Exhibits
The Children's Museum of Fond du Lac provides 15,000 sq. feet of indoor space and more than 10,000 sq. feet of fenced outdoor space. CMFDL is full of fun and learning through play! With educational and quality resource programming, events and spaces for our community, we stay committed to being a resource for all children and families!
World Map Zone
Sponsored by Shannon Family Foundation
Children learn communication skills and geography in our World Map Zone! Start your World exploration in our Map Zone! Children can step into a phone booth and see how telephone lines work while making a call to their friend. In the phone booth children can also explore other languages by hearing fun facts from kids in different countries. Next, children can use our giant world map to find Tripp X. Plora. Using our big globe, guests can see how many miles Tripp is from the Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, learn some fun facts about his location, and build their own passport by taking a coloring page from the country!
Pizzeria Frazioni
Sponsored by Grande Cheese, Catherine & John Korb & Hierl Insurance/Mike and Melissa Hierl
Children use math concepts to bake their own pizza and share it with their friends! Creativity, engagement and learning can be done at Pizzeria Frazioni! Children travel into an Italian pizzeria where they can use sorting, patterns, other math concepts, and creativity to help grow their brains! With a menu, pizza slices of varying sizes, oven mitts and utensils, and an oven, guests create their own pizza and bake it. Their creation can then be served to their friends and caregivers in the “outdoor” bistro! To finish up, guests can send the dishes to the sink via conveyor belt, “wash” and put away!
Blast Off
Gift from David Herro & Jay Franke and Korb Family Foundation
An out-of-this-world learning experience can be had in Blast Off! Children can expand their horizons by learning about astronauts, weather phenomena, and outer space. Sit on a cozy foam stool and spend 25 minutes watching 12 short videos varying from climate, auroras, the sun, the moon, the solar system, and more! Children not only learn about their world and the space around them, but they can also expand their vocabulary with our space-themed books and get creative with a puzzle!
Healthworks
Sponsored by SSM Health & St. Agnes Hospital
A wide array of physical activities awaits children in HealthWorks. This area teaches guests that with a little creativity, fitness can be incorporated into our lives EVERY DAY! From a fitness circuit to designing your own healthy plate in The Little Corner Market, from lifting weights to balancing what you eat with what you do, this mini indoor playground gives children the opportunity to create healthy habits that they can apply to their everyday lives.
Fire Station 75
Major Support Provided by FDL Firefighters Local 400, Altrusa International Fond du Lac & Cory's Customs LLC
Hop in the firetruck and save the Museum! Years of passion and hard work came together when local firemen, automobile enthusiasts at Corey’s Customs, a creative service organization and CMFDL staff refurbished a 1968 fire engine. Children get to use their imaginations to experience what it is like to be a firefighter. Kids get to see a real fire uniform on our firefighter mannequin “Judy.” A quiet reading corner holds many books where children can read all about helping their community, as well as learning some past and present facts about the FDL Fire Department on our display wall!
Proudly presented with these additional partners: Anders Auto Parts Artistic Designz by Melissa Norenberg, Bowe's Pit Stop, Brenner Tank, C.D. Smith Construction, Eastern Ridge Home Builders Association, Graphic Center Inc., Habitat for Humanity of FDL Cnty., Info-Pro Lender Services, Inc., J & K Summerfield Alignment, Manowske Welding Corporation, Omni Glass & Print, Signature Homes, Tom's Quality Millwork, Twohig Flooring America, Whealon Towing.
Brain Matters
Sponsored by SSM Health
By making healthy choices, guests get rewarded with the visual and physical excitement of watching and chasing the “zooming scarf”! Kids learn and grow both their brains and bodies while watching their healthy choice move through the brain and then racing to catch it! Magnetic puzzles and bright colors grab the attention of all ages in this exhibit sponsored by SSM Health.
Holiday Automotive Tech Center (ATC)
Sponsored by Holiday Automotive, Fond du Lac
The Automotive Tech Center is an immersive learning experience as well as a playful introduction to the mechanical world. Children of all ages are surrounded by the sights and sounds of a real car service shop as they become a mechanic by testing parts, filling up the oil, and even changing tires. With real shop images surrounding them, children and caregivers can take orders, make a schedule, do the work, and even take the payment from the customer. Sponsored by Holiday Automotive.
CFIZ
Sponsored by Bertrand Hopper Memorial foundation & John & Andrea Welsch
Try your hand (voice and ears) at being a Radio D.J.! Children can be creative putting together their own radio show in this Canada inspired radio station. Caregivers and friends can listen through a speaker outside the station, de veloping teamwork and communication skills.
Great Wall Construction
Sponsored by JF Ahern, Michels Corporation & CD Smith Costruction
Build your math and engineering skills! Whether working solo or in teams, or engaged in friendly competitions, children learn fundamental concepts of slope, speed, wheels, axels, pulleys, levers, and more. Guests can be builders while transporting the materials and building the house wall, or crank and shoot a ball up through the tubes and create a chute system that helps it reach back to the bottom.
