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
March is “National Reading Month”. We love to read at the Museum all year long, but we’re excited to give it some attention this month. One of the ways we encourage our guests to read while they are here is through the descriptions within some of the exhibits. Reading them aloud to children or encouraging
Play is an essential part of human life, and our most important goal at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Play is not just about having fun or enjoying oneself–though that’s probably our favorite part–it also has a range of benefits. We often talk about those benefits loosely, so we decided to dive deep into
Mankato—February 22, 2023—The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is thrilled to welcome Jaci Sprague as the new Vice President of Development. Sprague comes to the Museum with a wealth of knowledge and experience, along with a passion for community, nonprofits, and education. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and to be joining an incredible team. I
MAY THERE ALWAYS BE JIM GILL! We are so excited to have partnered with author, musician, and child development specialist Jim Gill to bring the Southern Minnesota community an opportunity to work together and create a piece of art! On Tuesday, February 21 from 1pm to 2pm, the Museum will host a live VIRTUAL concert