- Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

2026 The Year of Conversations

Posted on August 6, 2026August 6, 2026 by Scott McKinney in Front Page

2026 marks the 250th birthday of the United States and the 150th birthday of the state of Colorado. In recognition of these anniversaries Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, in partnership with a number of community organizations, is planning on presenting a Year of Conversations.

The Year of Conversations is designed to create spaces of community building, share civic tools to incorporate into our own lives, and explore our shared history while preserving, protecting and building our democracy and community together.

Please join us in these conversations and plan on attending as many programs as possible. Our calendar will be filling up as the year goes on so please check back frequently to see the latest opportunities to be a part of the 250/150 conversation.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS:

Courtyard Open House – Saturday, August 22nd – 11:00AM-1:00PM
Heritage Courtyard at the Center for Creativity at the Historic Carnegie Library, 200 Mathews Street, Fort Collins, Colorado
Join us at the Heritage Courtyard this August for an interactive open house where you can explore some of the oldest log structures in Larimer County. This month, we’ll also be learning more about our local animal history, including information about beavers, horses, and everyone’s favorite legendary canine: Annie the Railroad Dog!

Free and open to the public – no tickets necessary, just drop in!

Women’s History Presentation @ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery August 26^th – 7:00pm-8:45pm
It’s back! We’re thrilled to present our 7^th year of exploring local women’s history at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.

This year, we’ll celebrate Women’s Equality Day by sharing stories and photographs of notable Fort Collins women. Join the FCMoD Archive & Collections staff as we highlight the paths of many local luminaries for an inspirational evening full of historic images, audio recordings, and fascinating information presented in the immersive OtterBox Digital Dome Theater.

We’ll also feature a virtual “walking” tour of historic sites related to Women’s Suffrage in Fort Collins, presented by our friends at the City of Fort Collins Historic Preservation Services.

All ages welcome!

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 in the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery – 408 Mason Court, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524
Lobby opens at 6:30pm; presentation is from 7:00pm – 8:45pm
This is a pay-what-you-can program. Please register for tickets since capacity is limited.

https://46395.blackbaudhosting.com/46395/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=37bde480-b47c-4679-b30d-34fc9c2cbc43

On the Move: Walking and Biking in Northern Colorado

Larimer County Knowledge Break Series @ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery August 27^th – 6:30PM-7:30PM
Dive into our region’s active transportation options, trail networks, and community programming. Our speaker, a regional transportation planner from the NFRMPO, will briefly touch on planning efforts with the main focus on practical takeaways for you.

We will cover active transportation programming, trails, and regional connections to highlight everyday ways you can utilize local networks including:

Regional Trail Options: Discover new routes and connections for navigating NoCo without a car.
Bike & Pedestrian Programming: Learn about shared micromobility (like e-bikes and scooters) and programs that make active commuting easier.
Safe Routes to School: Explore regional initiatives helping local youth walk and roll to school safely.

Whether you are a daily commuter, a weekend trail enthusiast, or a parent looking for safer school routes, you’ll leave with plenty of practical tools to start using right away.

Learn More: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/on-the-move-walking-and-biking-in-northern-colorado-tickets-1994300986937

Larimer County Knowledge Break Series @ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery September 10^th – 6:30PM-7:30PM

Prepared and Resilient: Creating Your Disaster Plan

What does it take to guide a community through its worst days and help it bounce back?

Join the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for an engaging look at how emergency managers protect life and safety during a crisis, coordinate logistics, and lead long-term community recovery.

We’re swapping standard meetings rooms for the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery! Enjoy giant slides on the 39-foot screen and interactive Kahoot trivia, all in a unique theater setting.

What You’ll Learn:

How OEM Works for You: The hidden safety net protecting your community before, during, and after a disaster.
Your Action Plan: Practical, step-by-step guidance to safeguard your home and family.
Future Resilience: How simple actions today prepare us all for tomorrow.

Featured Speaker: Camille Millard, Preparedness & Resiliency Specialist, Larimer OEM. Camille will share expert insights on crafting a personalized emergency plan so you feel confident and ready for whatever comes next.

