CMSM Blog
Courtney Malone

CMSM attends the Association of Children’s Museum Interactivity Conference

Bourbon Street & Beignets! The Association of Children’s Museum Interactivity Conference: Leveraging Our Voice, hosted by Louisiana Children’s Museum in New Orleans was held this past April. Participating with over 700 other professionals from around the world who work in the field were Heather Ungerer, Vice President of Operations and Kim Kleven, Vice President of

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Water Play at CMSM
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Summer Fun Activities

The long-awaited first day of summer has arrived, bringing with it warmth, sunshine, and boundless opportunities for fun and adventure. As a parent or guardian, you might be wondering how to make this day extra special for your children. Fear not! In this blog post, we will explore some delightful ways to celebrate the first

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CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Butterfly House at the Museum

This is the Third Annual Opening of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota’s Butterfly House! This seasonal exhibit just keeps getting better and better. Highlights this year include:  The exhibit will be open during Museum hours, and there will be a Program Coordinator or Playworker in the area to answer questions.  The Museum is participating

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Christi Wilking, Ignite Society member
Impact Stories
Brittany

Christi Wilking

Christi Wilking and her family have been members of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) for six years and part of the Ignite Society since the beginning. Her passion and enthusiasm for CMSM originates from her experience as a mom with her two boys, Gavin (10) and Ethan (7). Those treasured memories with her

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CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Create Your Own Pollinator Garden

CREATE YOUR OWN POLLINATOR GARDEN Creating a pollinator garden at home is a wonderful way to attract and support essential pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Here are some simple instructions to help you get started: Choose a suitable location: Select an area in your yard that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per

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News
Courtney Malone

CMSM Partners with Feeding Our Communities Partners

MANKATO, MN – The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is pleased to partner with Feeding Our Communities Partners (FOCP) for a second year through its Summer Pack Food Program. The Museum is providing a One-Day Family Free Pass for each of the 1,000 summer food packages distributed in June to area youth. FOCP’s Summer Pack

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CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

What is the Blue Star Museum Initiative?

The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota serves as a haven for families seeking fun, educational experiences. For military families, the museum holds a special place, providing a supportive environment and a sense of community. In honor of the Blue Star Museum Initiative which starts this week, we interviewed a Museum member who is also active

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CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Summer Bucket List For Any Weather!

Summer is a time of adventure, exploration, and making lasting memories with your children. With the days longer and the weather warmer, it’s the perfect season to engage in fun-filled activities that cater to every age group and adapt to different weather conditions. In Southern Minnesota, we have all sorts of amazing things to see

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Child by raised garden bed at the Childrens Museum in Mankato
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Gardening with Kids

Common wisdom passed down generations says to wait until after the fishing opener here in Southern Minnesota to put your plants in the ground. We’re not completely out of the woods, necessarily–we have had snow in May–but it’s a fair assumption. The tulips and daffodils and other perennials have pushed through and brought color to

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Children's Museum in Mankato awarded Grand from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
News
Brittany

Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota receives $18,000 Grant from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation

MANKATO, MN – The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) has been awarded an $18,000 grant from the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) to support collaborative programming. Funds from the grant will support several initiatives at the Museum, including access programs such as Gateway to Play memberships and Sensory Awareness Playtimes, community partnerships, and a

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Caregiver Appreciation at the Children's Museum Southern Minnesota
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Appreciation for Caregivers All Year Long

The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is for children, right? Of course! But the work we do in our building and in the community extends to all members of a child’s family, no matter what that family looks like. As we approach the season of Mother’s and Father’s Day, it is important to acknowledge the

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January 24, 2025, 10:00am:

The Museum will be closed Sunday, April 20.

We will reopen Tuesday, April 22.

The Museum will be Closing at 2pm on
November 16 for a Private Event