Here on the CMSM Blog, we will share the latest happenings from the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, including behind-the-scenes exhibit builds, programming, upcoming events, Museum updates, and more!
Sewing, slime, and rocket launches kept curious minds and busy hands at work during our 2026 Summer Curiosity Camps. Look back at the creativity, discovery, and PLAY at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, then explore upcoming Early Out Camps.
What happens behind the scenes at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota? In the first edition of Powered by Play, CEO Kim Kleven introduces this new series and shares what makes CMSM a unique place for children and families.
Do you want to experience a night you’ve never seen before? At this year’s Ignite the Night on October 1st, 2026! This night is filled with unbelievable fun and excitement. Inspired by this year’s theme, Power Up, twelve teams will ignite their imagination and craftmanship through play. They must collaborate with their teammates to design and
Twice a year, we close the doors for a few days, roll up our sleeves, and give the Museum the kind of top-to-bottom care it deserves. If you have ever spotted “Museum Cleaning” on our calendar and wondered what that actually means, this one is for you. Our next deep clean is scheduled for later
Looking for a fun activity this Saturday? Join us at the Children’s Museum for our Butterfly Tag-Along, August 29th from 12-2PM. Enjoy a fun filled day while learning about butterfly migration and how we track them on their adventures! Families are invited to celebrate the magic of monarch migration through hands-on learning, butterfly-inspired activities, and
Get an inside look at EV: Charge Up and discover how children can explore the science of how EVs work!
Join us on Saturday, August 1st from 9 am to 12 pm for one of our favorite free family events of the year: Fire Safety Education Day at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota! This is our fifth year hosting this event, and it just keeps growing. Enjoy a free and fun-filled day for the
If you’re a parent in Southern Minnesota, you know the feeling. School lets out, the calendar stares back at you, and the scramble begins. How do you keep your child engaged, learning, and – let’s be honest – not glued to a screen for three months? Look no further. CMSM’s Summer Curiosity Camps are some
Join us on Saturday, May 30 from 9am to 4pm for one of our favorite events of the year: Ag Education Day at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota! This is a free and fun-filled day for the whole family to get up close and hands-on with the agriculture industry right here in Mankato, and we truly
Join us Saturday, May 2 from 9am to 1pm for one of the most exciting safety events we have ever hosted at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota! The Bike Safety Clinic brings together local safety experts, cycling enthusiasts, and a jaw-dropping BMX stunt show to give children a day they’ll be talking about all summer
Here’s what you will find in the Loose Parts Play Hub this month: Bugs! One of our favorite parts of spring is that we get to observe all the crawling creatures who are coming out of hiding and winter hibernation. May is also the month that we start to prepare our butterfly house for raising
Here’s what you will find in the Loose Parts Play Hub this month: – Treasure Basket: New on the book shelf is a treasure basket. Treasure baskets are collections of beautiful or interesting items for infants and toddlers to explore. Children learn so much through their senses and these baskets offer a variety of different