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Press Release

Shelly Morin Joins Mount Washington Valley Children's Museum as New Executive Director

NORTH CONWAY, NH – Mount Washington Valley Children's Museum announced today that Shelly Morin will be joining the non-profit as its new Executive Director effective August 1, 2007. Morin joins the Museum as it enters its second year of serving families and children of North Conway and the surrounding towns.

Morin brings the Museum a wealth of experience in secondary education, non-profit management and tourism/attractions. With a B.S. in Social Science Education, she most notably spent 17 years at Story Land as Entertainment, Wardrobe and Guest Support Service coordinator. Additionally, she taught at both Berlin 's St. Michaels School and Kennett High School in North Conway.

A Berlin native, she worked at the non-profit Northern Forest Heritage Park as Director of Historical Interpretation and Programs and later as Events Coordinator. While there, Morin worked closely with their Executive Director and came to understand the importance of making the organization by and for the people, as well as grasping the importance of donor relations and fundraising.

"The challenges I am most looking forward to in this new position include fund raising, expanding volunteerism, developing partnerships with local business and providing super programs everyone from new mommies to visiting and local families can enjoy," stated Morin upon her new appointment. " I have been fortunate to have the opportunities both at Story Land and at the Northern Forest Heritage Park to work with the mission and philosophies of the parks through crafting training and educational materials."

Morin first came to the attention off the Museum's board as she and her two children, Emily 4½ and Evan 14 months, were members and frequent visitors. She lives with her husband and children in Stillings Grant in Bartlett, NH.

Board president Jen Sawyer noted "The Museum is fortunate to have found Shelly and believe she will bring an unmatched level of enthusiasm and professionalism to the position of Executive Director. Her background is uniquely suited to the Museum's mission and the board strongly believes she will lead the Museum from its start up phase to a thriving, on-going organization."

The mission of the Museum is to nurture the natural curiosity of all children and the adults in their lives and to encourage shared discovery through exhibits and programs that inspire exploration. Its vision is to create a space where children one to eight years in age and the adults in their lives can interact and engage in shared discovery through play and the exploration of their surroundings.

Morin added, "I believe in the important bond between parents and their children. Parents are their children's first and foremost educators. That is why I bought a year round membership for my family to the Children's Museum. Children can get so overly stimulated in the fast paced, high tech world that we enjoy today. Opportunities need to exist to slow down. Children need to be able to use their natural curiosity to explore and play. The Mount Washington Children's Museum offers such an opportunity. I am proud that I was a stay at home mom and would only leave that job for a truly wonderful chance to make a difference. I think my family can be proud of what I will be doing, ensuring that my children will have a place to explore and grow and learn. "

The Museum's major fundraising event, Circus Smirkus, is taking place Aug. 12 and 13, 2007, at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway. Tickets may be purchased at www.smirkus.org or in person at the Museum, which is located on Route 16 in North Conway, next to Stan and Dan Sports.

For more information on the Museum, visit their website at www.mwvchildrensmuseum.org or call 603-356-2992. The Museum is open Wed. through Sun. Admission is $5 for all ages, free for those age 1 and under.

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