Background
The Children's Museum of Fond du Lac offers an incredible experience for children and their caregivers and provides an invaluable asset to our region. After receiving tremendous support from the community and individuals throughout the Midwest, the Museum opened on December 17, 2007. Located inside the beautifully restored Windhover Center of the Arts, we welcome nearly 20,000 visitors each year.
Museum visitors include the young and the young at heart, not only from Fond du Lac, but from the entire region and even as far away as Germany. The museum has served as a gathering place for families, school groups, scouting organizations, daycares, preschools, home school organizations, Moms' clubs, the Boys and Girls Club, special needs groups and more.
The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac began in June 2002 as a project of the Leadership Fond du Lac program, through the Association of Commerce. It was supported by the Windhover Center for the Arts and further developed by a committee of volunteers including business leaders, educators, community advocates, and parents who were dedicated to providing more for our children and our community.
In May 2004, the Children’s Museum was incorporated as a legal entity, obtained non-profit status and began to take shape as strategic business plans progressed.
In the beginning, the Children's Museum of Fond du Lac operated as a "museum without walls", in effect, they offered temporary, traveling exhibits. From June 2002 through April 2006, the museum presented the community with six traveling exhibits, rented from other museums. Each traveling exhibit drew a growing population of children, parents and educators and contributed to the excitement of the possibility of Fond du Lac building its own permanent Children’s Museum.
In April 2006 several leaders from the Fond du Lac Arts Council and the Children’s Museum recognized that two non-profits had a unique opportunity to partner and further support the arts and culture offerings in the community. With this unique partnership, the support of many dedicated volunteers and financial contributions from individuals, businesses and foundations, the museum evolved from a temporary exhibitor to a permanent reality.
In December 2007, the Children’s Museum opened inside the Windhover Center for the Arts and now serves the entire region with its educational and fun exhibits. It is proud to be apart of the many offerings at the Windhover Center for the Arts, where families and community COME TOGETHER in downtown Fond du Lac!
Current Offerings
The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac offers an interactive learning environment for children age birth through eleven and their caregivers. It features hands on exhibits, each set in a different country. For instance, the Pizzeria Frazioni exhibit set in Italy invites children to play while they engage in problem solving activities involving fractions and math facts. The Great Wall Construction exhibit set in China challenges the “engineering” minds of both children and adults as they take a turn on the Bamboo Ball Wall. Visitors “travel the world” while they collect stamps from 7 different countries in their own Passport Book.
In addition to providing the above exhibits, the museum also offers field trips, birthday parties, summer programs and more.
A Museum Without WallsOur traveling exhibits were enjoyed by thousands of children prior to our permanent museum opening. Following is a brief description of our past museum events:
- June 2002 – This 2 day event was held at Windhover Center for the Arts and enjoyed by approximately 1,000 people.
- February 2003 –This 3 day event was held at Windhover Center for the Arts and enjoyed by over 1,500 people. The theme for this event was “On A Roll”, based on a Harley Davidson exhibit rented from the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in Milwaukee. Hundreds of excited children visited with organized fieldtrips. Funding was received by Oakmark International.
- June 2003 – This display was at Lakeside Park during Walleye Weekend festivities. It featured “Playport” boats which were purchased using funding from Mercury Marine.
- November 2003 – This 4 day event was held at Windhover Center and enjoyed by over 1,500 people, including hundreds of children who participated through fieldtrips. The theme for this event was “Just Build It”. The event featured a “Construction Zone” provided by CD Smith Construction and an “Infant and Toddler” corner, sponsored by Wachovia Securities. Several other companies also assisted with making this event possible.
- April 2005 – The “Imagine” event was held at the Forest Mall in Fond du Lac over a 3 week period. Over 1000 students attended from schools in Fond du Lac, Dodge and Calumet counties. Many children also attended this event with their families and caregivers. Total attendance was over 2,200 persons. Children enjoyed exhibits in the Construction Zone, Imagination Theatre, and Little Lakeside. They were also able to do some hands on learning with the Spanish Language Trees and Human Body Exhibit. Major event sponsors were Service League of Fond du Lac, Alliant Energy, KFIZ and Agnesian Healthcare.
- April 2006 - The “Go Figure” event was held at Windhover Center for the Arts from April 1, 2006 through April 30, 2006. Nearly 3,000 visitors attended including 1,500 visitors that participated in fieldtrips with their schools, daycares, scouting groups and ARC organizations. The fieldtrip groups came from Fond du Lac, Dodge, Calumet and Winnebago Counties. Children from out of Wisconsin visited with grandparents looking for quality entertainment over the Spring Break period. Children enjoyed the “Go Figure” exhibit which was rented from the Minnesota Children’s Museum. Other featured areas included the Pizza Parlor, Spanish Language Trees, Body Basics Area, Constuction Zone, Imagination Station / Stage area and Little Lakeside (specially designed for infants and toddlers). Major event sponsors included: Agnesian HealthCare, JF Ahern, Hierl Insurance, The Oakmark International Funds, and Service League of Fond du Lac.
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