Great Toddler Reef
Sponsored by Brian & Kristin Lenz
In our Australian Toddler Reef, children ages 0-4 are submerged into age-appropriate experiences! This space features a soft-play sandcastle for crawlers, and a play kitchen, train table and slide for toddlers. Musical instruments, puzzles, a boat, and a coral house are among some of the other engaging activities in this space. Mothers can enjoy Queensland, our semi-private nursing area (fully private space available on request). Toddlers will love the sites, sounds, colors, and textures of the Reef!
Wagener’s Workshop
Sponsored by Fond du Lac Area foundation
Grow your creativity! Experiences are provided to motivate children to be lifelong learners, express their creativity, think critically, spread positivity, be well, and just plain have fun! Whether using the creative imagination to design some artwork, or learning valuable lessons about the engineering design process, children can spend hours in this space and not get bored! Wagener’s Workshop is due to a generous estate gift from a local educator as well as continued material donations from the FDL community.
Farmtastic
Sponsored by Envision Great Fond du Lac, Agri-Business Council
Showcasing Wisconsin’s agricultural impact, Farmtastic provides the opportunity for kids to use their imagination while growing their brains! Featuring Annabelle, our beloved milking cow, a silo, an electric milking machine, and more, this space highlights the many careers in agriculture and what it takes to grow our food. Designed and developed in partnership with local members of the Agri-Business Council of Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
Proudly presented with these contributing partners: Compeer Financial, Culvers, Milk Source, Calumet Dairy Group LLC, Dairy farmers of Wisconsin, Hoards Dairyman, Lakeview IBA LLC & Professional Dairy Producers Foundation.
WinnePlayGo
Sponsored by SSM Health
While our inside is great, enjoy our outdoor space as well! Our completely fenced-in outdoor area features STEM play equipment for kids of all ages to stimulate their brains and promote critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork (designed and gifted by Burke). Another highlight of WinnePlayGo is our BEE Kind play space, providing a way for kids to build their muscles climbing a bee hive while learning about the important role that bees play for our environment. BEE sure to keep an eye out for bumble bees and butterflies enjoying our Butterfly Garden, our Three Sisters Garden, and our Fairy Garden! You can also learn how our food grows by visiting our Vegetable, Herb, and Flower Garden Beds. Be sure to check out Shanty Town, featuring Todd the Tool Shed, the Quilting Place, and Sturgeon for Tomorrow!
Transportation Station
Sponsored by Oakmark International
Soar to new heights as the pilot of your very own plane. Make neighborhood stops as the community bus driver. Buckle on your life vest and take to the waves in your Mercury engine fast boat, and move the train down the tracks as the train conductor. When children use their creative minds, there is not telling where they can travel to!
The Little Corner Market
In Partnership with Fondy Food Pantry
Children get to do the shopping an be creative with their food selections, while learning what makes a healthy meal! Museum explorers can fill up their shopping carts with real-like snacks, proteins, breads and more, and follow the prompts to make a balanced meal. Sorting food by color, shape, size, and type helps spark creativity and allows minds to grow! Located within Healthworks, the Little Corner Market was created in collaboration with the Fond du Lac Food Pantry.
On the Go Gallery
Movement is essential...and FUN! On The Go Gallery weaves movement and imagination together in an exhibit that changes! Considered a temporary exhibit space, guests can see new artwork, games, and activities throughout the year! With a combination of body movement, mind stimulating and collaborative activities, your family will be engaged as you step into the open space.
Ever Bright
The many bright lights will guide you to CMFDL's Ever Bright exhibit. Will you fill the wall with just one color or a mix of all the bright colors in the rainbow? Step up and turn the dials to see how many colors you can display at one time. This amazing, hands-on exhibit comes to life as you see the display of names of supporters, who have offered their their generous commitment in the Be the Light Campaign! Ask how you can display your family or business name on an Ever Bright dial, and be the light for children and families!
Click to support CMFDL & include your family or business on the Ever Bright display
STEAM Lab
Gift from Charles Thomas Gnewuch, Karen & Dr, William Shaw, & Marlys & Dr. John Welsch
Participate in hands-on learning of all things related to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics! The STEAM Lab is used for educational programs, small meetings, and can be combined with Celebration Central for larger parties or meetings!
Celebration Central
Celebrate at the Children's Museum of Fond du Lac! Celebration Central holds many purposes from birthday parties to educational programs to meeting spaces, it is a mult-purpose space designed to be workable to the museum's needs and individual family's needs. There is a divider that can be used to allow for 25 individuals or up to 40 individuals, when combined with the STEAM Lab.
Multi-Exhibit Gallery Space
Sponsored in part by Alliant Energy Foundation
The Giant Lite Brite is a 12-foot by 6-foot panel equipped with pegs for children to create colorful designs. This exhibit supports fine motor skills and individual play, allowing children to enhance their hand-eye coordination and dexterity while engaging in creative, focused activities.
The Sensory Room is equipped with various components designed to provide a rich, multi-sensory
experience. This room allows children to engage their senses and cognitive problem-solving, while developing critical thinking skills, and an area of respite for those seeking regulation.
The Mind & Motion exhibit will add a dynamic and innovative experience to CMFDL’s current exhibit repertoire and can be enjoyed on either the wall or floor. Its interactive technology and immersive projector screen creates a multi-sensory, engaging environment that promotes gross motor skills, social and collaborative play, and individual play.