Madison Children's Museum

Insect Scavenger Hunt
2024-08-17 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-08-21 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-08-22 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-08-23 13:30 - 15:00, 2024-08-24 13:30 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Be very, very quiet… we’re hunting insects! Join us in the Urb Garden, where we’ll sharpen our observation skills and search for bugs hiding in the plants. Gentleness is encouraged—no insects will be harmed in the making of this program.

This program is free with general museum admission.

Exploration Station: Clothespin Butterflies
2024-08-18 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Learn about the metamorphosis of butterflies from egg to adult, and make a colorful clothespin butterfly that really flaps its wings!

This event is free with the price of general admission.

MCM Roadshow: Magic Pride Festival
2024-08-18 12:00 - 17:00 | Warner Park, 2930 N Sherman Ave, Madison, Wisconsin, 53704, United States
Join MCM Roadshow and other local organizations at the 6th annual Magic Pride Festival, presented by OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center at Warner Park. Enjoy games and activities for the whole family, take in a stage show with local LGBTQ+ identified performers, chow down on refreshments from Madison-area restaurants, browse a large marketplace area, and more!

Madison Children’s Museum Roadshow brings mobile exhibits, maker activities, and more to community events in Madison and the surrounding area.

Let's Make! with Lexie: Polymer Clay Pins
2024-08-18 13:00 - 15:00
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! Today, we’ll create make-and-take polymer clay pins.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Camp Kindergarten, 2024 Session C
2024-08-19 09:00 - 11:00
for kids starting kindergarten in the fall

This four-day program runs Monday–Thursday, 9–11 am.

Registration for Session C has closed.

Camp Kindergarten is designed to playfully foster social and behavioral skills useful for school readiness in children starting kindergarten in the fall.

They’ll run like a gerbil, create like an artist, and think like a scientist. Each morning will start with free play time before the museum opens. Then they’ll do a craft or science activity and further explore the museum’s exhibits. Making new friends and playing together will help campers practice important kindergarten skills like turn-taking and standing in line, and will encourage kindness and confidence.

Campers may pack a snack. All activities will take place on-site at MCM.

Open Tuesdays in August
2024-08-20 09:00 - 16:00
Each Tuesday in August, we’re excited to offer an extra day of museum fun! Make the most of summer before back-to-school and enjoy bonus bonding time with the family, 9 am–4 pm.

Open Art Studio
2024-08-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Choose your own art adventure through exploration of materials. Create robots, cars, houses, and more. Drop by the Art Studio classroom for open-ended creative opportunities, facilitated by our talented staff.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Exploration Station: Stick Puppet Animals
2024-08-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Create your very own animal stick puppet. Play together in the wilds of the Rooftop Ramble, and think about how your new friend would act and sound in nature!

This event is free with the price of general admission. Image credit: Jamie Bare

Music Time with Tim!
2024-08-21 11:00 - 11:30
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Wonderground each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Playdough Party with Junko
2024-08-21 13:30 - 14:30
Join Junko in the Art Studio Classroom each Wednesday to create your own scented playdough that’s a squishy, smush-able sensory delight.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Cabin Life: Sun-sational Tea
2024-08-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Soak up the sun and get a taste of Wisconsin summer! Harvest fresh herbs from our log cabin garden and enjoy a refreshing batch of museum-made sun tea.

Cabin Life invites you each week to try crafts and activities from around the time of our historic 1840s log cabin in the Wonderground. This event is free with general museum admission.

Add to calendar

Google Calendar

iCalendar

Outlook 365

Outlook Live

Tales with Teresa
2024-08-22 09:30 - 10:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for story time and hear Teresa read some of her favorite books using her DynaVox. With this speech-generating device, Teresa will share stories and help build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Messy Art with Laurie: Sun Catchers
2024-08-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM’s youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup!

Today, we’ll make-and-take custom paper sun catchers. This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Crystal Foth

Sensory Worlds with Junko
2024-08-22 13:30 - 14:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Junko in the Urb Garden as we explore different sensory materials every week!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Free Thursday Evenings
2024-08-22 16:00 - 20:00
Visit MCM for free every Thursday evening, 4–8 pm!

Enjoy extended hours each Thursday, completely free of charge. Please check in at the admissions desk when you visit during free hours.

Looking for more affordable ways to visit? During the rest of the week, MCM also offers heavily discounted admission and memberships to families who qualify through our Access for Everyone initiative.

Fun with Fiber Arts: Felt Fabric Collage
2024-08-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Explore various practical and artful fiber arts projects like embroidery, weaving, mending, and sewing with our friend Lexie in the Art Studio! Today, we’ll make felt collage creations.

This event is free during our extended Thursday evening hours! Image credit: Sarah Whiting

Guided Movement Games with Force of Nature Movement
2024-08-23 10:00 - 11:30
Join our friends from Force of Nature Movement for guided movement games and open playtime in the Wonderground. We’ll be practicing organic skills such as climbing, crawling, jumping, and running, and playing games like the classic Floor is Lava. These games are designed for children ages 3-10 years, but all are welcome!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Music with Junebug
2024-08-23 10:30 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for Music with Junebug led by Junko Yamauchi.

This program gives toddlers and preschoolers the opportunity to sing, dance, explore instruments, and play! Music and movement activities promote brain development and connect us to our family and community.

Music with Junebug takes place on the Rooftop Ramble, dependent on the day. Please ask at the desk! This event is free with general museum admission.

Clay Day: Polymer Clay Mini Foods
2024-08-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Explore the squishy, smudgy, sculptable world of clay! Today we’ll “make and take” your very own miniature foods created with polymer clay. Please note: these clay creations are NOT edible!

Each Friday, join us for a different drop-in clay experience in the Art Studio. We’ll work with a variety of media–ceramic clay, dough, paper clay, polymer clay, and more. This event is free with general museum admission.

Kamishibai Storytelling with Junko
2024-08-23 13:30 - 14:30
Join Junko each Friday for interactive storytelling with Japanese kamishibai cards!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Let's Move! in the Wonderground
2024-08-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for movement games in the Wonderground! From obstacle courses to dances, group games, balance activities, and yoga, we’ll enjoy different opportunities to move our bodies every day.

This event is free with general museum admission.

We're on the Bus! with Metro Transit
2024-08-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Madison’s Metro Transit brings one of their buses to the museum—with an MCM Nice Age Trail ad on the side—to show kids and adults alike how to ride public transit.

Practice getting on and off the bus, put a bike on the front rack, and sit in the driver’s seat! Bus will be parked outside the museum on North Hamilton St, right near our front door. This event is free, no museum admission (or bus fare!) required.

Exploration Station: Bike Blender Salsa
2024-08-24 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Blend, baby, blend! Use the power of body movement and our bike blender to make organic tomatillo salsa from MCM’s Rooftop Ramble gardens.

This event is free with general museum admission.

MCM Roadshow: Orton Park Festival
2024-08-24 12:00 - 16:00 | Orton Park, 1103 Spaight St., Madison, 53703
Join MCM Roadshow and other local organizations at the 59th annual Orton Park Festival! Enjoy performances, food, and fun at one of the country’s longest-running outdoor music festivals.

Madison Children’s Museum Roadshow brings mobile exhibits, maker activities, and more to community events in Madison and the surrounding area.

Saturday Art Adventures: Nature-Dyed Bandanas
2024-08-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we’ll create custom tie-dye bandanas using naturally-sourced dyes like indigo.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Let's Make! with Lexie: Abstract Self Portraits
2024-08-25 13:00 - 15:00
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more! Today, we’ll explore self-reflection (literally!) as we create abstracted self portraits.

This event is free with general museum admission.
