The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and Xcel Energy Foundation Partner to Provide Scholarships to Curiosity Camps

    May 14th, 2024

    Mankato – The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) is delighted to announce the availability of scholarships for its renowned Curiosity Camps, thanks to the generous support from the Xcel Energy Foundation.

    The CMSM is committed to ensuring all children and families have opportunities to experience the joy of learning through the power of play at the CMSM, regardless of income, language, cultural factors, ability, or special needs. These scholarships are designed to provide children experiencing these barriers the opportunity to experience the CMSM’s awe-inspiring Curiosity Camps, igniting a love for learning and exploration.

    “We are incredibly grateful to the Xcel Energy Foundation for their generous support, which allows us to offer scholarships to children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in our Curiosity Camps,” said Kim Kleven, Vice President of Play & Learning. “These scholarships align with our mission to ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment.”

    “We believe that every child deserves the chance to explore, learn, and play,” said Sam Holsen, Social Investments Manager at Xcel Energy Foundation. “By supporting scholarships for the CMSM’s Curiosity Camps, we hope to inspire the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders in our community.”

    The scholarships will cover full or half the cost of camp registration fees for any of the upcoming camps. There is a limited supply of scholarships, so interested caregivers are encouraged to apply right away.

    For more information about the CMSM’s Curiosity Camps and scholarship application, please visit cmsouthernmn.org/curiosity-camps.

    About the Children’s Museum: 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. More information at www.cmsouthernmn.org.

    About Xcel Energy

    Xcel Energy (NASDAQL XCEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

    About Xcel Energy Foundation

    The Xcel Energy Foundation is a 501©(3) organization that awards charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and sponsors the volunteer programs of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries. The majority of Xcel Energy Foundation funding comes from Xcel Energy shareholder dollars. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com/Community/Focus_Area_Grants.