Do you know what a Rigamajig is?
Curious Minds Discovery Zone (CMDZ) and thousands of visitors to the children’s museum do.
The Rigamajig, a museum exhibit addition at CMDZ, is the result of a 2021 Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK) Youth Activities General Funds grant award. Grant dollars went specifically to providing the Rigamajig building set and workshop which consist of wooden pieces, pulleys, nuts, bolts, and more.
The workshop addition coincides along with the Rigamajig and was also purchased with grant funding providing a neat, organized storage area for pieces to be placed, hung, and on display for easy visibility, creating a designated area to create and build.
The Rigamajig inspires creativity, collaboration, problem-solving skills, and STEM/STEAM learning through hands-on play–all aligning perfectly to the CMDZ mission.
About Curious Minds Discovery Zone
CMDZ opened its doors in downtown Parsons in 2012 as a nonprofit children’s museum with a mission to encourage learning through hands-on creativity, experimentation, and problem-solving development, within a safe and fun environment.
The museum moved to a new, remodeled location in November 2020 tripling the space of the previous facility. The new CMDZ houses exhibits enabling children to expand their imaginations with pretend play stations, explore their curiosity through science and art centers, and use their hands at engineering stations.
CMDZ offers weekly educational programs geared for various ages, including Toddler Time and Jitterbug Club for younger children, and Dr. Curious Lab and Robotics Club for after-school kids. Educational themed day camps and special events throughout the year are also offered, in addition to Family Sensory Night, which provides unique experiences for children with Autism and sensory disorders.
The museum can also be mobile through its Outreach Program, enabling travel to schools across the region sharing exhibits and science stations with young children and families.
As the ONLY children’s museum within two hours of Southeast Kansas, CMDZ has established itself as a premier family destination and educational resource for children across the region.
CMDZ prides itself on being a truly nonprofit organization, with a focus on keeping admission prices low so that all families and children in the region can enjoy it.
Rigamajig a hit with visitors!
Kayan Myers, CMDZ Fund Development, shared in a note to CFSEK, “Rigamajig has been a huge hit with our visitors and a rewarding experience to see families interacting and building together. CMDZ measures its success based on happiness. If an exhibit makes a child happy as measured by smiles, laughter, and family engagement, CMDZ considers it a success. Rigamajig has been a total success and a worthy addition to the CMDZ museum floor!”
CFSEK’s own executive director Devin Gorman had the good fortune to visit CMDZ recently. “The Rigamajig is a unique educational tool, and I’m proud that a CFSEK grant allows CMDZ to offer it as a fun learning option for youth in our area,” he said. “It allows kids to be creative, build something exciting, and collaborate, all while promoting STEM learning.”
Learn more about the General Funds grants
The CFSEK General Funds grant process for 2022 is accepting applications until June 30. You can learn more about our General Funds grants by visiting the General Funds page. Or you can click here to submit a grant application.