Don’t wait for the next disaster to start preparing. Reserve your spot today! (Note: Bring a charged mobile device to participate in the live Kahoot game!)

Handwriting the Constitution, session 1—Monday, September 14—6:00pm-8:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Join us for the first of four sessions where you are invited to handwrite the US Constitution.

Handwriting the Constitution is a social art project begun in 2017 by artist Morgan O’Hara. It invites people from all walks of life to meet in public spaces to handwrite the US Constitution. This art practice was created so that people will know their rights, deepen their understanding of laws created to protect these rights, and to help resist negative thinking.

The goal of this art practice is to create a physical and psychological space that explores the practice of concentrated writing as an art form, and a process designed to bring people together in a quiet and calming way, all by focusing on human rights. It has been identified as a powerful and transformative form of activism for introverts.

Copies of the Constitution and pen and paper will be provided, but feel free to bring your personal favorite writing tools and notebook.

For more information about the Handwriting the Constitution project please visit: https://www.handwritingtheconstitution.org/

To register for this pay-what-you-can program please click: TICKET LINK COMING SOON

Courtyard Open House – Auntie Stone’s Birthday! – September 26th –

This month we’re celebrating the 225^th birthday of our favorite Fort Collins historical figure: “Auntie” Elizabeth Stone!

We’ll have treats, crafts, and more in and around her cabin, the only remaining building from the Fort Collins military post days. Auntie Stone was known for her high energy and love of dancing; celebrate with us by making your very own “Dancy” Stone paper doll!

REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON!

Handwriting the Constitution, session 2—Monday, September 28—6:00pm-8:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Join us for the second of four sessions where you are invited to handwrite the US Constitution. You can start from scratch or pick up where you left off in session 1.

Copies of the Constitution and pen and paper will be provided, but feel free to bring your personal favorite writing tools and notebook.

For more information about the Handwriting the Constitution project please visit: https://www.handwritingtheconstitution.org/

To register for this pay-what-you-can program please click: TICKET LINK COMING SOON

Handwriting the Constitution, session 3—Monday, October 12—6:00pm-8:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Join us for the third of four sessions where you are invited to handwrite the US Constitution. You can start from scratch or pick up where you left off in earlier sessions.

Copies of the Constitution and pen and paper will be provided, but feel free to bring your personal favorite writing tools and notebook.

For more information about the Handwriting the Constitution project please visit: https://www.handwritingtheconstitution.org/

To register for this pay-what-you-can program please click: TICKET LINK COMING SOON

Handwriting the Constitution, session 4—Monday, October 26—6:00pm-8:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Join us for the last of four sessions where you are invited to handwrite the US Constitution. You can start from scratch or pick up where you left off in earlier sessions.

Copies of the Constitution and pen and paper will be provided, but feel free to bring your personal favorite writing tools and notebook.

For more information about the Handwriting the Constitution project please visit: https://www.handwritingtheconstitution.org/

To register for this pay-what-you-can program please click: TICKET LINKS COMING SOON

__________________________________________________________________________

PREVIOUS YEAR OF CONVERSATION EVENTS:

Human Library
February 22nd, 2:00-5:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Unjudge someone—Join us for the Human Library where human “books” have conversations with human “readers” and share their personal story and their experience living in Fort Collins.

faith 250: The Declaration of Independence
Thursday, March 5th, 6:00-8:00pm
First Presbyterian Church

No words capture the American imagination as powerfully as Jefferson’s assertions in the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration simultaneously asks us to explore who we intend to be and the resistance to achieving those aims.

Women’s Suffrage Walking and Archive Tour
Friday, March 27th, 2:00-4:00pm
Center for Creativity – 200 Mathews Street, Fort Collins

Join Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and the City Historic Preservation teams to explore stories of Women’s History in Fort Collins, and women who influenced the city in their lifetimes. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’ll be touring through the neighborhood around Library Park to visit a few sites where women who helped shape our community lived and worked.

We’ll then venture inside the Center for Creativity at the Carnegie for a virtual tour of women’s history as told through the Museum of Discovery’s unique archives and collections.

