The Children’s Museum of St Tammany

by Gillian Rabalais, Director of Education and Programming and Christy Myers, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer

The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany

Come experience the power of play at the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, a prime destination for families! Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the museum, as well as the adjacent Kids Konnection Playground.

The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany inspires children to EXPLORE in an interactive learning environment that focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), to DISCOVER and embrace early learning through the power of play and to IMAGINE and CREATE through the arts. Envisioning a community where play is encouraged, creativity is nurtured and learning is enjoyed, CMST offers many ways to join in the fun of learning!

The daily facilitated programming is mission driven and focuses on literature, natural history, STEM and play in five galleries of exploration: ARTworks, Little Lake Tots & River Landing, How & Why, Natural Wonders and St. Tammany Oaks Lobby. Additionally, the outreach program Museum without Walls is utilized in schools, at local festivals and online through a YouTube Channel with our Kids Wanna Know videos. For questions regarding educational opportunities, contact Gillian Rabalais at grabalais@cmstkids.org.

CMST offers two summer camps for children. In 2022, it will host NASA’s Astro Camp for rising 2nd – 5th graders for a sixth year. Campers are introduced to new STEM concepts and encouraged to explore a wider range of ideas not always introduced in a school setting. Camp Curiosity, for ages 4-7, includes weekly themed activities, museum free play and visits to the Kids Konnection Playground. For more information on summer camps at the museum, please visit CMST Summer Camps.

Community events are a large part of what the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany offers. These include Chalk Fest, a free arts festival for the community; STEM Quest, which engages guests with STEM experts and activities from various professional organizations throughout South Louisiana and Mississippi; Back to School Bash; Boo Bash on the Lawn; and the annual Noon Year’s Eve Bash.

Field trips have returned to the schedule at the museum for public, private and home schools, from Tuesday – Friday! Book directly online at CMST Field Trips.

The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany is the signature project of the Junior League of Greater Covington and is a community partner of CHEVRON, St. Tammany Parish Government, St. Tammany Parish Public School System, Tammany Trace Foundation; in collaboration with The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – John C. Stennis Space Center and NISE Network (National Informal STEM Education Network).

Space is available to rent at CMST for birthday parties and other special occasions. It is a perfect place to host corporate crawfish boils, non-profit events, family picnics and walks, church gatherings, family reunions, baby showers, gender reveals and weddings. The large pavilion and the two smaller pavilions, called Marvel Pavilions, in between the Kids Konnection Playground and the covered pavilion called the Caboose, are available to rent, as are all of the grounds and private experiences in the museum. Celebration, a two-hour birthday party inside the museum, allows for one hour of free play in the museum and one hour in the Artworks gallery for private time to enjoy cake and opening gifts as well as a customized art project or slime experience. If interested in any of the rental options, please contact Marlo Christensen at mchristensen@cmstkids.org.

The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany began in 2003 as the vision of members of the Junior League of Greater Covington. Incorporated in 2011, it received 501(c)(3) status and opened its doors in January 2018. The museum continues to serve children ages 2-12 and their families; it has welcomed over 125,000 guests, with 18,465 guests in the last fiscal year.

Thankful for the support of its Board of Trustees and Advisory Board, which is led by Board of Trustees President Leslie Martin, M. Ed, this valuable non-profit continues to search for community partners and exhibit sponsors. There is a multitude of ways to connect with the museum. If interested in joining the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany as a community partner or sponsor, please contact Christy Myers, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer at cmyers@ cmstkids.org.

The Children’s Museum of St. Tammany welcomes guests year-round in Mandeville at the Koop Drive Trailhead off Hwy. 59 and I-12, 21404 Koop Drive, just past the playground. For more information, go to CMSTkids.org, email info@cmstkids.org or call 985-888-1555.