The Building for Kids Children’s Museum (BFKCM) will be host two special guests June 25 – 30 for Be a Caring Neighbor Week, Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittykat. The week will be filled with different programs and events around kindness, helping and neighborhoods.
“In the spirit of Mister Rogers and Daniel Tiger, we are creating an event that celebrates learning, compassion and community,” said Jarrad Bittner, Executive Director of the BFKCM. “It is through acceptance and wonder that we encourage kids to be caring and welcoming individuals.”
The week will include visits from different neighbors who will talk about what they do in the neighborhood, including a police officer, dentist, firefighters, and skaters from the Fox Cities Roller Derby League. A PJ Party with Daniel & Katerina will be On Thursday, June 27 from 5-8 p.m. with story times, hands-on activities and trolley rides. Plus, story times all week long at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. For a complete list of programs, click here.
Be a Caring Neighbor Week was made possible by the support of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., and First Impression Impressions Pediatric Dentistry. All programs are included in BFKCM Membership and daily admission.
Financial Literacy Free Day at the Building for Kids Children’s Museum (BFKCM) will teach families how to save and spend wisely, and have fun doing it! This free admission day on Sunday, March 31, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. is sponsored by Money Smart Week Fox Cities and will offer math and financial programming, as well as the chance to explore the BFKCM.
“Through different games, we use real-life examples to teach math and finances in a fun and interactive way,” said Jarrad Bittner, Executive Director at the BFKCM. “Besides spending and saving, we also learn about sharing. We talk about what the kids would like to share with others, teaching them about generosity and empathy.”
When kids enter the BFKCM, they will receive a check they can cash for BFK bucks. Throughout the BFKCM there will be different stations where they will learn about spending, saving and sharing. Each station will teach different elements of financial literacy. Kids can play games for the cost of their water bill which teaches about budging skills and investment games to learn about saving. They will get the opportunity to purchase healthy snacks and other items, do fun activities and learn about sharing with others in our community.
Plus, The Big Read story time at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. with the story “Count on Pablo” by Barbara deRubertis. Kids at story time will receive a copy of the book.
Come learn what makes our community unique at the Building for Kids Children’s Museum’s (BFKCM) 4thannual Diversity Discovery Free Day. On Sunday, February 10 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. this free admission day will have local non-profits and community groups with hands-on activities for families to learn, discover and celebrate diversity.
“This event is truly a community effort,” said Jarrad Bittner, Executive Director of the BFKCM. “There is tremendous importance in telling our stories and understanding our neighbors better. Through sharing and learning about what makes us unique, we create a much stronger community.”
Joining the BFKCM are the Appleton Public Library with Hispanic and Hmong games, WIT4Girls helping take apart and reassemble computers, SOAR Fox Cities with a sensory activity that demonstrates what it is like to be visually impaired and more.
New this year will be the Woodland Boys & Girls Club of Menominee with Pow Wow Dancers, the Aztec Dance Group Danza Azteca Tonantzin and Indian dance lessons with IndUS.
Diversity Discovery Free Day is presented by Huggies® and Pull-Ups® with additional support by Bemis Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region.
We want to make sure our visitors are kept up to date with the street construction and changes downtown. Here is the latest information about street construction from Appleton Downtown, Inc:
2019 construction & closures:
2019 will have construction and closures to turn Appleton Street into a 2-way and finish up the crosswalk updates that were started last year.
Below is the latest information and timelines, as well as a Detailed Map showing the exact intersections and detour routes.
Appleton Street Reconstruction College Avenue to Lawrence Street
3/15/2019 – 6/15/2019 Full street and sidewalk closure
Oneida Street Bridge
2/4/2019 Full Closure for the Oneida Street Bridge Reconstruction
The southbound bridge at Appleton Street/Oneida Street south of Lawrence St is scheduled to be open to traffic July 15, 2019. The northbound bridge will remain closed until full completion date October 15, 2019.
Schedule completion of the full project is 10/15/2019
College Avenue & Appleton Street Crosswalks Intersection closed to thru traffic – April 15, 2019 – May 4, 2019
College Avenue & Superior Street Crosswalks Intersection closed to thru traffic – April 29, 2019 – May 4, 2019 (North & South traffic on Superior remains open)
College Avenue & Division Street Crosswalks Intersection closed to thru traffic – April 15, 2019 – April 26, 2019
College Avenue & Walnut Street Crosswalks Intersection closed to through traffic – May 6, 2019 – May 11, 2019 (North & South traffic on Walnut remains open)
Truck Route: For deliveries, it is best to direct trucks to take Prospect Ave to Memorial Dr/Richmond St to Franklin St (starting February 4, 2019 – October 15, 2019)
Vehicles Route: For customers/standard vehicles.
Coming from NORTH Appleton should take Franklin St to Superior St OR Washington St to Superior St
Coming from SOUTH Appleton should take Prospect Ave to 6th Street to Walnut St.
Work also being done:
Lawrence Street and Appleton Street closed from May 13 – June 14
Appleton Street and Washington Street closed because of a recent fire are Author’s Kitchen & Bar. It has not yet been announced when that will reopen.
The Building for Kids Children’s Museum (BFKCM) and Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies® and Pull-Ups®brands have opened the new Babies & Toddlers Around the World exhibit and are celebrating by inviting the community to join them in a diaper drive. Starting today, and lasting through February 1, families who bring in an unopened package of diapers will receive free daily admission to the BFKCM, with BFKCM Members getting an additional month to their Membership. All diaper donations will be matched by Huggies and donated to the United Way Fox Cities Diaper Bank and Jake’s Diapers.