Location is the Center for Creativity – 200 Mathews Street, Fort Collins.

faith 250: America the Beautiful
Tuesday April 7th, 6:00-8:00pm
LoveFirst Community

Katharine Lee Bates’ anthem emerged out of her travels. Her repeated prayer that God “Crown Thy good with brotherhood” asks us to consider the role of unity, fellowship, solidarity, community, and other forms of social cohesions in our understanding of the national good.

Civic Saturday
April 11th, 1:00-3:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

We need ways to build trust, restore civic faith, and move through the challenges of feeling disappointed, scared, angry, checked out, or even hopeless and powerless to impact our communities or society. Many people lack places to connect and reflect on the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities we need to embrace in public life.

Civic Saturdays, which originated in Seattle in 2016, are an antidote that sparks inspiration, relationship-building, and meaning-making. Civic Saturdays have been hosted across the U.S. in local libraries, parks, museums, and more. They give folks a space to build community with no strings attached; come as you are, get to know your neighbors, and think through how we can build civic character together.

Whether a civic starting point, a refueling station, a spot for sense-making or celebration, Civic Saturdays help break down a sense of separateness and connect our hearts, inviting us to consider what it truly means to “live like a citizen” — and to commit to doing so, together.

Please join us for Fort Collins’ first in-person Civic Saturday. We’ll have live music from Veronica May, poetry from local community members, and opportunities to connect with your neighbors! We hope to see you there!

Courtyard Open House
April 18 11:00-1:00
Heritage Courtyard at the Center for Creativity at the Historic Carnegie Library, 200 Mathews Street, Fort Collins, Colorado

This spring, we are highlighting the 1905 Upper Boxelder Creek Schoolhouse with an interactive open house for all ages.

Play: Try your hand at traditional 1900s games.

Learn: Explore the architecture and stories of our one-room school.

Create: Participate in schoolhouse-themed activities and crafts.

Free and open to the public – no tickets necessary, just drop in!

Speaking up for Cleaner Air

Tuesday May 5th, 6:00PM-8:00PM

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Come listen to your neighbors share their stories of fighting for cleaner air in our community. Through personal stories and shared experiences, we’ll explore what it means to stand up for what we believe — and how to pass those lessons on to our kids.

Storytellers include:

Senator Mike Foote, Lawyer and former State Senator
Patricia Garcia-Nelson, GreenLatinos
Aliria Bello, Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI)
Matt Sura, Oil and gas attorney
Howard Gebhart, Retired Meteorologist and air quality professional

Ven a escuchar a tus vecinos compartir sus historias sobre la lucha por un aire más limpio en nuestra comunidad. A través de experiencias personales y viviencias compartidas, exploraremos lo que significa defender nuestras convicciones, y cómo transmitir esas lecciones a nuestros hijos.

Narradores incluyen:

Senador Mike Foote, abogado y ex Senador Estatal
Patricia Garcia-Nelson, GreenLatinos
Aliria Bello, Instituto de Capacitación en Liderazgo Familiar (FLTI)
Matt Sura, Abogado de Petróleo y Gas
Howard Gebhart, Meteorólogo Retirado y Profesional en Calidad del Aire

faith 250: What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
Tuesday May 12th, 6:00-8:00pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Frederick Douglass addressed Independence Day in 1852, in the midst of slavery. To Douglas, our national rituals that are untrue to their intended meaning corrode the country’s shared identity, yet instead of turning away from America, he sets the pattern of demanding that America live up to its purpose.

Brick by Brick Historic Preservation, the Bicentennial Commission & Civic Action
May 21st, 7:00-8:00pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (dome)

This year is the nation’s 250^th anniversary, and Colorado’s 150^th. Join staff from the Museum of Discovery and the City Historic Preservation office to explore how the Fort Collins community came together to celebrate the bicentennial in 1976, and how it created important momentum for the work of historic preservation in our city.

We’ll learn how community leaders from across the city worked together to celebrate together and save some important reflections of Fort Collins’ identity, and about their foundational efforts to build what we’ve come to know as Fort Collins today.

Bring your learning hat and your sense of civic pride as we explore stories from Fort Collins past that reflect the important civic values of shared responsibility, memory, stewardship, and active citizenship of Fort Collins past, present, and future.

