The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum announces events through April 2020

MILWAUKEE — The following is the winter/spring 2020 calendar of events at the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum.

Special Exhibit

Some Assembly Required locally sponsored by PNC Bank

Exhibition extended through May 10

Some Assembly Required invites children to enjoy building activities and creative experiences as they construct a bridge, form a band, plant a garden and create a story. The exhibit features fun activity stations that apply science, technology, engineering, arts/design and math concepts and encourages children to tinker, invent and solve problems. The Some Assembly Required exhibit was developed by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. and is locally sponsored by PNC Bank.

Special Events

Neighborhood Night

Jan. 16, Feb. 20, Mar. 19, and Apr. 16: 5-8 p.m.

Enjoy free admission from 5-8 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month, plus special workshops offered in the Museum’s Be A Maker space. Neighborhood Night is presented by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation with additional support provided by the Joy Global Foundation, the Stackner Family Foundation and US Bank, and media sponsor FOX6. Visit bbcmkids.org/neighborhood-night for additional information.

Milwaukee Museum Member Swap Day

January 26

On Sunday, January 26, select Milwaukee Museum’s will offer free reciprocal admission for participating members, including: Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Charles Allis Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Public Museum and Villa Terrace Art Museum. Patrons can show their membership card at the admissions desk at each venue to receive free admission for the two adults and number of children listed on the card. Please check each venue for hours of operation and visitor information.

WaterStone Bank Day

Feb. 21 and Apr. 10: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

WaterStone Bank Day is a special day at the Museum highlighting financial literacy. Children can explore the Museum’s pretend WaterStone Bank exhibit and families will receive a take-home kit with pretend money and activities to do at the Museum and at home that promote good money management.

Sendik’s Day

Mar. 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Starting February 22, shoppers can visit a Sendik’s Food Market and purchase select products, then show their receipt at the Museum on March 14 to receive one free admission per product. On Sendik’s Day, visitors to the Museum can explore fun, hands-on exhibits like the pretend Sendik’s Food Market in Home Town, Pocket Park, Science CITY and Word Headquarters and participate in project-based learning activities in the Be A Maker space.

Weekly Programs

Birth through age 5 are critical years in a child’s development. In addition to special programs throughout the year, the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum’s weekly programs promote early learning while families have fun together. Space is limited. Visit bbcmkids.org/events for additional information.

Tot Time: Recommended for children ages 1-3.

Every Thursday, 10:30-11 a.m.

Tot Time features songs, stories, games and other activities for the Museum’s youngest visitors.

Pint-Size Science: Recommended for children ages 2-5.

Jan. 22 & 29, Feb. 5 & 19, Mar. 11 & 25 and Apr. 1 & 15: 10:30-11 a.m.

From the kitchen to the playground – and even in the car – science is everywhere. This facilitated program features hands-on science discoveries through stories, songs and experiments.

Our Five Senses: Recommended for children of all ages.

Jan. 17 & 31, Feb. 14 & 28, Mar. 13 & 27, and Apr. 10 & 24: 10:30-11 a.m.

Children participate in educational activities that highlight how we use our senses – sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing – to understand the world around us.

RIGAMAJIG©: Recommended for children age 3 and older.

Jan. 10 & 24, Feb. 7 & 21, Mar. 6 & 20, and Apr. 3 & 17: 10:30-11 a.m.

Enjoy open play with RIGAMAJIG, the Museum’s large-scale building kit that helps children develop problem-solving skills, cognitive thinking and imagination through hands-on exploration.

Reptile Education Through Contact: Recommended for children of all ages.

Apr. 4 and May 2: 10:30 a.m.-noon

Join Reptile Education Through Contact, a group of experienced reptile handlers that encourage hands-on learning with live reptiles and educational resources.

Stories and Songs with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music: Recommended for children of all ages.

Feb. 7 & 21, Mar. 6 & 20, and April 3 & 17: 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Children will use their imaginations as they read and recreate storybook tales through drama, music and dance.

Paint and Create Workshop: Recommended for children age 4 and older.

Jan. 18, Feb. 17. Mar. 24, and Apr. 10: 11 a.m.-noon

Children can participate in a painting workshop facilitated by guest makers from Stickman Painting Studio. Registration is required, Museum admission is not included in workshop fee. Price: $5 per registrant.

Maker Programs

The Museum’s Be A Maker (BAM) space is a communal workshop that invites families and groups to explore science, technology, engineering, arts/design and math by working on a broad range of do-it-yourself projects that help children build new skills, collaborate and share their accomplishments. Outfitted with real tools, materials and technologies, BAM offers self-directed activities and workshops facilitated by Museum staff and guest makers. Visit bbcmkids.org/exhibits/be-a-maker for additional information.

Be A Maker: Open Making: Recommended for children of all ages.

Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-noon & 2-4 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m.

The Museum’s Be A Maker space offers tools, equipment and materials that make it fun to tinker and create. Each month, BAM changes its focus to provide family-friendly projects and activities that promote learning by doing.

Be A Maker: Art Studio: Recommended for children ages 4 and older.

Jan. 14 & 28, Feb. 11 & 25, Mar. 17 & 31, and Apr. 7 & 28: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Jan. 25: 2-4 p.m.

The Art Studio inspires young artists with opportunities to create using dry, wet, collage and textured mediums. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Be A Maker: Parent Studio

Jan. 20, noon-2 p.m.

Families can learn how to make a custom journal, highlighting skills like measuring and hand sewing. This program is free with regular admission, but pre-registration is recommended.

Scout Programs

The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum offers many guided programs that help Girl Scouts meet STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art/design and math) badge requirements. Private troop workshops and events are also available for both Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups. Visit bbcmkids.org/girl-scouts for group reservation and workshop registration information.

Daisy Badge Workshop – What Robots Do, How Robots Move and Design a Robot

Feb. 15 and Apr. 18: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Daisy Scouts will earn 3 Robotics badges by designing and building their own robots. Participants will receive a Betty Brinn Children’s Museum patch and certificate. Museum admission is not included in workshop fee. Price: $15 per Scout, pre-registration is required.

Brownie Badge Workshop – Programming Robots and Designing Robots

Mar. 21: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Brownie Scouts will earn 2 Robotics badges by designing and building their own robots. Participants will receive a Betty Brinn Children’s Museum patch and certificate. Museum admission is not included in workshop fee. Price: $15 per Scout, pre-registration is required.

Visitor Information

Location: 929 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Special Hours: The Museum will be closed on Sunday, April 12.

Admission: $9 per person; $8 for seniors (ages 55+); children age 1 and younger are free; out-of-state visitors are $1 more.

Phone: 414-390-5437

Website: bbcmkids.org

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.