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Our Mission
The mission of the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum is to provide a family-based discovery place where children and adults can play and explore together to strengthen confidence, capabilities and creativity through hands-on investigation.
Organization History
Over ten years ago, a group of interested individuals began meeting in living rooms and around kitchen tables to discuss the dream of establishing a children’s museum in Central Wisconsin. This group incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1995 and focused on a goal of opening the first museum site in 1997. In 1996, the CenterPoint MarketPlace in Stevens Point offered CWCM 1,200 square feet of space. With the space, the dream, and the funding in hand, the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum opened in May of 1997.
The growth of the museum continued with increasing board involvement, additional programming efforts, rising attendance, and the expansion of the exhibit area into the Museum Annex across the “hall” from the original site. This addition in 2001 provided the museum with an added 3,000 square feet and many new exhibit and program opportunities.
In the summer of 2002, the board took on the challenge of writing a strategic plan and in the beginning of 2004 hired the Museum’s first Executive Director. Growth in the last two and a half years has been impressive. The Museum experienced a 36% increase in attendance between 2004 and 2005 and a 42% increase between 2005 and 2006. 2006 attendance has continued to increase at around 30% over 2005 figures.
In 2005, the CWCM Board of Directors began work on increasing organizational capacity and effectiveness in order to prepare for a future move to a larger, permanent location. CWCM is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds for a new museum.
 CWCM is a member of the Association of Children's Museums and encourages you to visit the many other extraordinary children's museums throughout the country. The Central Wisconsin Children's Museum is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.
What is a children’s museum?
They are places where discovery and curiosity are brought to life through a touchable learn-by-doing atmosphere designed to foster creativity and a passion for lifelong learning. In a children’s museum, children and the adults most important in their lives—parents, teachers, caregivers—come together in shared interaction and fun. Our Museum serves over 10,000 visitors (primarily children ages six months to eight years and their caregivers) annually onsite and more at community events.
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