CONTEST CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER ERIN MILLIKEN!

Good thing we’re in the West because the Children’s Museum of Denver has gone Wild!

Every month, the museum explores a different theme and January is their Wild West Month.

Whenever my kids and I have visited the Children’s Museum in the past, we have never participated in their monthly themed programs and have always stayed with the regular exhibits.

Those days are no more.

We were thrilled to step back in time to the ol’ Wild West where we explored what life was like way back when. Cowboy Luke delighted us with a Cowpoke Campfire where we gathered around to listen to a Navajo story about why coyotes howl at night. We cooked our own s’mores over a fake campfire and sang classics like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” and even learned a couple of new songs.

Luke was entertaining, animated, and most importantly he played to his young audience by keeping it to under 30 minutes.

From there, it was onto Little Outlaws where my children made their very own “WANTED” posters, complete with cowboy costumes for their mugshots and all the materials needed to create this very fun and easy craft.

I plan to bring out their WANTED posters whenever they are in trouble.

You know: as evidence.

It will be Wild West Month during the entire month of January. The schedule:

Facilitated ARTS a la Carte – Sand-sational Art

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Did you know that during the day in the desert, sand can reach up to 195 degrees Fahrenheit? Sand is one of the oldest things in the Wild West and for centuries, Native Americans of the Southwest have been creating sand art. This month we are going to create our very own Native American-inspired sand paintings. This program promotes art, fine motor skills, and historical and cultural awareness.

Clubhouse Capers – Little Outlaws

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 2:30 p.m.

WANTED: Your little outlaws! We are making our very own wild west wanted posters; ten gallon hats and all! Bring your surly smiles and we’ll supply the rest! This program promotes fine motor skills and creative thinking.

Backyard Explorers – Cowpoke Campfire

Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m.

After a long day chasing cattle out on the open plains, cowboys could not wait to camp out under the stars! Come and join us for our own cowpoke campfire complete with campfire songs, stargazing and every cowboy’s favorite treat, s’mores! This program promotes social skills and history.

Mile High Mamas is giving away four tickets for the Children’s Museum at Denver to check out Wild West month and their many other exhibits. Please go here to enter. Contest deadline is January 15, 2010. Stay tuned for next month’s program: Fairytales and Fables.

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