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About Caretakers of Wonder

The changing climate is putting children’s physical and mental health at risk. There are resources available to help older children cope, but there is little available to help younger children and their caregivers. That is why the Caretakers of Wonder project was created.

Caretakers of Wonder is a national project that connects young children to nature, fosters empathy, and instills a sense of agency. Those are resiliencies kids need now to thrive in the world—and later to change it. The project, through work with partner museums, supports caretakers to help children grow and be healthy. And parents learn how they can take and model action in this global crisis—in straightforward and hopeful ways.

The institutions on the project are also modeling solutions by reducing their carbon footprint.

The project is producing a developmental framework called "The Climate Action Playbook: Supporting Young Children in a Warming World." It is a resource for museum professionals to communicate with and provide programs to support children eight and under, and the adults who love them, in building compassion, climate knowledge, agency, and hope for a bright climate future. A toolkit website, hosted here, will house the Playbook and provide further resources for museums wanting to address climate change and become more sustainable in their work and facilities.

The project team includes nine children’s museums and science centers in four bioregions across the U.S., along with experts in climate education, communication, early childhood psychology, climate action and emissions reduction.

This project is led by Madison Children's Museum in partnership with the Association of Children's Museums, Environment + Culture Partners, expert advisors, and the following partner institutions: Chicago Children’s Museum (Chicago, IL), Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon (Medford, OR), Discovery Museum (Acton, MA), KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Bellevue, WA), Louisiana Children’s Museum (New Orleans, LA), Madison Children’s Museum (Madison, WI), Museum of Discovery & Science (Fort Lauderdale, FL), National Children’s Museum (Washington, DC), and The Wild Center (Tupper Lake, NY).