After nearly two decades in the Jewish Federation building, the Zimmer Children’s Museum by ShareWell closed its doors to the public, and head to its new location, The Santa Monica Place, with a brand new name, Cayton Children's Museum, and so many exciting changes.
THE MUSEUM
The state of the art space in the Santa Monica Mall features 21,000 square feet of discovery-based exhibits, a theatre, art studios, workshops, classes, camps, and a year-long calendar of arts and cultural programming for toddlers to youth.
The space is filled with immersive elements including a full-size helicopter, fire truck, and veterinary clinic. The kids get to shop for groceries, eat in a café, play chef, go to the vet, become firefighters, or pretend to be a pilot.
"The Together We" section offers group activities and team building, and the "Reflect On" section is where children learn to better connect with nature.
You’ll also find the “Courage Climber,” an entire level made from nets, which kids find extremely fun to explore. There is a separate space for infants to 2 years old children to explore through touch, and is intended to help them strengthen their coordination.
LOCATION
The museum is on the third floor of the open-air Santa Monica Place mall located at 395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 374. The Mall has on-site parking, and is also located at the final stop of the Metro Expo line.
HOURS
The Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, and on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
COST
General admission is $14 per person for adults and children ages 1 to 12. The Cayton runs on a timed-entry ticketing system! Each ticket is good for a two-hour window of play. You can reserve your tickets on line, or buy at the door. Children under 1 are free. Visitors who participate in EBT and WIC can enjoy FREE admission to the Cayton.
GROUP VISITS
Get special discounted rates for groups of 10 or more. Please email groups@sharewell.org for more information.
MEMBERSHIP
Cayton offers different level memberships:
The Launchers for $105: Unlimited admission for one named adult and one child; Free guest for child member’s birthday; 5% discount on classes and camps; 10% off all purchases at Museum gift shop.
The Reachers for $500: Unlimited admission for two named adults and two children; Free guest for child member’s birthday; Eight (8) one-time guest passes valid for one year; 10% discount on classes, camps and purchases at Museum gift shop.
The Reflectors for $2000: Unlimited admission for four named adults and four children with waived timed entry; Ten (10) one-time guest passes valid for one year; Exclusive invites to exhibit openings, VIP events and special programming; 15% discount on classes, camps and purchases at Museum gift shop; 15% discount on birthday party bookings; Acknowledgement as supporter at The Reflectors level in Museum publications and newsletters.
The Builders for $5000: Unlimited admission for four named adults and four children with waived timed entry; Private members-only tour of Museum with founder and CEO; Acknowledgement on Annual Donor Wall in Museum; Fifteen (15) one-time guest passes valid for one year; Annual valet pass at Santa Monica Place; Exclusive invites to exhibit openings, VIP events and special programming; 15% discount on classes, camps and purchases at Museum gift shop; 15% discount on birthday party bookings; Acknowledgement as supporter at The Builders level in members-only newsletters.
CAMP CAYTON
The Museum offers Summer Camp, Winter Camp, and Spring Camp. Camp Cayton offers a unique experience for campers to build, create, and explore. Experienced educators lead an imaginative curriculum complete with art immersion and museum play. Camp Cayton encourages campers to take risks, express themselves creatively, engage with their community, and play their way to a better world.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
You can host your child’s next birthday party or celebration at the Cayton Children’s Museum. Whether you are planning a birthday party for 30 children or a celebration for hundreds, Cayton offers a number of discrete spaces or the whole museum for private buy-outs.
When you book the space, you work with the event professionals at Cayton to create a package that meets your needs. They work with a network of preferred event vendors, caterers, performers and artists, photographers and more.
You can choose from three different packages ranging from $925 to $1850. The space is only available on the weekends.
PARKING
Parking is available in the City’s public parking structures. Structure 7 (entrance off of Broadway) and Structure 8 (entrance off of Colorado Ave) are immediately adjacent to Santa Monica Place. The first 90 minutes of parking are complimentary; the hour thereafter is $2 and between $2 to $3 for each additional 30 minutes.
Cayton Children’s Museum by ShareWell Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 374 Santa Monica, CA 90401
424.416.8320 Online: caytonmuseum.org
Email sherri@sharewell.org Facebook: facebook.com/CaytonMuseum Twitter: twitter.com/CaytonMuseum Instagram: instagram.com/Caytonmuseum
Disclosure: I was invited to Cayton Children's Museum for a review.