Mercy Flights is proud to be partnering with The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon to bring hands-on, creative play to our region’s youngest citizens. As a museum sponsor, Mercy Flights is helping to support interactive learning with a special focus on science and math.
“We are so excited to be part of this beautiful discovery space that provides fun educational experiences, stimulates brain development and supports local families,” said Mercy Flights Chief Executive Officer Sheila Clough. “It’s truly an honor to have our name on the ambulance exhibit. It feels especially meaningful because of Mercy Flights’ deep roots and history in Southern Oregon. We love this opportunity to help connect what our local kids are doing in the museum with what they see in the real world when our ambulances, helicopters and airplanes are out in the community caring for neighbors.”
According to Clough, Mercy Flights first airplane, a twin-engine Cessna known as the Bamboo Bomber, was purchased in 1949 by Mercy Flights’ founder George Milligan with funds raised by local school children, scouts and other community members.
“It feels fitting for us to be part of this special place designed for this generation of local kids,” she said.
Founded in 1998 as a traveling mobile exhibit called Kid Time, the program has expanded throughout the years and began serving families with preschool services in 2013. As the only museum in Southern Oregon dedicated to early education with a focus on children from birth to age 10, the Kid Time Children’s Museum previously welcomed nearly 90,000 visitors a year. In July of this year, the program expanded again and relocated to the historic Carnegie building at 413 W. Main Street in Medford, Oregon.
“It’s also fun to know that we might be planting seeds for future careers in healthcare and emergency medicine. I like to imagine some of these creative, curious kids joining our Mercy Flights Explorers program as teenagers and then coming back to be part of our team as young adults!” said Clough.
For more information, visit the Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon website, watch their new video or call (541) 772.9922.