Courtyard Open House
May 30th, 11:00am-1:00pm
Heritage Courtyard at the Center for Creativity at the Historic Carnegie Library, 200 Mathews Street, Fort Collins, Colorado

Join us at the Heritage Courtyard this May for a special interactive open house celebrating Historic Preservation Month. We’ll explore the four historic structures and learn the “behind-the-scenes” stories of their survival. Discover how and why these important buildings were physically uprooted, transported, and restored.

Free and open to the public – no tickets necessary, just drop in!

We’ve Been Here the Whole Time: Fort Collins Queer History
Sunday, June 7, 7pm-8pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (Dome)

Kick off your Pride celebration early and journey into a past before rainbows and pride flags. Since the 1800s, queer Fort Collins residents have defied gender norms, established businesses, demanded equal rights, and danced into the night surrounded by friends and allies. Discover the history and places of Fort Collins queer community on June 5th at the Museum of Discovery’s Digital Dome Theatre.

This program is FREE but donations are welcome! Tickets are required due to limited capacity.

faith 250: The New Colossus
Tuesday June 9th, 6:00-8:00pm
CSU Campus

Emma Lazarus was asked to write a poem for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty celebrating the triumph of liberty in the Civil War. She subverted that purpose with 14 lines of text that turned one of the nation’s most recognized monuments into a symbol of welcome.

Without Apology: Black History and Civil Rights in Fort Collins – A Walking Tour and Archive Open House
Friday June 12, 2026
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524

Join staff from the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and the City of Fort Collins Historic Preservation office to explore stories of Black/African American history in Fort Collins, and Black residents who fought for civil rights in their lifetimes. We’ll begin by touring through the neighborhood around Washington Park to visit a few sites where important Black residents lived in the city, and then visit the Local History Archive at the Museum for an open house featuring resources our community has saved to help keep these stories alive.

Please wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. The group will meet in the main lobby of the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery at 408 Mason Court in Fort Collins. This event is free but capped at 30 people, so please register for tickets. We will provide an indoor “virtual walking tour” experience if needed due to inclement weather.

Register Here

TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures
Saturday, June 13th
9:00am – 3:30pm
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, in partnership with Poudre Libraries, we will host a livestream of TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, a daylong symposium featuring 15+ original TED Talks focused on the future of democracy.

Learn more About the speakers:

TED Live Program | Visit Philadelphia

Streaming live from Philadelphia leading up to America’s 250th birthday celebrations, this landmark event convenes bold thinkers and civic leaders to share ideas and solutions designed to inform and inspire.

Through a collaboration with Visit Philadelphia and the American Library Association, and sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts, libraries across the country are hosting satellite livestream events — expanding access to these critical conversations and fostering local engagement nationwide.

We’re proud to serve as a host site and bring this important civic moment to our local community.

Event Details

Saturday, June 13, 2026

All Events Hosted at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery

Free and open to the public!

What to Expect

● Livestream of 15+ brand-new TED Talks from the stage in Philadelphia

● A welcoming space for shared civic engagement

● Opportunities for reflection and conversation

You must register for each of the three talks individually.

Courtyard Open House
June 20th, 11:00am-1:00pm
Heritage Courtyard at the Center for Creativity at the Historic Carnegie Library, 200 Mathews Street, Fort Collins, Colorado

Join us at the Heritage Courtyard this June for an interactive open house where we’ll discover the trees and flowers that make their home in the courtyard! We’ll also learn more about the ponderosa pines that were used to construct some of the historic cabins. Finally, we’ll use natural inspiration to create paper flowers and botanical art to take home.

Free and open to the public – no tickets necessary, just drop in!

Independence Day Community Celebration @ City Park July 4th – 7:30AM-10:00PM

Join the City of Fort Collins for a special Independence Day Community Celebration honoring 250 years of America and 150 years of Colorado — a milestone moment to reflect, connect and celebrate together as a community.

https://www.fortcollins.gov/Event-Folder/2026-Events/2026-Q3/Independence-Day-Community-Celebration

faith 250 Celebration @ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery July 11th – 4:00PM-6:00PM

faith250’s culminating event celebrating our common civic values is just around the corner. Join us for singing, poetry, food, and thoughtful discussions as we conclude the faith250 series of programs.

