This year, we will kick-off our Monthly Gatherings with a presentation at the Mankato Children's Museum. This co-hosted conference includes a keynote presentation, lunch, museum tour and plenty of time to discuss and network.

SEPTEMBER 2024 MONTHLY GATHERING:

Children Deserve Beautiful Things

Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 9 am – 12 pm Central Time

The Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota's mission is to ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in awe-inspiring environments indoors and out. From the very beginning we have valued relationships and participation between and among children, caregivers, teachers and the community and the role of the environment. We believe that children are eager and capable of choosing their own play and learning and we strive to develop an environment that provides beautiful, real and authentic materials to engage with. During this meeting you will learn what inspired our founding mothers and hear how their image of the child has led us to where we are today. You will also get a chance to wander our awe-inspiring environment and see the real and authentic materials that we will speak about - specifically our Loose Parts Play Hub which is a prototype space for a future experience that centers around loose parts and beautiful stuff which is intended to inspire and spark curiosity in unscripted ways. 

Cost: $30

Facilitators:

Kim Kleven, VP of Play and Learning at CMSM   

Rachel Gemlo, Director of Programing at CMSM  

Heather Von Bank, Chair, Professor Department of Family Consumer Science and Board member at CMSM 

Location:

Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota

224 Lamm St.

Mankato, MN 56001

Students: Limited spots available at no cost for students - email Heidi Wolf for details and registration  hwolf@bsmschool.org

If you have questions contact ReggioInspiredMN@gmail.com

Our job is too difficult and too beautiful to do alone.

-Amelia Gambetti

THE LANGUAGE OF MIXED MEDIA ART ~ INTENTIONAL COMPLEXITY

Date: Thursday October 3 2024

Time: 5:00pm-7:30pm

Pizza and networking at 5:00, workshop begins at 5:30pm

Facilitators: Sandra Burwell

For people who cannot decide on one language.  Combining collage, painting, loose parts with any other technique creates the new language of mixed media.

Explore a multitude of possibilities with varied materials, methods, techniques ~ combining them in collages, assemblages, sculptures and installations both small and large, polychromatic and monochromatic, textured and smooth.  Experiment with ideas, colors, mediums, textures, ways of connecting materials and creating. This will help you become familiar with the process in order to comfortably and confidently invite children to enjoy the process as well.

Location: Lenox Community Center, 6715 Minnetonka Blvd, St Louis Park Mn 

Cost: $35

Includes all materials and Pizza

Parent engagement and Building Relationships.

Date:Thursday, November 21 2024

Time: 6:00-7:30pm 

Facilitators: Jen Johnson and teaching team of Willow and Sprout 

Teaching team at Willow and Sprout will facilitate open the dialog and conversation around  sharing stories with one another to increase parent engagement  and relationship building in their Reggio Inspired setting.  Join in discussion  around ways to build and grow relationships with families,children, and caregivers. How does technology play a role?  Learn and be inspired for new ways to work with parents and technology! 

light appetizers, wine and some chocolate will be  provided! 

Location:  

Willow and Sprout 

3029 Wilson St NE, 

Minneapolis

Cost: $30

EXPLORING THE LANGUAGES OF Snow and Ice

Date: January 11 2025

Time: 9am - 12pm

Facilitators: Teaching team of Dodge Preschool

Monthly Gathering: Material Exploration of Snow and Ice

A tour of Dodge Preschool will follow the discussion

Location:

Dodge Nature Preschool

1715 Charlton St

West St. Paul, MN

Cost: $30

Students: Limited spots available at no cost for students - email Heidi Wolf for details and registration