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Children’s Museum program outlines Play to Learn countywide classes and new diaper bank sites in District 5
Summary
Green Trike and the Children's Museum described preschool and Play to Learn programs that served over 14,000 people in 2025, operate at 12 sites (three in District 5) and are expanding diaper‑bank distributions to plate‑pickup locations.
Rolfe Batista, chief communications and engagement officer with Green Trike (the parent organization of the Children's Museum of Tacoma and the Children's Museum at JBLM), described two early‑learning programs to the Pierce County Council on April 23.
Batista said the Preschool Powered by Play program offers 2–5 day classes rooted in play‑based approaches and that Play to Learn — a free community outreach series — served more than 14,000 individuals across Pierce County in 2025. He said Play to Learn currently operates in 12 locations, provides 14 weekly classes, and has three regular sites in District 5 (Parkland‑Spanaway Library, Salishan Family Investment Center, and Fern Hill Library).
Batista described program outcomes shown by participant surveys (high satisfaction and reported readiness for kindergarten) and said the museum is adding low‑sensory hours, weighted vests and headphones for accessibility. He also noted a new Monarch Diaper Bank distribution that will provide free diaper supplies at meal/plate distribution sites and libraries.
Councilmembers thanked the museum for outreach into District 5 and asked about future site expansions; Batista said work continues to rebuild and broaden the program footprint in the post‑pandemic period.
