Museum News – November 2018

November 1, 2018

Featured Events

Free Grown-Up Admission with Voter Sticker

November 1–6

It’s election season, and we support your right to be heard! From November 1–6, wear your “I voted” sticker from your polling place to get one free adult admission to the museum. A given sticker may only be used once. While you’re here, be sure to cast your vote—to choose next year’s theme days—in our Polling Place exhibit, which closes November 6. Also on November 6 join us for Election Day Storytime at 9:45 in the Wildernest.

International Science Museum Day, Saturday, November 10

In honor of International Science Center and Science Museum Day, we’ll be celebrating the importance of science with a day of drop-in programs, including STEAM Collaborative Art and Mad Science. Learn more.

Baby Date Night, Friday, November 16, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Bring your baby for a special Baby Date Night at the museum where there will be just as much playful fun for the parents as kids. From our Baby Dance Party to Parent Jeopardy to holiday arts & crafts, it’s sure to be a fun-filled evening! Register now.

International Education Week, November 12–16

International education has the power to bring people together and allow us to better appreciate the many wonderful cultures around the world! In celebration, we are offering programs where visitors will learn more about different cultures.

During Building Bonanza, visitors will explore the structures of traditional Hmong, Inuit, and Ndebele homes. Taste the World and Traditional Street Games will feature elements of South African culture.

Saturday, December 1, 10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Kick off the holiday season at the Madison Club with Tea & Trains. Find gifts, take family photos, and partake in our holiday high tea with hot chocolate!

All proceeds from Tea & Trains support the museum’s Access for Everyone programs, helping families play, create, imagine, and learn together. Tickets available now.

Other Programs

Wednesday, November 7, 5–8 p.m.

The museum will be free and open to all from 5 to 8 p.m. Learn more about Free Family Nights.

Stop by the Art Studio for Knitting Machine Artistry, hosted by visiting artist Tanya Cunningham, held from 6–8 p.m.

Friday, November 2, 6–10 p.m.

Join us for our adults-only celebration of the harvest and high fantasy! We’re getting into the spirit of the darkest time of the year with a celebration of our favorite high-fantasy book/TV series and also all things yummy and harvest-related. Only a handful of tickets remain. Learn more.

Adult Swim is presented by Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co.

Exhibit Updates

Blog: Design to Move makes taking the stairs fun

Taking the stairs just got a little more fun for employees at the museum. Over the past few years we’ve reinvigorated stairwells around Madison, including Stair Trek: Core to Cosmos and Stair Trek: Zip, Zap, Zoom— already at the museum. For the final project, we added exercise features to the stairwell that staff use to get around the building. Read about this stairwell and the Design to Move project on our blog.

Meet the Museum Staff

Deb Gilpin, President & CEO

Deb Gilpin was born and raised in Madison and McFarland, Wisconsin and graduated from UW-Madison. She taught environmental education and has worked at children’s and science museums around the country for over thirty years. She was the founding director and led the opening of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix in 2008. She returned home to Wisconsin in the spring of 2013 to become the president and CEO of Madison Children’s Museum. She was recently named a winner of In Business magazine’s 2018 Women of Industry Award.

“Every child who comes through our door is like a glowing ball of potential. I love being there to see their eyes light up over things they might never have imagined. And when their grown-up is right there to experience it, too…even better!”

Deb often pitches in to help with staffing during busy events like SummerPalooza, Free Family Nights, and the American Girl Benefit Sale, so be sure to say “hi” when you see her! Deb enjoys hiking, yoga, and spending time with her children.

Become a Museum Member!

Madison Children’s Museum membership offers more than just a year of unlimited admission; it’s your family’s invitation to exclusive events, exciting classes, special discounts, and more.

Members receive 10% off camp registration, workshops, Adult Swim tickets, and other programs and events. Members also receive early access to registration for popular events like summer camps. And you can take your membership on the road, where you’ll get free or half-priced admission to hundreds of museums and science centers. Learn about these and other benefits and pick your membership level online.

Discounted Memberships
Families of first babies under 18 months of age are eligible for our free First-Time Parent Membership Program. Also, thanks to the generosity of many donors, reduced-price Family Access Memberships are available. Check for qualifying programs.

November Programs

Tuesdays

Animal Feeding weekly | 9:45–10 a.m.
Wiggle and Jump weekly | 10–11 a.m.
Baby Doll Bath Time weekly | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Wednesdays

Animal Feeding weekly | 9:45–10 a.m.
Little Story weekly | 10–10:30 a.m.
Music with Junebug weekly | 10:30–11 a.m.
Nature Explorations weekly | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Thursdays

Animal Feeding 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, & 11/29 | 9:45–10 a.m.
Early Explorers Playgroup 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, & 11/29 | 10–11 a.m. & 2:30–3:30 p.m.
Lily-Pad Theater 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, & 11/29 | 11–11:30 a.m.
Textile Technology 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, & 11/29 | 1–2 p.m.
Taste the World: South Africa 11/15 | 1–3 p.m.

Fridays

Animal Feeding weekly | 9:45–10 a.m.
Mess Monsters weekly | 10–11 a.m
Traditional South African Street Games: Mancala and Beyond 11/16 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Playdough Party weekly | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Building Bonanza weekly | 1–3 p.m.

Saturdays

Animal Feeding weekly | 9:45–10 a.m.
Yogaventures weekly | 10–10:30 a.m.
Dried Flower Bookmarks 11/3 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Succulent Planters 11/0 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Peace Doves 11/17 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Clothespin Creatures 11/17 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Match Girl Project 11/17 & 11/24 | 12–1 p.m.
Mad Science 11/10 | 12–2 p.m.
Collaborative Art weekly | 1–3 p.m.
Winter Birdfeeders 11/24 | 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sundays

Rooftop Watercolors weekly | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Taste of Tech: Retrovision 11/18 | 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Dream Catchers weekly | 1–2 p.m.
STEAM Punk weekly | 3–4 p.m.

Madison Children’s Museum connects children with their families, their communities,
and the world beyond through discovery learning and creative play.

Madison Children's Museum