Representatives of the Greater Minnesota Children's Museum Coalition told the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources on June 27 they are seeking funding to build a shared early‑childhood environmental curriculum across 12 museums.

Crystal Olsen (Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota) and Louise Dickmeyer (CEO, Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota) told commissioners the coalition annually serves about 500,000 children and families across the state and that many communities — particularly underserved and lower‑income areas — lack consistent access to outdoor and nature‑based early education.

Olsen said the network proposes to develop one interactive, hands‑on curriculum aligned with Minnesota K‑12 science standards, built by educators with subject‑matter experts, and adapted for coalition sites. “By working together and pooling our resources, we can deliver consistent, high‑impact environmental learning experiences to children who might otherwise be left out,” she said.

Commissioners asked for concrete examples of program content and a copy of the coalition’s attachments. Senator Green requested sample curriculum materials before evaluation; Dickmeyer and Olsen committed to submitting an itemized list and said several coalition museums already offer programs (for example, pollinator programming and monarch‑raising events at the Mankato site).

Commissioners also discussed overlap with existing Legacy funding for museums; Dickmeyer said coalition museums have applied for and received Legacy appropriations in the past for exhibits and enhancements and intend to continue applying.

Presenters framed the work as both equity and long‑term stewardship: increasing early exposure to ecosystems and conservation, especially for children from underserved ZIP codes, and building consistent programming statewide.