SHEBOYGAN – New events and exhibits are on the horizon at Above & Beyond Children’s Museum.
The children’s museum, 902 N. Eighth St. updated its mission, vision and values as well as its organization branding to kick off 2025.
In partnership with Brenda Bintzler, Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation’s marketing manager, ABCM moved from a cloud logo to loopy, rainbow text.
Each color represents a pillar of the new values for play: it’s everyone, it’s learning, it’s empowering, it’s inspiring, it’s healing and it’s fun.
“The rebrand really speaks to the idea of playful curiosity and speaks to our new mission, which is to foster exploration, imagination and joy through immersive play,” said Cate Tinker, executive director of ABCM.
A young child plays with the new pegboard part of the new STEAM exhibits at Above & Beyond Children’s Museum.
2025 will bring music, veterinary clinic exhibits
The museum space will open a music exhibit on the second floor in February and a play veterinary clinic on the third floor this fall.
The clinic exhibit will feature veterinarian dress-up, stuffed animals and ways to care. Tinker said there could be collaboration with the Humane Society of Sheboygan County on programming, too.
Each of the three floors explores different themes: STEAM through the lens of nature; arts and culture; and community and kindness.
The Sunshine Pin Screen and Pegboard Play were two new STEAM exhibits installed on the first floor in October, made possible through partnership with Sheboygan North High senior Flinn Opel and the Innovator Fellowship Program, which offers students a chance to explore a yearlong project outside the classroom. The screen’s yellow pins can be pushed on either side, and the pegboard has moveable tracks and gears.
A view of the Sunshine Pin Screen and Pegboard Play exhibits on the first floor of the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum.
Tinker said ABCM collaborates with 100 partners across the community, like schools, nonprofits and businesses, on exhibits and programs.
The museum is in early discussions with members part of the Latinx community on the next phase of the Culture Exchange Exhibit, which Tinker said will explore the Mexican immigrant experience in Sheboygan through the lens of food, music and other cultural themes.
The exhibit has featured the Hmong community since spring 2023.
Student makes music accessible for all: What to know about the ‘Beat! A Musical Garden’ installation at Vollrath Park and the Sheboygan North student who created it.
New family-friendly events include Sweetheart Social in February
The children’s museum will offer new events for families, following the success of the Noon Year’s Eve celebration. Tinker said 100 visitors were expected to attend, but the museum hosted 350 people that day.
“That’s telling myself and staff that there is a need for family-friendly holiday moments of celebration, safe indoor spaces to come and play when we can’t necessarily be outside,” she said, referencing cold Wisconsin weather.
A Taproom Takeover fundraiser will be Jan. 19 at 3 Sheeps Brewing Company with activities, food trucks and Sunday Dough doughnuts.
For an early Valentine’s Day celebration, ABCM will host a Sweetheart Social from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 1. Kids can participate in art projects and story times. Tinker said they can make Valentine’s cards to take or leave with the museum to share with other nonprofits.
“We’re kind of spreading the love for play and just embracing some of the seasonality of what we have going for us in Wisconsin in the winter,” Tinker said.
Board of Directors sees leadership changes
Farah Soetaert is the new education coordinator, and the president and vice president of the museum’s Board of Directors — Tim Saeger and Carrie Green, respectively — stepped down from their roles.
Brian O’Laughlin from Kohler Co. and Kathryn Dinolfo from American Orthodontics assumed the respective roles.
Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Above & Beyond Children’s Museum in Sheboygan: What’s new in 2025?