at home with
SEPTEMBER 2023
UILDING
Bright Futures!
The vision of the Children's Museum of Cheyenne is to be a one-of-a-kind place that will inspire the love of learning for kids and their families through creative, hands-on experiences. A children’s museum is a community place that encourages exploration, creativity and excitement about learning.
"The Children's Museum will bring a WOW experience to downtown Cheyenne, and ignite kids passion about learning! ”
- Caroline Veit, Board of Directors President
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME THE NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM TO CHEYENNE!
In 2013, the Children’s Museum of Cheyenne (CMC) started as a tiny seed of an idea during a conversation between friends at a kitchen table, grew into a concrete plan, and now is blossoming into reality as the building at 1618 O’Neil Avenue in downtown Cheyenne is currently under construction. In July 2014, CMC became a nonprofit 501c3, and from then on, they have been fundraising, consulting with museum designers, joined the Association of Children's Museums, attended national children's museum conferences, and built relationships nationwide along with developing many community partnerships.
For phase one of the construction, CMC purchased the half-block of 1618 O'Neil Ave. They contracted a local architect firm, StudioRED, and construction company, 5R Construction. CMC is building a 4,800 Sq. ft. stand-alone building with 538 Sq. ft. of additional outdoor exhibit and play space. The great thing about this property is that it offers plenty of room for future development of a second phase building of up to 18,000 Sq. ft!
The new space will include a front lobby, museum store, a multipurpose room, office space, ADA restrooms, and ample exhibit space. The floor plan offers flexible space for educational and enrichment programs, traveling exhibits, art and maker-space activities. Plus, there will be a dedicated rental space for birthday parties and private functions. Both the indoor and outdoor areas will provide community gatherings space for special events, workshops, hands-on learning activities, and free play. There will be a strong focus on health and wellness, while incorporating core components of STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading/Relationships, Engineering, Arts, and Math) initiative, and will adhere to Universal Design accessibility standards and, of course, FUN! The first phase of the museum is designed for children ages one
month to 9 years old, but it will be fun, inspiring, and thought-provoking for kids of all ages.
The CMC's Mobile Museum called “STEAMing Across Wyoming”, which was started in 2016 and celebrated the beauty of Wyoming, will find its permanent home at the new CMC building.
"Seeing the gears turn and the spark in their eye when they've created, built, or figured something out is why I want the Children's Museum of Cheyenne. Creating a place in our community that will help children grow their love of learning and give them a safe space to dream big and explore is a valuable investment."
-Jenileah Hallingbye – Advisory Board
The socio-economic benefit of the CMC will be significant for southeast Wyoming. Current and future phases will boost tourism and local traffic, acting as an economic driver and a vital link in infrastructure development between downtown Cheyenne and the West Edge District. CMC will hire an executive director, an education liaison, front desk workers, a custodian and offer a wide range of volunteer opportunities, particularly for retirees and Cheyenne's high school students.
The benefit of changing the path of a child's life through education will extend for generations and touch more lives than any of us could ever fathom. Final completion of the CMC is scheduled for late spring of 2024.
For the Safety of our Precious children - in the name of Mak
"In honor of Mak's beautiful life and the gifts he shared with us all, he has inspired me to start a FORMAK nonprofit... to raise money to assist the City of Cheyenne & LCSD #1 in updating the Wyoming Safe Route to School Program plan."
Mak's
Please support this wonderful cause, by taking part in these great events!
* 1st Annual FORMAK Golf Tournament
Friday, 9/29/2023 at the Cheyenne Country Club
* The Great Cheyenne Bed Race is donating their proceeds to FORMAK! Saturday, 10/7/ 2023 at Blue Raven Brewery For more information go to formak307.com
On November 5, 2021 while crossing a crosswalk to go to school, Makaili "Mak" Evans was hit by a distracted driver and tragically passed away. A precious life was lost, and the hearts of Mak's family and friends were truly broken.
- Janelle Jones,
Mom & #FORMAK President
Family Time at The Wyoming State Museum
The Wyoming State Museum is a great place to have some family fun! From September through May on the first Saturday of the month, the State Museum holds amazing Family Days events. All Family Days include games, crafts, and other engaging activities! Each month they celebrate a different topic, from science and wildlife to history and culture. Family Days are generously sponsored by Scheels in Johnstown, CO. Thanks to them, these events are free to everyone! Go to wyomuseum.wyo.gov for more information.
SEPTEMBER
22nd CBGC DANCING WITH THE STARS
Archer Event Center, 5:30pm e.givesmart.com/events/xMn
22nd/ROB SCHNEIDER: THE NARCISSIST CONFESSIONS
Cheyenne Civic Center, 7pm cheyennepresents.com
23rd/COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY Depot Plaza, 11am-4pm
23rd/DOWNTOWN CHEYENNE OKTOBERFEST
Here is the line-up for Family Days through the end of the year.
OCT 7: Creepy Crawly Critters (10 am - 2 pm)
OCT 29: Halloween at the Museum (12 - 4 pm)
NOV 4: Día de los Muertos (10 am - 2 pm)
DEC 2: I Heart Art! (10 am - 2 pm)
DANCING WITH THE STARS 2023
Cheyenne Depot Museum 12:00pm - 8pm, facebook.com/ ChyOktofest
29th / COMEA COMEDY AWARD SHOW
Cheyenne Civic Center, 6pm8pm, cheyennepresents.com
29th - Oct. 15th/YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Cheyenne Little Theatre Players cheyennelittletheatre.org
30th/CALVIN JONES
Cheyenne Civic Center, 7pm cheyennepresents.com
30th/EVERCLEAR WITH THE ATARIS, THE LINCOLN Cheyenne , 7:30pm - 11pm thelincolncheyenne.com
Changing Lives through the power of dance
Join us for one of our favorite events of the year, The Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne's Dancing with the Stars fundraiser on September 22, 2023 at the Archer Events Center at 5:30pm. This wonderful event helps the Boys & Girls Club of Cheyenne provide quality programming for our community's youth throughout the year.
#1 Properties very own Mistie Woods, and Heather Hansen will be competing and raising money for this year's event. We wish them and all of the contestants the very best! For tickets and to vote for your favorite dance team (People's Choice), go to e.givesmart.com/ events/xMn/
For more information on how you can support The Boys and Girls Club, go to bgcchey.org
SPEAKING OF DANCING...
En Avant Dance Studio is CELEBRATING 35 Years of providing quality dance education and training to the Cheyenne community. Students learn, grow, and feel empowered to be themselves. Located at 319 W. 18th St, En Avant offers over 50 classes, three studios, professionally trained teachers, and a positive and constructive learning environment for dancers of all ages. Go to enavatnwy.com for more information.
OCTOBER
6th - 8th/MIDNIGHT WEST FEST, Historic Atlas Theatre 7pm - 9:30pm cheyennelittletheatre.org
6th/RITZ, The Lincoln, 7pm-11pm thelincolncheyenne.com
7th/BDAR BARK AND WINE, Red Lion Hotel & Conference bdar.org/2023barkandwine
7th/FAMILY DAY - CREEPY CRAWLY CRITTERS WY. State Museum, 10am-2pm, wyomuseum.wyo.gov
21st/CSO MAHLER'S TITAN Cheyenne Civic Center, 7:30pm, cheyennepresents.com
Photos from Wyoming State Museum Facebook
Photo by Sherry Birch
Mistie Woods
Heather Hansen
