This year, we will kick-off our Monthly Gatherings with a presentation at the Mankato Children's Museum. This co-hosted conference includes a keynote presentation, lunch, museum tour and plenty of time to discuss and network.

SEPTEMBER 2024 MONTHLY GATHERING:

Children Deserve Beautiful Things

Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 9 am – 12 pm Central Time

The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota's mission is to ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in awe-inspiring environments indoors and out. From the very beginning we have valued relationships and participation between and among children, caregivers, teachers and the community and the role of the environment. We believe that children are eager and capable of choosing their own play and learning and we strive to develop an environment that provides beautiful, real and authentic materials to engage with. During this meeting you will learn what inspired our founding mothers and hear how their image of the child has led us to where we are today. You will also get a chance to wander our awe-inspiring environment and see the real and authentic materials that we will speak about - specifically our Loose Parts Play Hub which is a prototype space for a future experience that centers around loose parts and beautiful stuff which is intended to inspire and spark curiosity in unscripted ways. 

Cost: $30

Facilitators:

Kim Kleven, VP of Play and Learning at CMSM   

Rachel Gemlo, Director of Programing at CMSM  

Heather Von Bank, Chair, Professor Department of Family Consumer Science and Board member at CMSM 

Location:

Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota

224 Lamm St.

Mankato, MN 56001

Interested in Carpooling? Fill out this survey and we will help connect people!

Students: Limited spots available at no cost for students - email Heidi Wolf for details and registration  hwolf@bsmschool.org

If you have questions contact ReggioInspiredMN@gmail.com

Our job is too difficult and too beautiful to do alone.

-Amelia Gambetti