FoCoMX 2025 @ FCMoD

Posted on April 9, 2025April 14, 2025 by Scott McKinney in FoCoMX, Front Page, Uncategorized

We are days away from Fort Collins’ favorite local music festival, FoCoMX! With over 400 Colorado bands performing on 38 stages, you are sure to find you new favorite local artist. This year, FCMoD is hosting even more stages, bands, and fun!

Join us for a Friday Night for a special edition of our Monthly Member Night, where both Museum Members and FoCoMX wristband holders can listen to live music and have fun in our gallery. The Otterbox Digital Dome Theater will be filled to the brim with some of our favorite folk artists, while The Launchpad Stage in the gallery will be hosting some local favorites and a few awesome emerging artists. And don’t forget to stop by our Music Garage and Jam out with our friends the Boredom Fighters.

And then join us again on Saturday for a full day of fun with FOUR stages of youth music! Our youth advisory board, The MoD Squad will help run three unique stages: The Launchpad, The Learning Labs, and The Otterbox Digital Dome Theater. This year we will also be hosting an additional fourth stage on our rooftop featuring the crowd favorite School of Rock House Band!

The MoD Squad consists of individuals ages 15-19 from across the Front Range. Squad members meet twice a month at the museum for a one-year period. During that time, they actively engage the community in a variety of ways, including reviewing applications for the Sonic Spotlight Showcase, participating in college level presentations and discussions, emceeing concerts, and much more. This year, MoD Squad members will also be helping out behind the scenes of FoCoMX at the museum.

Months ago, Squad members got a sneak peek into the FoCoMX application process. After intently looking over applications from a variety of different bands, MoD Squad had the opportunity to weigh in on which bands would thrive on FCMoD stages. Now, after becoming these bands’ newest fans, Squad members will help ensure the success of the festival by supporting backstage.

Want to see the MoD Squad in action? We’ve got you covered. Thanks to Dellenbach Motors and Visit Fort Collins, admission to the museum is FREE on Saturday, April 19^th. Add Fort Collins Museum of Discovery to your 2025 FoCoMX schedule and don’t forget to say hello to the Squad!

Thanks to:

March Calendar at FCMoD!

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Scott McKinney in Front Page, Uncategorized

We’ve got many great opportunities to come engage at FCMoD this month. Click the links below for specific dates and times. Here’s a quick round up:

We still have slots open for our Museum Explorers Spring Break Camp happening March 17th-21st.
Museum Explorers Camp provides a behind-the-scenes, all-access pass to everything at FCMoD. Campers will have opportunities for a hands-on exploration of music, live animals, science, local history, and more all while making friends and having fun. Each day we will dive into several activities designed to engage kids’ curiosity and creativity.
Our Monthly Member Night theme for March is “Equinox” taking place on March 21^st. Members are encouraged to bring their friends – and come space out for the spring equinox.
Tickets are still available for the “Diva Dance Party: Featuring the Music of Beyoncé” on March 28^th. Check out your favorite Beyoncé tracks in full surround sound paired with mind-melting overhead projections in the Otterbox Digital Dome.

Our Black-footed Ferret Feedings happen the first and third Saturday of every month starting at 9:30 am. At 10am on the second and fourth Saturday every month you can Meet the Animals in our live animal exhibits. Every Saturday at 1pm you can stop by for “Tonight’s Sky” a live presenter Planetarium Show exploring what planets and constellations we’ll see in our region this month. And as always, we’ve got Dome Shows six days a week in the Otterbox Digital Dome Theater all month long.

It’s a great time to come visit the museum!

Event dates and times are subject to change, please check our museum calendar for the most up-to-date information.

FCMoD on KRFC

Posted on September 11, 2024September 25, 2024 by Scott McKinney in Exhibits, Featured Exhibits, Front Page, News

Big Thanks to our friends at 88.9 KRFC for having us on to talk the Beyond Discovery Fundraiser and our upcoming exhibits Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity and the Bias Inside Us. Listen in – it’s going to be a great season of special exhibitions at the museum this fall!

