLIP Museum, play is educational, and learning is fun. Our exhibits are interactive and child-centered, so children can explore at their own pace and level of interest.
LEARNING
Our educational exhibits give children opportunities to explore their interests and discover new ones. We incorporate multicultural materials into our exhibits because multiculturalism is central to our educational mission. We aim to foster empathy and openness to other cultures and nurture children’s self-confidence and sense of belonging by reflecting the beauty of their cultures.
INSPIRATION
Our exhibits are not just fun, they’re inspirational. When children are allowed to explore at their own pace, they develop autonomy, creativity, and a love of learning. These abilities empower children to solve problems, discover new ways to think about the world, and think of themselves as people who can have a positive impact on their communities.
PLAY
Our museums are places where families bond and build community. As they play, children strengthen relationships with peers and family members. Open-ended play also helps children develop skills such as critical thinking, creativity, emotional self-regulation, leadership, and collaboration.