A real, interactive railroad crossing signal now installed at the Children's Museum of Franklin

All aboard for something NEW! 

This week, we officially cut the ribbon on the newest addition to our Transportation Area - a real, interactive railroad crossing signal, generously designed and created by @thembta!

Children can now experience an authentic railroad crossing while learning how these important signals help keep everyone safe around the tracks.

We’re incredibly grateful to the MBTA for partnering with us to create an exhibit that sparks curiosity, encourages imaginative play, and inspires future engineers, conductors, and transportation professionals.

A special thank you as well to our friends at @vendetti_motors, whose generous support made our Transportation Exhibit Area possible.

Since opening less than a year ago, we’ve welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors from more than 600 communities, and partnerships like this continue to make the Museum an exciting place to discover, imagine, and grow together.

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DalWeLrka9R/

Children's Museum of Franklin and MBTA Celebrate New Transportation Exhibit Feature with Ribbon Cutting

Children's Museum of Franklin is excited to welcome the community to a special ribbon-cutting celebration for a brand-new interactive feature in the Museum's Transportation Area, generously designed and created by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 8 at 1:00 PM at Children's Museum of Franklin and will feature representatives from the MBTA, local officials, community leaders, Museum supporters, and families.

an early view of the train table
when the Museum opened Sep 2025

“On behalf of the MBTA, I want to thank Children’s Museum of Franklin for partnering with us to bring this customized railroad crossing signal to the Museum,” said MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan. “We hope this hands-on exhibit helps visitors better understand how crossing signals keep people safe and we hope to see it inspire the next generation of train engineers, signal experts, conductors, and other transit professionals.”

"Transportation has always been one of the most beloved themes at the Museum, especially with our incredible view of the MBTA’s commuter rail from the exhibit area" said Erin Gallagher, Executive Director & Co-Founder of Children's Museum of Franklin. "We're incredibly grateful to the MBTA for creating a feature that helps children make meaningful connections to the world around them through play."

Since opening in September 2025, Children's Museum of Franklin has welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors from more than 600 towns across Massachusetts, Rhode Island and beyond. The Museum’s beloved Transportation Area was made possible by the generous support of Vendetti Motors.

About the Children's Museum of Franklin

Children's Museum of Franklin is a nonprofit, hands-on museum on a mission to empower children and families to discover, imagine, and grow together through play and exploration. Through interactive exhibits, engaging programming, and a commitment to accessibility and belonging, the Museum creates opportunities for joyful learning for visitors of all ages.

Visit the Museum online for additional info - https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/

Children's Museum of Franklin celebrates success of their first "Play Fore the Kids" Golf Tournament - June 15

All - what a day! Between the near-perfect weather, enthusiastic golfers, dedicated volunteers, and incredible community spirit, we couldn't have imagined a better way to launch what we hope will become a beloved annual tradition.

Most importantly, because of sponsors like you, Play Fore the Kids was more than a great day on the course - it was an investment in children and families from our greater region. Your support helps advance the Children's Museum of Franklin's mission to empower children and families to discover, imagine, and grow together through play and exploration.

"Play Fore the Kids" Golf Tournament - June 15

Launching a first-year event requires partners who are willing to believe in the vision before the tradition exists. We are deeply grateful that you chose to be one of those partners. Your sponsorship helped create an experience that brought together community leaders, local businesses, families, and supporters, all united around the power of play.

Since opening our doors last September, the Museum has welcomed nearly 60,000 visitors from more than 500 communities across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and beyond. Every day, we see children making new discoveries, families creating meaningful memories, and connections being built. Your support makes these moments possible.

Thank you for helping us make year one such a success. We are honored to have you as part of the Children's Museum of Franklin community, and we hope to welcome you back to Play Fore the Kids next year.

Until then, we hope you'll stop by the Museum to see firsthand the impact of your support. We'd love to show you what you've helped make possible.

Photos: https://gallery.kaylajeancreative.com/cmfplayforekidscharitygolfday/prescramble/ (three galleries - registration, active play, sponsored holes) Keep an eye on Children's Museum of Franklin social channels to see posts that feature your support!

Gratefully,

The Children's Museum of Franklin team

Friends - Your Gift to the Children's Museum Will be Matched this May!

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online. Friends, With every child, grown-up, and family we have had the joy of welcoming, we have learned more about what matters most at Children’s Museum of Franklin and in our community. That’s how we shaped our five core values. These values come to life when children and grown-ups alike feel welcomed, when families build relationships through shared play, and when access opportunities help all young minds grow with confidence. As a non-profit organization, these moments are made possible by people like you. That is why we are excited to share a generous $15,000 matching gift challenge for the month of May to help grow our Friends of the Museum community. Every gift made before May 31 will be matched dollar for dollar. When you make a gift, you are not simply donating – you are helping build a place where our values come to life for all children and families. Every gift matters and, for the rest of the month of May, every gift is doubled. Will you help us meet the match? Gratefully, Children’s Museum of Franklin Team

Another new exhibit at the Children's Museum

Via Children's Museum of Franklin:

"Right when you walk in, you’ll spot something new 

Our gear wall - beautifully crafted by talented local maker, Meghan Medeiros (@customcreationsbymeghan ) - welcomes visitors into the space while sharing how we care for it together. 

It’s playful, thoughtful, and rooted in something we believe deeply: building a joyful, respectful community starts with all of us.

If you’ve been here before, you’ve already experienced Meghan’s work - woven into so many of the most loved parts of the Museum. We’re so grateful to continue collaborating and bringing her incredible talent into this space.

Because this place is all of ours."