“As a founding sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network, helping families in need keep their babies clean, dry and healthy is a priority for the Huggies team,” said Arist Mastorides, General Manager, Huggies. “We’re excited to celebrate the opening of this new exhibit at the Building for Kids, and just as important, I am proud to help our local community support diaper need and continue to build awareness.”
The BFKCM and Kimberly-Clark have been partners in supporting families since the mid-1990s. Having collaborated on Happy Baby Garden, the BFKCM’s original exhibit for kids 3 and under, it was natural to continue the partnership when it came time to update the space. The new space, Babies & Toddlers Around the World, highlights geographical and natural features from around the world, all while focusing on early childhood development and family interaction.
The diaper drive was connected to the official ribbon cutting to further celebrate families in the community and support them in times of need. Every diaper collected from the drive will stay in the community and be distributed to families in need through the Fox Cities Diaper Bank and Jake’s Diapers.
“After the completion of the exhibit, the conversation turned to what would be the best kick-off,” said Jarrad Bittner, Executive Director of the BFKCM. “What better way than to support families throughout the Fox Valley? We are extremely thankful to Kimberly-Clark for their support of the Building for Kids and advocacy in the community.”
Starting January 1, 2019, there will be some changes in parking in downtown Appleton. The Blue Ramp, the one directly behind the BFK, will be closed. It will be demolished with construction scheduled to start in March. Along with this change, parking rates will increase in the ramps and for metered parking.
Parking is the top complaint we get from visitors. We know that walking a couple blocks with a stroller, diaper bag and toddlers is not at all the same as walking those couple blocks by yourself! And once we add in our beautiful winter weather and busy downtown streets, we have a new set of challenges. We have been trying to work with the City and other downtown organizations to come up with a family-friendly solution for parking. As a family focused organization, we want you and your family to feel safe and relaxed coming to visit! We will continue to pursue new solutions and make sure concerns are heard.
If you would like to talk to us about parking or any other concerns with the BFK, please call 920-734-3226 or email us!
Starting January 1, 2019, the daily admission and Membership prices will see a slight increase at the BFK. This increase is do to rising overhead costs and expenses, and not any updates or new exhibits (which were all supported through generous community members and organizations). If you have questions about our financials, we do an annual Community Report that gives an overview of our expenses and revenue. We also post our most recent financial audits on our website. As a not-for-profit, it is important for us to have complete transparency for our supporters and community members!
$90 – Dual Membership: one named child and an unnamed adult.
$140 – Family Membership: Up to two named adults and their children under 18, all in the same household. This will now include all the benefits of Explorer Membership which will include discounts at museums all over the country.
Educator, Foster and Military will no longer have separate Memberships, but a 25% discount on the Family Membership – making the Memberships $105.
$20 – Family Access Membership: Up to two named adults and their children under 18, all in the same household. Part of our Access for All initiative, this grant program is for families going through financial hardships.
$100 – Grandparent: Up to two named grandparents in the same household and all their grandchildren.
$20 – Guest Add-on: One unnamed guest per visit. Cannot be added to Grandparent or Family Access Memberships.
Every adult wants the kids in their lives to be healthy. One of the things that make healthy kids? Play!
A report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in late summer outlined not only the need for play in healthy child development but also ways that pediatricians can encourage play in their patients. Benefits from play include encouraging language and creative thinking, increase in social skills (like paying attention, solving disputes and focusing on tasks), problem-solving skills and collaboration.
Play not only is a health benefit for kids, but also for adults! Play can bring the joy of adults’ own childhood experiences back, help them see the world from a child’s perspective and encourage better communication between adult and child. It can also increase adult-child relationships and even reduce parental stress! Plus, it’s fun!
The Children’s Museums of Wisconsin (did you know there are 14 in the state!) completely agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is monumental importance in play. So why not make time for a playdate – doctors orders!
If you haven’t made time to explore at the BFK lately, now’s the time!
This fall we are wrapping up around $2.5 million, and three years, worth of updates and renovations! Some changes have been small like coats of paint to refresh our look, and some have been large like the first expansion in 11 years with the creation of the Innovation Lab. Each change was made with our guests and community in mind!
Here is what we are finishing up this fall:
The Amazing Heart Slide
A new coat of paint and a new location.
Before:
Now:
Babies & Toddlers Around the World
Formally Happy Baby Garden – this complete redo was supported by Huggies & Pull-Ups.
Before:
Now:
Big Rig Depot
We moved the Doll Hospital and gift shop to create this new exhibit! This edition was supported by Schneider.
Our construction site was reimagined to add more elements of social play. Now the blocks can be moved from the pit to the build site and back to the pit! This update was supported by The Boldt Company.
Before:
Now:
da Vinci Studio
New floors, cabinets, tables and sinks! Thanks to the support of School Specialty.
Before:
Now:
Discovery Tree
New netting! Supported by Pucuda Inc. on behalf of John and Teru Whitman Rexroad and the descendants of Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Whitman Sr.
Kwik Trip
We added new registers and new carpet. This update was supported by Kwik Trip.
Nursing Nook & Quiet Space
New floors.
ThedaCare Physicians Doll Hospital
This space was moved to help create more space for exhibits. Thank you to ThedaCare for supporting our hospital!
Facade and logo Update
Plus, we gave the front of the building a bit of a facelift!
Still coming, our new electronic signs!
Before:
Now:
All our updates have been supported through grants and donations. We are so thankful to our generous community who made our renovations possible! And those community members that helped shape our exhibits by giving input, and those who gave time to help us complete the task!
