About Us
Our mission is to encourage all children to learn and grow through play!
Why We Champion Play
At the Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon, we know that 90% of cognitive development occurs in the first six years of life. That’s why our exhibits and programs are intentionally designed to harness this critical window, ensuring every child in our community has a bright start through the power of play.
Our Story
A Journey of Inspiring Young Minds Through Play
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1998 | Rogue Valley Children's Discovery Museum is established.
2002 | The Mobile Museum goes on the road with a vision and a passion.
2005 | First Permanent Home The first brick-and-mortar Children's Museum is established in the Moose Lodge building.
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2011 | Children’s Museum moves to the JCPenney building in Downtown Medford, becoming the Kid Time Children’s Museum.
2014 | The Learning Loft preschool is established and operates within the Kid Time Children’s Museum.
2019 | Kid Time secures a long-term lease for the historic Carnegie Library from the City of Medford.
2020–2021 | The Learning Loft preschool, renamed The Ivy School, moves to the Carnegie Library. The Ivy School operates six preschool classrooms and supports K-5th distance learning during the worldwide pandemic.
2022 | The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon, formerly Kid Time, opens to the public with all-new exhibits. The Children’s Museum and The Ivy School formally move under the umbrella organization, Oregon Center for Creative Learning.
2023 | The Outdoor Adventure opens. The Ivy School operates 11 classrooms in eight different locations in the Rogue Valley.
2024 | The OCCL acquires the former Dutch Bros headquarters to extend its programs into Josephine County.
2025 | The OCCL launches concurrent Capital Campaigns for Medford and Grants Pass; in the Fall, The Ivy School opens in Grants Pass.
FUTURE | The OCCL continues to inspire young minds and unite the community through play.