WisBusiness: A Different Kind of Museum

When is the last time you made a shadow puppet? Most likely it has been a while, but in the Madison Children’s Museum Shadow Room you can revive your shadow puppet skills and teach the children in your life a few tricks.

The Madison Children’s Museum was founded in 1980 by a group of early childhood specialists. In the beginning, the museum was mostly traveling exhibits that moved around to community centers and parks with a home base at the Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. After another move, the museum eventually found its current home at 100 State Street in 1991. The museum is in the process of making their move to their new home at 100 North Hamilton Street (across the street from the Capitol) a reality in 2010.

What most people don’t know about the museum is how well it’s known outside of Wisconsin. It was voted one of the top 10 children’s museums by Child Magazine in 2002 and one of the top 20 children’s museums by Grand magazine in 2007. In addition to those awards, the museum has won three other major awards since 1996.

The museum’s mission: “To connect children with their families, their communities and the world beyond through discovery learning and creative play” is apparent when you visit. From the aforementioned Shadow Room to the Toddler Barnyard, there are fun and educational exhibits for all ages.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:

You can visit the Madison Children’s Museum to explore wonderful exhibits. Admission ranges from free (the first Sunday of the month) to $5. Hours can be found by visiting online: http://www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org.


The museum has several great fundraisers throughout the year including the Annual Benefit Sale of American Girl seconds and returns, the “Let’s Play 80’s Night” (for adults only), and a holiday tea. You can donate to the museum for its programs or the new building at any time as well.

— The WisBusiness.com Wisconsin Non-Profit Report is an occasional feature written by Elizabeth Greer, executive director for the International Breast Cancer Research Foundation and a veteran fundraiser and event planner in the Madison area. For more information on this feature, please contact info@wisbusiness.com.



UPCOMING EVENTS:
(Suggest an event for this list: webmaster@wisbusiness.com)

March 14, 2008
Door County Wine and Cheese Gala
Event Benefits FFA
5-8 p.m.
$15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, Sturgeon Bay, WI
(920) 743-5188
This event is open to the public.

March 21, 2008
Fest of Ale, a beer tasting event
Event benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association
6-10 p.m
Hosted by Green Bay Harley Owners Group.
Free food, auctions, raffles. $20 advance; $25 at the door. Advance tickets available at Stadium View, McCoy’s Harley Davidson, or www.Ticketstar.com.
Stadium View, Green Bay, WI
(920)336-5635

March 22, 2008
2008 Southeastern Wisconsin Heart Ball
Event benefits the American Heart Association
Cost to attend is $150. Black tie. Please call 414.271.9999 for more information
UW-Parkside, Wyllie Hall – 900 Wood Rd., Kenosha

March 28, 2008
St. Norbert Music Faculty Scholarship Benefit Recital
Event benefits St. Norbert Music Faculty Scholarships
7:30 p.m.
Donations accepted.
St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
(920) 403-3950, (800) 762-2099

March 29, 2008
29th Annual Spring Banquet, MacKenzie Oshesky Memorial Chapter
Event benefits Ducks Unlimited
The Pines Restuarant and Golf Course, Poynette WI
5:00 pm, $60.00
608-635-2536
This event is open to the public.

March 30, 2008
Feast for the Beasts Pancake Breakfast
Event benefits the Zoological Society of Milwaukee.
7:30 am to 1:00 pm
Zoofari Conference Center – 9715 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, WI
Advance tickets are $5.25 for adults and $3.75 for children ages 2-12. Does not include Zoo admission.

March 30, 2008
Camp Bingo, AIDS Network
Event benefits AIDS Network
Doors open at 1 p.m. and the first number is called at 2:30 p.m
Visit: http://www.madcampbingo.org
The Edgewater, Madison WI
608.252.6540×21
This event is open to the public.

April 3, 2008
Fashionably Aware Fashion Show
Event benefits the American Cancer Society.
Cocktail reception, formal dinner, silent auction, raffle. Fashion show featuring clothing from local vendors.
Contact Lisa Valenta at (920) 338-1542, Ext. 124
KI Convention Center, Green Bay, WI

April 5, 2008
DocStar, Dean Foundaton
Event benefits BSP-Free Clinic
Visit: http://www.dean.org
Madison Marriott West, Middleton WI
5:00 pm, $100 per plate/$900 per table
This event is open to the public.

April 12th, 2008
Let’s Play, Madison Children’s Museum
Event benefits Madison Children’s Museum
Visit: http://madisonchildrensmuseum.org
6:00 pm
268-1231, ext. 16
This event is open to the public.