Listen Here:

Skin & Bias

Posted on July 10, 2024October 3, 2024 by Scott McKinney in Front Page

We are incredibly excited to present two amazing special exhibitions this fall and winter as we bring you Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity (Oct 12, 2024 – January 26, 2025) and The Bias Inside Us (November 27^th – December 31^st). Both exhibits are designed to spark dialogue and reflection on human culture and identity through science and history. beginning with Skin which explores the physical, historical, and cultural elements of the human body’s largest organ.

From questions like “what’s a rhino’s horn made from?” (hint: it’s the same protein that makes up human hair and nails – keratin!) to an exploration of how geography and climate have impacted the evolution of skin pigmentation, this engaging exhibit will inspire you to reconsider everything from what’s in the dust in your home to the way you see the world. FCMoD hopes you’ll take home a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and recognize that we – as humans – are more alike than we are different. This installation is presented in both English and Spanish.

Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity was created by the California Academy of Sciences and modified for travel and distributed by the Science Museum of Minnesota.

On November 27^th, The Bias Inside Us will take its place alongside Skin as we explore how the human mind’s chemistry can lead us to a place of inherent bias. This community engagement project from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) will raise awareness about the social science and psychology of implicit bias, the impact of this bias and what people can do about it. This exhibit is brought to you in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES).

Both these exhibits are free for Members and included with the price of admission. If you enjoy this kind of programming, we encourage you to make a donation through our Give More campaign which helps create access for community members experiencing economic need.

https://46395.blackbaudhosting.com/46395/Give-More

We look forward to bringing these fascinating and thought-provoking exhibits to you!

Beyond Discovery

Posted on July 10, 2024February 4, 2025 by Scott McKinney in Front Page, Uncategorized

Ever tried putt-putt golfing on the moon? Think you can chip shot from a three-story roof into a bucket? Join us on September 13th for our Beyond Discovery Benefit: Teeing up Discovery for All! This year’s proceeds will go toward creating access for ALL community members. Your contribution helps families experiencing economic need enjoy all the museum has to offer at free or reduced rates. Everyone benefits from access for all – please join us for an evening of fun!

This year we’re bringing back nine holes of museum gallery putt-putt golf, the rooftop chip shot competition, live music, dancing, food and adult beverages courtesy of an open bar. In a nod toward the archive’s 50th anniversary, we encourage 1970’s attire (golf or otherwise) and flair!

Thanks for your support!

Human Library

Posted on July 10, 2024February 4, 2025 by Scott McKinney in Front Page, Uncategorized

Unjudge someone – join us for The Human Library on August 4^th here at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. From overcoming addiction to confronting racism, 32 Books from our community will share their stories with you, the Readers. Now in its second year in Fort Collins, The Human Library creates a welcoming environment for people to listen, learn, and connect with one another. The goal is to create greater empathy and understanding through a positive dialogue that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices. The Human Library started as a Danish project in 2000, and there are now 80 events every year, worldwide. This year’s program is focused once again on “Being Me in Fort Collins”. We are honored to help facilitate this powerful event with our partners, Poudre River Public Library District, the City of Fort Collins Equity & Inclusion Office, the City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission, Larimer County Behavioral Health Services, and the Yarrow Collective.

Desjuzga a alguien – Acompáñenos en la Biblioteca Humana el 4 de agosto aquí en el Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Desde superar la adicción hasta enfrentar el racismo, 32 Libros de nuestra comunidad compartirán sus historias con ustedes, los Lectores. Ahora en su segundo año en Fort Collins, la Biblioteca Humana crea un entorno acogedor para que las personas escuchen, aprendan y se conecten entre sí. El objetivo es fomentar una mayor empatía y comprensión a través de un diálogo positivo que pueda desafiar los estereotipos y prejuicios. La Biblioteca Humana comenzó como un proyecto danés en el año 2000. Hoy en día se realizan 80 eventos cada año por todo el mundo. El programa de este año se enfoca nuevamente en “Siendo yo en Fort Collins”. Nos sentimos honrados de ayudar a facilitar este poderoso evento con nuestros socios, el Distrito de Bibliotecas Públicas de Poudre River, la Oficina de Equidad e Inclusión de la Ciudad de Fort Collins, la Comisión de Relaciones Humanas de la Ciudad de Fort Collins, los Servicios de Salud del Comportamiento, del Condado de Larimer, y el “Yarrow Collective”.

