Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Unveils New EV: Charge Up Exhibit Exploring Transportation

The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota invites families to explore the exciting world of Electric Vehicles with the opening of EV: Charge Up on August 18. This hands-on exhibit introduces children to the technology behind electric vehicles through interactive play, exploration, and discovery.

“Children are naturally curious, and this exhibit gives them an opportunity to explore a technology they may already be seeing in their communities,” said Hallie O’Connor, Director of Exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota. “EV: Charge Up takes a familiar object—a vehicle—and transforms it into a hands-on learning experience where children can ask questions, experiment, and begin building an understanding of energy, engineering, and innovation.”

The exhibit supports early STEM learning by helping children understand concepts like cause and effect, problem-solving, and systems thinking. Through play, children discover that vehicles require energy, explore how technology solves problems, and build confidence as they make decisions and observe outcomes.

“We are proud to support an exhibit that introduces children to emerging technology in a way that is approachable, engaging, and fun,” said Melissa Bradley, Snell Motors. “The Children’s Museum creates meaningful opportunities for young learners to explore ideas that will shape their future, and we are excited to help bring this experience to families in our community.”

Jon Olseth, Olseth Family Foundation, added, “Innovation begins with curiosity. By giving children opportunities to explore science, technology, and engineering through hands-on experiences, we are helping inspire the next generation of problem-solvers and thinkers.”

“Partnerships like this allow us to continue creating exhibits that are not only fun, but meaningful,” said Hallie O’Connor. “We want children to leave the Museum with new questions, new ideas, and the confidence to explore how the world works.”
EV: Charge Up opens to the public on August 18 at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota.
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.