May 4th, 2025
Mankato — The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) is proud to announce a transformational $100,000 gift from Nidec Power, supporting the reimagining and renaming of its popular STEAM-focused exhibit space. Formerly known as the Kato Engineering Explorers Lab, the exhibit will now be called Nidec Power Zone, reflecting Nidec’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators.
“At the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, we know that play is a powerful tool for learning,” said Louise Dickmeyer, CEO. “Thanks to the vision and support of Nidec Power, we’ve created a space that not only sparks curiosity but also deepens children’s understanding of STEAM concepts through PLAY.”
The Nidec Power Zone integrates engineering, motion, and creativity to ignite curiosity and introduce young minds to the power and possibilities of STEAM learning.
“At Nidec, we believe in the power of innovation and hands-on learning to inspire future engineers and builders,” said Matt Kunkel, Plant Manager. “The Nidec Power Zone reflects our commitment to fostering curiosity and discovery, giving children a playful yet meaningful way to engage with energy concepts. We are proud to partner with the Museum in creating an environment where young minds can explore, experiment, and be inspired.”
At the center of the exhibit is the Power Tower, where children generate electricity through kinetic motion—lighting bulbs, powering fans, and launching beach balls into the air. From there, they can dive into Air Cars, a station where hand-crank generators power wind-driven vehicles, encouraging experimentation, creativity, and hands-on learning.
In addition to its signature energy features, the Nidec Power Zone also includes:
- The Wind Tunnel, where children test objects in swirling air currents.
- The Rotating Zone, home to open-ended building tools like Light Play, Rigamajig, and Blue Blocks, promotes design thinking and teamwork.
The Nidec Power Zone officially opens to the public on Wednesday, May 29 at 10:00 AM. A media preview and community celebration will be held that morning to mark the grand opening.
About Nidec Power
We power mission critical operations. We engineer and service robust motors and generators that guarantee exceptional power generation performance in extreme environments. Our customized systems keep the power on where it matters most across data centers, healthcare, oil and gas, marine and military. As part of Nidec, the world’s largest electric motor company, we keep life’s key players up and running.
About the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota
The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is a nonprofit organization with a mission to ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment. The Museum engages diverse audiences from across our region and enriches children and families with opportunities for hands-on play.
Since opening its doors in 2015, over 100,000 visitors—young and old—have visited annually. A central draw to the Museum is its interactive exhibits and a wide variety of programs, which focus on play, exploration, and ongoing education; STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs; theater and cultural experiences, as well as many Ag education offerings. The Children’s Museum offers daily opportunities for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to explore and play with their children in its indoor and outdoor spaces.