Fall means a number of things for us here at KidsQuest Children's Museum – SuperClean, back to school, the start of new programs, and the annual NWAYM conference! This year was no different and we were lucky enough to travel to Salem, Oregon to visit A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village. It is very exciting for me to have the opportunity to see what others in the Museum field are doing and what is working well for them. It is wonderful to be given the chance to brainstorm what we can all do as an association to make our Museums better. After hosting last year's conference here at KidsQuest, we understand the time and energy it takes to put on this conference and the staff of A.C Gilbert's Discovery Museum did an amazing job!

If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Salem, I recommend taking some time to explore A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village. They have a remarkable 20,000 square foot outdoor space that includes the world's largest erector set tower, musical instruments and a massive paddle wheel boat (not to mention a really tall slide that is kind of scary at night!) In the three historic houses that make up the rest of the Museum, children can create their own toy or invention with household goods, learn body basics in the body exhibit or make bubbles in the Bubble Room. Check out A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village!

It was a great couple of days in Salem, and I am already looking forward to next year's conference in Everett at Imagine Children's Museum.