Celebrating Children's Museum Day at the Minnesota Capitol
- thechildrensdiscov
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 10
We were thrilled to represent the Children's Discovery Center at this year’s Children’s Museum Day at the Minnesota Capitol! As proud members of the Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition, this marks our fourth year advocating for the importance of children's museums and the children and families of Breckenridge and surrounding communities.
"Children's Day at the Capitol" is an exciting opportunity to connect with fellow children's museums across the state and raise awareness about the powerful impact of hands-on, play-based learning.
As part of our Capitol visit on Tuesday, April 8, Madison Yaggie Schuler, Breckenridge resident and Children’s Discovery Center board member, and her two daughters met with Representative Jeff Backer and Senator Jordan Rasmusson. Together, they highlighted the powerful role children's museums play in expanding educational and developmental opportunities for youth and families in rural Minnesota.
Madison joined representatives from other children’s museums across the state as part of the Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition, advocating for continued investment in the Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund—a vital source of support that helps fund exhibits, programs, and capital projects for children’s museums throughout Minnesota. Their unified message was clear:
"Investing in children’s museums is investing in the future of Minnesota’s children, communities, and economy."
The investment towards children's museums across Minnesota will:
Maximize the impact we have on early childhood development
Improve social cohesion by strengthening the bonds between families and communities
Increase cross-cultural competency, social-emotional development, and mental health outcomes
Strengthen economic development across Greater MN by enhancing communities and driving tourism
These conversations emphasized how access to play-based, informal learning spaces can be so impactful for youth—and why continued investment in rural Minnesota is significant.
The Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition
The Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition includes a vibrant network of 12 museums across Minnesota, including three emerging museums in the development and construction phases. The museums in the coalition serve nearly 500,000 guests annually, reaching visitors from nearly 100% of Minnesota’s 87 counties. Many of these guests are from communities outside the Twin Cities metro area, with limited access to play-based learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
The Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition has been an invaluable resource to the Children's Discovery Center, particularly through the support of dedicated lobbyists who advocate for children's museums at the state level—amplifying our voice and advancing our mission.
Collectively, the coalition has submitted bills requesting over $36M in state funds towards capital projects underway at children’s museums throughout Minnesota. Many museums will use this funding for building and exhibit design, renovations, and construction to create and expand our abilities to spark joy and enhance learning through play! Research shows these projects offer a 5x return on investment through job creation and local spending—a win for our children and our economy.
As we continue in the development and planning stages, the Children's Discovery Center's membership in the coalition has also opened the door to meaningful collaboration, support, and guidance from more established museums across the state. Since joining the coalition, the Children's Discovery Center has not only built valuable partnerships but also received funding at the state level.
In 2024, the Children's Discovery Center began receiving $50,000 annually through the Minnesota Department of Education, which will be used to support the ongoing development of the museum. The Children's Discovery Center was also awarded $180,000 through a grant submitted to the the Minnesota Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for the construction of our upcoming exhibit, “Growing of the Land.” This exhibit will explore agriculture, sustainability, and our connection to the land, which is rooted in the values and experiences of rural Minnesota and the significance that agriculture plays. This funding is made possible in part by the Minnesota Humanities Center, thanks to the support of Minnesotans who voted for the Legacy Amendment in 2008.
We are deeply grateful for the continued support of Representative Jeff Backer and Senator Jordan Rasmusson, who understand the importance of investing in rural youth, early childhood education, and the unique role of children’s museums in building vibrant communities.
Want to show your support?
Please consider reaching out to Representative Backer and Senator Rasmusson to thank them and encourage continued investment in rural education and children’s museums across Minnesota.
District 9A Representatives:
Representative Jeff Backer: rep.jeff.backer@house.mn.gov
Senator Jordan Rasmusson: sen.jordan.rasmusson@senate.mn
Minnesota Legislator Search: https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/legislators
Here's a sample message you can send:
Dear [Representative/Senator Name],
Thank you for your continued support of children’s museums in Greater Minnesota. I’m writing to express my appreciation for your efforts to invest in rural youth's education, creativity, and well-being through the support of the Children’s Discovery Center in Breckenridge and other children's museums across our state.
Funding through the Minnesota Department of Education and the Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund helps bring vital learning and hands-on experiences to children and families who may not otherwise have access. Your support also maximizes the impact we have on early childhood development, strengthens the bonds between families and communities, increases cross-cultural competency, social-emotional development, and mental health outcomes, and helps strengthen economic development across Greater MN by enhancing communities and driving tourism.
Please continue to advocate for this vital work—our communities are stronger because of it!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Town]
To Conclude
As we reflect on our time at the Capitol, we are filled with gratitude and renewed energy. Being part of the Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition allows us to stand alongside passionate advocates who share our commitment to early childhood education, hands-on opportunities, and advocating for rural kids, families, and communities.
With continued support from state leaders, generous funding partners, and our incredible community, the Children’s Discovery Center is excited to keep pushing ahead, dreaming, and seeing that our space becomes a reality. We are so incredibly passionate about creating a space for rural kids and families, all while helping revitalize the community.
The future is bright—and we’re just getting started.
