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Will You Help Create a STEAM Explorers Park
at the Women’s League?

In 2023, the Women’s League Child Development Center opened a STEAM Learning Lab, among the first of its kind in the area for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.  Extraordinarily generous donors made it possible! The Learning Lab has been a fantastic success, earning a STEM Achievement Award from the Connecticut Science Center.

Now, we are bringing another groundbreaking learning experience to life for Hartford’s youngest children: a STEAM Explorers Park.

With the support of our donors, we are transforming our grounds into a safe, fun, outdoor discovery Park where our young learners can dive into science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) through nature and play.

Watch Our Teachers Tell You Why the Explorers Park Can Be a Game-Changer for Children

Thanks to our generous donors, our STEAM Explorers Park is becoming a reality!

The funds raised will cover:

  • Farm to classroom: Pollinator and vegetable gardens and a large greenhouse.
  • Creativity zones: Weatherproof art easels, paints, musical instruments, and storytelling spaces. Mud kitchens with water features, sensory tables.
  • Discovery zones: Themed areas for exploring water, light and sound. Loose components and building materials for building ramps, digging for insects, and sensory play.
  • Greenery: New plantings for exploration, beautification, and privacy
  • Art “studios:” Outdoor, weatherproof easels and musical instruments for artistic expression in any season. 
  • Engineering corners: Age-appropriate materials for creating ramps, towers and bridges 
  • Mural: A vibrant, colorful wall mural created by one of Greater Hartford’s celebrated muralists (with some help from our young artists!)
  • A Community Hub: We will host STEAM nights and weekend workshops for our families, professional development for local educators, and co-host educational events with local preschools, libraries and museums.

Have you seen the news?

The gorgeous mural that will adorn the STEAM Explorers Park is underway! And, muralist Micaela Levesque was pictured creating the mural on the front page of the Hartford Courant on April 3. Check out “The Finishing Touch” and “PHOTOS: Mural brings color to Connecticut Child Development Center” .

Will You Lead the Way to a STEAM Explorers Park at the Women’s League?

Download this Leadership Giving Guide

Funds raised: $206,618

Very Special Thanks to Our (Growing!) Leadership Giving Circle!

Trailblazers ($20,000+)

  • Donald Allan Jr and Marilyn Allan
  • Anonymous (2)
  • Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation
  • Connecticut Department of Agriculture*
  • Stanley Black & Decker

Builders ($5,000 – $9,999)

  • Anonymous
  • BFA Endowed Fund – Jean Schiro-Zavela at Greater Hartford Gives Foundation
  • Marcia Howard

Inventors ($2,500- $4,999)

  • William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
  • Linda and Ted Ruby

Creators ($1,000 – $2,499)

  • Natasha Banks
  • Lisa Burgarella
  • CLSJ Foundation
  • Leslie Fockler
  • HPC Foodservice
  • William Kemp (In memory of Youvhan Scott)
  • Karen Lott (In memory of Youvhan Scott)
  • Elaine McDonald
  • Judy and Terry Schmitt
  • Lynne Spann
  • Jane Torrey
  • Lela Wadlin and Roger Olson (In memory of Gail Joslin)

Thank you for your support!

*Funding for this project was paid for by the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program, C.G.S. 10-2151. Funding awarded and administered by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture.

1695 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06120
860.524.5969 | info@womensleaguecdc.org

Women's League, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in the U.S. under the federal tax EIN: 06-0646969.