Witnessing a Superpower: A Museum Mom's Moment One morning, amidst my cleaning rounds at the Children's Museum of Montana, I stumbled upon a scene that sent shivers down my spine. Upstairs in the doctor's office exhibit, a reserved mother, clearly in pain, navigated a mock physical exam with her daughter. Hints of her injury peeked through, but her focus remained unwavering – on her daughter. The little girl, around nine years old, donned the stethoscope expertly, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined the X-ray lit up on display. Witnessing her mother endure the "injury" with pati ..read more

Beyond Playdates: Cultivating Lifelong Bonds at the Museum Parents of toddlers watching the jumbo legos get connected. Stroller squadrons are navigating exhibits. Giggles echo through interactive displays. For many parents, museum mornings offer a vital lifeline: a respite from the monotony of diapers and puree, a chance to connect with other parents navigating the messy, magical journey of early parenthood. But what if these museum encounters fostered something more than shared playdates? What if, within these playful walls, seeds of lifelong friendships could be sown? Actual Story Meet Gerry ..read more

Extended educational options are essential for youth because they provide more opportunities to learn and grow, help struggling students succeed, help all students explore interests, prepare for the future, and become well-rounded individuals. Examples include after-school programs, summer camps/schools, vocational education, community colleges, and online learning. These options can reduce the achievement gap, increase graduation rates, prepare students for college and the workforce, and help youth reach their full potential. Here are a f ..read more

We celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day every year on the second Monday of October. This day in 2023 is a time to honor the resilience of the many tribes across America. It also recognizes their inherent sovereignty. Commits to keeping the Federal Government's trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. As written on the Indigenous People’s Initiative: “Since time immemorial, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have built vibrant and diverse cultures — safeguarding land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition across generations. Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the in ..read more

As a parent, you want to ensure that your child's after-school activities are not only fun and engaging but also have a lasting impact. Instead of simply watching TV or playing video games, why not explore alternative after-school activities that can expand your child's horizons? In this article, the Children’s Museum of Montana explores a variety of options that can help your child learn new skills, build confidence and independence, and make new friends. Engage In Cooking Classes Cooking is not only a valuable life skill but also a fun activity that can be enjoyed by children of all ages. Ma ..read more

Author Danielle Porter Teaching Your Children Self-Care Habits Among the many things you'll teach your children, self-care is one of the best things to help them develop into independent, strong adults. ,Many activities and habits that you can teach your children allow them to reset and refresh, so they're well-prepared for the days ahead. Start incorporating some of these tips and practices into your life today, so your children can start modeling self-care themselves. Be a Role Model for Your Kids Children of all ages are receptive to new information, which means that they'll often emulate t ..read more

Our lease is set to end in 2023 and here is our relocation story so far. In 2019 we started our plan and design process with public hearings, surveys, and public notices for the community to tell us what they need and want to see in the new museum. We had a large outpouring of requests. We took all of the requests and suggestions and put them to a feasibility test. We then took those feasible suggestions and estimated the space needed. We looked for ways to use the same space for multiple uses in order design a smaller foot print. We then created estimated space requirement for the entire proj ..read more

As we all process the tragedy in Texas this week I am compelled to ask the question, where do we turn when we know something is off with our children? I know families going through troubles today and some will be going through more tomorrow. The hopeless feeling that there is nowhere to turn and the helpless feeling that nothing they do seems to be working. It is easy to make parents or families the villains, yet good people in our community struggle with the emotional burdens of their youth and their teens' troubles everyday. They try everything that they know of to help. Professional mental ..read more

Igniting a passion can happen instantly! Love at first sight with a new topic/subject/skill, something is sparked and a new adventure is underway. Some passions happen just that fast, while others take time and reflection to ignite. It also varies for each individual. As teachers guiding our students through a subject, we try to find ways that connect a "known" interest to the new topic. There are many ways we can make things connect and my best teachers in my life were either passionate about what they were teaching me and therefore I caught the bug from them, or they were able to make a conn ..read more

Part 3 of 7 - Community By Sherrie Neff Our community is blessed with many museums, as we said in part 2, yet in a thriving learning ecosystem, community collaborations offer more than each organization can offer alone. Working together to create a learning Hub is the goal. A learning Hub within a community is often a space set up for students that include: Technology - students benefit by having an alternative space outside the traditional classroom where studies can be researched, completed, and edited. This is not for social media of any kind. Adult mentorship - serves as a connector and b ..read more