Omaha, NE- (June 15, 2012) - On Tuesday, June 19, Omaha Children's Museum, 500 S. 20th Street, will debut its newest permanent exhibit, Fantastic Future Me.

Fantastic Future Me is a fun and interactive exhibit designed to encourage inspiration and hope in children by allowing them to see themselves in a positive role in the future.

 

Using a large touch screen and camera, children take a photo of their face and then drag and drop elements representing different careers and grown-up roles onto their own "Future Me." Children can mix and match their personal interests and future aspirations to create a one-of-a-kind future self. Careers and roles range from artist to programmer, scientist to teacher, pilot and even President of the United States.

 

Future Me's can be shared by email and on Facebook and Twitter. When the email arrives in the guest's inbox, there will be information on getting their child involved in the subjects/careers in which he or she is interested along with their one-of-a-kind Future Me.

 

Research done by the Gallup Organization shows that excitement about the future and thinking about yourself in a positive future role creates hope. More hopeful people go to school more often, get better grades and even live longer than people who are not hopeful. Thinking about what you want to be when you grow up is one way that children can get excited thinking about their future and understanding the steps necessary to get there. Future Me helps children do all of this while having fun.

 

Fantastic Future Me was inspired by Omaha Children's Museum's work with Dr. Shane Lopez, Gallup Senior Scientist and an architect of the Gallup Student Poll.

 

"Investing in the future pays off today," says Lopez. "That's what parents will notice when their kids find hope in Fantastic Future Me." Lopez is the leading authority on the psychology of hope. He has worked with Omaha Children's Museum for several years to help infuse positive psychology into exhibits and program concepts.

 

The Future Me technology and program was created by Phenomblue, a brand experience agency based out of Omaha with a second office in Los Angeles, and leading brand initiatives with primarily national clientele. 

 

"Omaha Children's Museum came to us to spark digital curiosity in kids and embed it into an installation that relays a message of hope for the future," says Andrew Wettengel, Director, Engagement, Phenomblue. "Fantastic Future Me gave our team the opportunity to use our digital and interactive expertise, paired with our creative wit to contribute to a local organization. We recognize how tech-savvy kids are these days so this was an ideal opportunity for us to connect with the community and help serve our local youth. Anyone that grew up in this community would be thrilled to partner with Omaha Children's Museum as it played such a fun role in our own childhoods. In that respect, we jumped at the opportunity the minute we saw that our area of specialty was a fit for their needs! Fantastic Future Me was definitely a passion project that everyone in the office wanted to contribute to."

 

Heartland Scenic Studio in Omaha created the exhibit housing that is designed to look like the "Futurizer" machine in the Future Me program. It is a blinking, quirky, retro-inspired contraption sure to draw interest of guests.

 

Fantastic Future Me is located between the museum's Creative Arts Center and Science and Technology Center on the first floor and is included with general museum admission.

  

 

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About Omaha Children's Museum  

Since its inception in 1976, Omaha Children's Museum has been a special place where children can challenge themselves, discover how the world works and learn through play. The mission of Omaha Children's Museum is to engage the imagination and create excitement about learning. The museum's permanent exhibits include Charlie Campbell Science & Technology Center, Creative Arts Center including the Karen Levin Artist-in-Residence Studio and Imagination Playground. In addition to its permanent exhibits, Omaha Children's Museum offers educational programs, traveling exhibitions, field trips, outreach programs, summer camps and early childhood programs. For more information visit www.ocm.org. 

 

Museum Admission

Members: FREE

Under 2 years of age: FREE

Ages 2 - 59: $9

Ages 60+: $8

 

Museum Summer Hours (Memorial Day-Labor Day)
Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday - 10am to 5pm (9-10 am member hour)
Wednesday - 10am to 5pm
Thursday - 10am to 8pm
Friday - 10am to 5pm
Saturday - 9am to 5pm

Sunday - 1pm to 5pm