As Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”  

Such was the case facing the Santa Fe Children’s Museum and Executive Director Hannah Hausman in 2020. The world, and the museum, were largely shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and “hands-on learning through play” was put on an indefinite hiatus. Even the museum’s popular traveling Stargazer program, powered by space and bilingual STEM educator/NASA Solar Ambassador Carlos Gonzalez, had to take a pause due to indoor distancing requirements. 

Hausman and her team were challenged to figure out how to provide access to museum programs, having neither an open facility nor the means to reach their primary audience: families with children up to age 8 within a 100-mile radius. 

Hausman, a seasoned children’s museum director and Santa Fe native, and her team tapped into a group of technology and media arts students at New Mexico Highlands University. The team met to brainstorm ideas of what programming would look like once the museum reopened and how best to expand their outreach to those needing it most.  

Fueled by the fervor of the late Michaelann Perea, a board member of both the museum and the Rotary Club of Santa Fe — and her insistence that this might be a great project for the Rotary during its centennial celebration — the concept of a “mobile museum” rose to the forefront. While the idea wasn’t novel, it became the panacea and means by which the organization could continue to honor its mission of supporting equitable access and celebrating and advocating for all families within and beyond museum doors.

Thanks to the hard work and creative problem solving of Hausman and the Highlands students, generous financial commitments from the Rotary Club and Thornburg Investment Management, and governance by the museum board of directors, on-the-road popup learning drew closer to becoming a reality.

There was one hitch, however: Expanding programming to a wider audience would require the means to get there. Again, community members stepped forward. Capitol Ford made the purchase of a new, custom van economically feasible, and voila, the Van of Enchantment was born.  

“What I’m most proud of is how this brought key community partners together so we could provide outreach to those who need it,” said Hausman. 

With its debut on April 30, Van of Enchantment hit the road with six “stem-on-the-go” options delivered to schools and communities throughout the state. The STEM kits provide an interdisciplinary approach to help kids discover real-world applications for the Four Cs — critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. The activities also encourage development of key skills such as problem solving and critical analysis and, perhaps more importantly, engage kids in learning. 

“We have early childhood educators and two licensed teachers on site who develop and evaluate the kits,” Hausman said. “We work with schools and the tribal library system to be sure the contents are culturally relevant.”  

Once the van embarked on its inaugural road trip, momentum carried the program forward. On any given day, the museum on wheels and its specially trained youth mentors deliver hands-on learning kits to kids. Whether to one of 19 Pueblos across the state, a Girl Scout Jamboree, a fair in Las Vegas, or a regular gig at the Southside Branch of the Santa Fe Public Library, the white van emblazoned with STEM graphics, the Rotary logo and the tag line “Bringing Discovery, Learning and Play to Your Community” is at the ready.  

“Pop-up learning happens organically. It’s less structured than in the museum,” Hausman said. “With on-the-go learning, we can get creative and flexible.” 

While recent attention has focused on the mobile museum, Hausman and the staff continue to assess and oversee the extensive offerings at their main site on Old Pecos Trail. A plethora of programs and events continue to inspire and entice learners of all ages, along with exhibits, field trips, camps and birthday party/facility rentals, plus exciting renovations to the backyard outdoor play space and a new, portable COVID-safe planetarium.  

It is clear the Santa Fe Children’s Museum staff have no plans to rest on their laurels. 

The effort and consideration invested in both the sticks and bricks museum and its mobile counterpart during a time of global uncertainty have paid off. The museum is, according to its website, “the only organization of its kind serving 60,000 children and families on an annual basis through their inspired and easily accessible programming.”  

Van visits are complimentary while the museum itself offers admission discounts and free admission from 4-6 p.m. on Thursdays. A recent grant made Stargazer planetarium visits to public and Title 1 schools in Northern New Mexico free of charge. 

It’s easy to see why Hausman continues to be passionate about providing hands-on-learning to all children, regardless of location or means.

“Birth to age 5 is a crucial developmental time for unstructured play. It’s important for every child to experience art, culture and community,” she said. “I love learning and want to make sure all kids feel they belong and have a safe space to learn.”