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18cwLUQjos/

Play Fore the Kids – Register or Sponsor Today and help the Children's Museum of Franklin

Charity golf outing coming up June 15

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online. Tee off for something bigger than the game. Join us for Play Fore the Kids, a charity golf classic supporting Children's Museum of Franklin – where every round helps make play possible for children and families in our community. Monday, June 15, 2026 📍 Franklin Country Club ⏰ 10:00 AM Shotgun Start (Scramble) What to expect: • Breakfast + grab-and-go lunch • Games, prizes, and on-course fun • Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks • Awards, food, and celebration Schedule: 8:30 am: Registration & Breakfast 10:00 am: Shotgun Start (Scramble) 2:45–4:00 pm: Awards, Food & Reception Register as a foursome or individually – we'll take care of the rest. Hear from our Presenting Sponsor "Every so often, life comes full circle in a way that truly hits home. For me, this tournament is one of those moments. Between being a longtime Franklin resident, a dad of three, an FCC member, and the builder behind both the club's renovation and the Museum's new home, it feels like all my worlds are meeting right here on the fairway. It's a privilege to build the spaces where our community gathers, but the real construction happens in the relationships we build as neighbors. At Camford, our belief is simple: it starts with people. Strong relationships. Strong results. Supporting Play Fore the Kids is our way of saying thank you to the town that has given our family and our company so much."  Brad Chaffee, Camford Property Group Join our sponsors Learn more about this great way to showcase your business while making a meaningful impact in our community >> Let's play with purpose. Learn more & register here >> __ See you on the course, Children's Museum of Franklin A non-profit powered by community support. Register to play.

Check out the "Lean In Girls" Program on Thursdays at the Children's Museum of Franklin

Check out the "Lean In Girls" Program on
Thursdays at the Children's Museum of Franklin

Free registration is open for Lean In Girls, an empowerment and confidence-building program for girls 11-15.

Register online -> 
Childrensmuseumfranklin.org/lean-in-girls

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DUN50VXkcB1/

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Sunday, January 25, 2026 ???

Sunday, January 25

Storm Center Collection

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/franklin-ma-storm-center-collection-for.html

12:00pm Parking Ban takes effect until Monday, Jan 26 at noon time

12:30pm Children's Museum of Franklin (closing time due to storm)

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum - CLOSED due to the Storm

2:00pm Steel Magnolias (THE BLACK BOX)

*** NO Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Smile Days at the Children’s Museum of Franklin

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online. Friends,   Today was one of those *"pause and smile"* days – we welcomed Visitor 25,000 through our doors! 🎉   That number represents 25,000 friends who have found joy, belonging, connection and discovery in this space – and all in less than FOUR months since opening day.    When families choose CMF as a place to spend time together, we see a powerful reminder of this space becoming all we dreamed it would be: a welcoming hub for families across our region where learning feels joyful, play is purposeful, and every visitor is celebrated for exactly who they are.   With huge smiles, Children's Museum of Franklin Children's Museum of Franklin is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization made possible by the community, for the community. Thank you for supporting enrichment for children and families. Here's what else is happening: Members & non-members: Snag your spot ahead of time to guarantee entry on Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 19. Pre-Register The newsletter was shortened for publication here. You can full the full set on content online.

Overview of Children's Museum of Franklin accessibility features

via Alison Rheaume, Accessibility Consultant

Overview of Children's Museum
of Franklin accessibility features

Children's Museum of Franklin gets a huge shoutout for accessibility and inclusion!

Before construction even began, and all during the process, they consulted with many different people regarding access accessibility, myself included.

This has definitely been one of my favorite consulting opportunities!

In addition to my overall passion for accessibility, I also love working with children with years of experience as an educator, a Bachelors Degree in Movement Science, a Masters Degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and additional certifications for Special Populations.

Put all of that together, and it was truly a dream to be invited to evaluate the space before, during, and continuing forward as well.

The owners Meg and Erin have been extremely open to accepting all feedback regarding accessibility, and truly take action on it as they are able to.

Whether was encouraging benches with back to them, having a fragrance free environment, making sure transition areas are smooth, and so much more, they listen and care about all of it!

The @childrensmuseumfranklin is located at 157 Cottage St in Franklin, MA.

Check out the hours and more information on their website at https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org

Have fun!!

Video: Footage showing a tour of the Children's Museum of Franklin. It starts outside, showing handicap parking and ramp access. Once inside, there are white cubbies and a rack a g coat. It pans to the front desk, which has a sensory kit and headphones on the counter. Then, it shows a restroom, walks by some water fountains, and goes into the open concept play area. It shows parts of the museum including a play vet office, farm area, bank, Lego section, train exhibit, a lift down to a lower area, digital body exhibit, a tree that you can go inside for sensory items, and a gear based mechanism.

Hashtags: #inclusion #accessibility #childrensmuseum #accessibilityconsulting #accessibilitymatters

View the full view (reel) online ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/DTi9TiLAQ9F/

Children's Museum Spark Labs schedules two K&1 workshop on magnets

Children's Museum Spark Labs schedules
two K&1 workshop on magnets

"Get ready to pull, push, and experiment! In this hands-on, teamwork-powered class, kids will dive into the fascinating world of magnets. They’ll test which objects snap together, discover whether some magnets are mightier than others, and even see if magnetic forces can work through different materials. Through playful experiments and collaborative challenges, young scientists will explore, predict, and uncover magnetic magic together. Program is a two-week program for students in Grades K & 1 Dates: Thursdays, January 15 & January 22, 4:00-5:30 PM"

Learn more and register at childrensmuseumfranklin.org/magnets