The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota strives to serve the community in all we do. We offer support and resources to families in as many ways as we can. Like most nonprofits, we certainly can’t do it alone. We are funded by admissions, sponsors, donors, and grants. We were honored recently to receive an Early Care
It’s not that CMSM Board Secretary Heather Von Bank isn’t a little scared when her 8 year old son dons his goggles and camo helmet, rolls a sleeping bag out at the top of the second floor stairs, and hollers “hey, wanna go for a ride?” to his 10 year old brother. It’s that she
“When I was considering joining the Ignite Society, all I had to do was reflect on the absolute joy and pure concentration on the faces of several of my great-grandchildren, moving from activity to activity as three older generations of my family watched them play at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota.” Sandy Parks is
Karen Wahlstrom has been with the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota since its inception. As a retired ECFE teacher, she knows the Power of Play and the impact it has on families all around the region. As an Ignite Society Member, she said the impact of the Museum for her is not only felt in
For Lisa Keyes, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is a place to honor and remember her beloved mother, Darlene Janovy. Lisa is a proud member of the Ignite Society all the way from North Carolina. She grew up in Mankato where her father was a professor at MSU and her mother, a beloved early
Bob and Jean Preston have been members of the Ignite Society for two years now. Their passion and vision for the future are just some of the highlights for them when it comes to being a part of the Ignite Society. “We felt this was a good way to donate to the Children’s Museum and
The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota continues to make a positive impact on children’s lives through its Gateway to Play program, which aims to provide access to play for children facing various barriers, such as income, language, cultural factors, ability, special needs, or other special situations. In 2022, the program had 608 families as members,
This week the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is excited to be part of the very first Mankato Art Crawl! As we gear up for the creative activities we have planned for the day, we also wanted to take this opportunity to share the many benefits that the arts have on young minds. Keep reading
At the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, we make it our goal to “ignite the curiosity of every child.” Truly, all ages can enjoy the programs, exhibits, and activities we offer. But the first week of April is designated as “The Week of the Young Child,” and we are here for it. Since 1971, the
One of the weekly features at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is the visit from the Bookmobile. Every Wednesday at 2pm, the big bus decorated like a warm summer’s day pulls up to the Museum. The blue sky and green grass on the bus welcome children of all ages. The North Mankato Library has
Spring has sprung on the calendar, even if the Dotson Back 40 is still covered in snow. The warmer weather has us itching to move our bodies and start playing hard again. In doing so, we will use all parts of our bodies and minds. In this third and final installment of our series on all
National Reading Month is a good time to read about reading. National Reading Month is a good time to read about reading. National Reading Month is a good time to read about reading. Does the repetition annoy you? Might it be exhausting to read the same sentence over and over and over again? Maybe for