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CMSM Blog

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!

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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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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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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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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Enjoying spring activities in the mud kitchen at the Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota Mankato
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Spring Activities for Kids

Spring is a wonderful time of year to spend quality time with your children! After months of cold and snow, it’s finally time to get outside and engage in fun activities that help foster their development. At the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, we are ready for all sorts of outdoor fun both in the

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Gateway to Play Access for All Program at the Childrens Museum in Mankato
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Access for All: Gateway to Play Year in Review 2022

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,

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Creating art at the Childrens Museum Art Explorers
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Art and the Young Brain: Engaging Children in the Arts

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

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Week of the young child
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Week of the Young Child

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

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North Mankato Taylor Library Bookmobile
CMSM Blog
Emily Heinis

Bookmobile Promotes Literacy at CMSM

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

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