The Children’s Museum of St. Croix celebrated National Ice Cream Day, part of National Ice Cream Month, with its first-ever ice cream-themed event, bringing families together for a day of frozen treats, hands-on learning and community fun Sunday at the museum’s headquarters. The official day for National Ice Cream Day is July 19.
The celebration transformed part of the museum into a miniature ice cream parlor, where children could “purchase” one or two scoops of ice cream using play money, helping them practice math skills while engaging in imaginative play. Young visitors also had the opportunity to make homemade ice cream, adding a science lesson to the day’s festivities.
When Ellie Hirsh, one of the museum’s founders, noticed National Ice Cream Day on the calendar, she saw an opportunity to create an event that blended education with summertime fun.
“We’ve never done this before,” Hirsh said. “When I saw National Ice Cream Day on the calendar, I thought, ‘Wow, this could be fun.’ It’s a real kids’ thing, but we’re able to make it a learning experience and a fun experience at the same time.”
The inaugural celebration was made possible through the support of several community partners. Sorbetiere donated the ice cream served throughout the event, the Virgin Islands National Guard provided an obstacle course for children, and Donna Duffy, along with other supporters, helped make the day a success.
“We’re thrilled that Sorbetiere is sponsoring us and providing the ice cream,” Hirsh said. “It’s really lovely, and we’re so happy they’ve come forward to help us celebrate. The National Guard also brought their obstacle course, so it’s nice to have that community support.”
While the museum regularly hosts educational programs and special events, Hirsh said its mission extends well beyond entertainment.
“Our goal is to reach children and families,” she said. “Our philosophy is that children learn through play and active engagement. We want to provide opportunities for the whole child.”
The museum embraces a STEAM approach to learning, integrating science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics into interactive experiences. Hirsh said the museum also emphasizes social-emotional development, helping children build confidence, develop problem-solving skills and learn to cooperate with others.
“When children discover they can do something, they develop confidence,” Hirsh said. “They’re learning to cooperate with children they’ve never met before, but who are here at the museum at the same time. We’re really looking at how the whole child can grow and develop through play.”
Hirsh said the museum is designed to be a place where parents and caregivers participate alongside their children rather than simply dropping them off.
“We wanted to be a two-generational place,” she said. “We want parents to be here with their children. A lot of times they don’t realize how confident their children are until they start playing with them and interacting as they’re discovering things together. We try to create opportunities for families to discover together.”
For the museum’s first National Ice Cream Month celebration, Hirsh said her hope was for families to enjoy quality time together while discovering something new.
“We wanted people to come out, have fun, learn through play, have a sense of community and just enjoy summertime,” she said. “We want children and families to try new things, experience new things and discover.”
