We are having so much fun here at the Baraboo Children's Museum that we want to make sure we can continue well into the future once our Pop-Up Shop campaign ends December 29, 2018. Since opening on October 1st, we have averaged 22 guests per day in our 1,300 square foot facility. That equates to 1,087 total guests in October and November! In addition, 23 families have taken advantage of our Pop-Up Pass, a 3 month museum membership, which adds up to 96 people! Not only is the Baraboo Children's Museum serving our community of Baraboo, we have also served families from Reedsburg, Lake Delton, Wisconsin Dells, Mauston, Portage, Pardeeville, Sauk Prairie, and many other surrounding areas!
With the Pop-Up shop campaign underway, the physical need for expansion is clear, but it is only part of the story. Not only does the Baraboo Children’s Museum need expansion, Baraboo’s children need the expanded museum. We have worked to identify some critical impact areas where having a children’s museum would make a profound and enduring impact on children, their learning, and social/emotional development in Baraboo and surrounding communities.
Having a children's museum in Baraboo would not only benefit our community, but it is something that is desired by the parents of the area's smallest residents. There is a growing demand for effective learning opportunities for young children, and growing evidence that children’s museums provide those opportunities. The children of Sauk County and beyond deserve a museum that can serve their growing educational and developmental needs now and well into the future. It’s time for the Baraboo Children’s Museum (BCM) to expand and open in a permanent location!
The desire of BCM is to expand into a 9,000 square foot space in the Badger Building on the East side of town as soon as possible after the closing of our Pop-Up Shop. This space was previously Darrow's, as well as the Habitat for Humanity Restore.
Currently, the Baraboo Children’s Museum provides rich play experiences and a dynamic learning environment with 5 innovative and interactive exhibits. As we plan toward the future, our desire for the Baraboo Children’s Museum is to offer 13 exhibit and programming areas--Agriculture, Circus, Fresh Mart Store/Kitchen, Trains, Building, Climbing structure, Art (Creation Station), Little Buddies (Birth-Age 2), Water Room, Music, Theater, STEM lab/Party Room, and Be With Me (tech free) Click to see more!
All new exhibits will emphasize developmentally appropriate, open‐ended exploration, support formal learning, and help young children learn about themselves, their community, and their world through play.
We are asking for your support as we begin our next stage of the Baraboo Children's Museum!
We are asking for your support in helping us raise $213,000.00 in support to offset the cost of exhibit creation, building needs, and start up costs.
Needs:
$39,000 gets us in the building and covers "Build Out" expenses.
$64,000 covers setup, insurance, miscellaneous, and adminstative costs.
$110,000 covers the cost of the 11 new exhibits. This grand total of
$213,000.00 gets us up and running as early as March 1, 2019.
GiveBack Incentives
*Donation incentives accumulate to the highest level of giving!
Friends Level
$1-$100 donation: Public shoutout on social media outlets
Supporter Level
$100- $200 donation: Dream Builders t-shirt
Member Level
$500-1,000 donation: 1 annual membership
Provider Level
$2,000-$5,000 donation: 1 lifetime membership & name recognition in the museum
Dream Maker Level
$10,000 donation: Exhibit naming rights (11 opportunities)
Thank you for helping make the Baraboo Children's Museum a reality! *Donation incentives accumulate to the highest level of giving!