Visítenos aquí para inscribirse y obtener más información

FoCoMX @ FCMoD

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Scott McKinney in Uncategorized

We are days away from Fort Collins’ favorite local music festival, FoCoMX! With over 350 Colorado bands performing on 30 stages, it is impossible not to wonder what goes on behind the scenes. This year, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery has the support of the youth advisory board known as the FCMoD Squad to help run three unique stages: The Launchpad, The Learning Labs, and The Otterbox Digital Dome Theater.

Want to see the MoD Squad in action? We’ve got you covered. Thanks to Visit Fort Collins, admission to the museum is FREE on Saturday, April 20^th. Add Fort Collins Museum of Discovery to your 2024 FoCoMX schedule and don’t forget to say hello to the Squad!

Poster Design by: Elijah Brady

Cafecito con Vlad Episode One (feat. Ben Griswold)

Posted on March 15, 2024April 3, 2024 by Scott McKinney in Uncategorized

Welcome to Cafecito con Vlad, with your host, Vlad Lora Pardo. Vlad is a former ModSquad member and current ¡Alebrijes! fellow. Working closely alongside the iAlebrijes! artists, staff, and volunteers, Vlad provides a unique perspective into the exhibit and its impact on the local community. Come along as Vlad interviews the people behind our new iAlebrijes! Exhibit.

In this episode, Vlad has a conversation with Ben Griswold, FCMoD’s Senior Manager of Content, Engagement, and Experience. This week, we’re diving into the team’s vision behind the ¡Alebrijes! exhibit, as well as some of the challenges faced along the way. Join us this Thursday, April 4th to check out the giant Alebrije installment created by our artists in residency, Óscar Becerra Mora and Rubén Miguel.

Listen to the Podcast:

Download audio Continue Reading

4 Tips To Boost Your Field Trip Experience at FCMoD

Posted on February 6, 2024February 4, 2025 by Scott McKinney in Uncategorized

Field trips at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery are special and memorable for all ages, and a great way to positively impact students and their learning experiences. Here are some things we thought of to help boost your field trip experience at FCMoD:

Find the best time to visit. Finding the best time to visit can make all the difference. If you’re visiting to support your curriculum, consider booking your visit 1-2 weeks before or after your unit to help students feel most connected. If you’re hoping to have lunch outside, experience nearby trails and parks, or visit nearby museums and restaurants in Downtown Fort Collins, you might want to keep seasonal weather in mind. FCMoD asks for reservation requests at least two weeks in advance and works with educators and group leaders to explore availability and itinerary options. Booking your field trip well in advance can help give you more peace of mind and time to plan a more memorable experience for your group.
Embrace the exploration expectations. FCMoD field trips give groups the experience of limitless discovery and help promote a stronger, accessible connection to history, science, culture, and community. To help ensure that this experience is the most fun, engaging, educational and safe for all, we encourage groups to review a few expectations before their visit. By embracing these exploration expectations before and during their field trip, students can take pride in being respectful of each other and their surroundings, while helping us preserve history, science, and culture in Colorado.
Access the Archive, Special Exhibits, and more. Before making your field trip request, check out the Dome Show schedule, Special Exhibits, the Archive & Collections and more. All of these can be included in the group rate to boost your field trip experience at FCMoD – whether your group is studying space, wildlife, music and sound, or local and regional history, including an immersive, hands-on, or behind-the-scenes experience can really help keep students excited and engaged. Did you know we have 4 new exhibits coming in 2024 and 2025? Ask about shows, tours and floor program availability when submitting your field trip request.
Plan some activities and learning tools. Field trips at FCMoD are intentionally self-guided to encourage limitless discovery, exploration, and reflection. That said, the Gallery offers a fresh canvas for educators and group leaders to get creative with how to best engage their students with curricular and extra-curricular goals in mind. Maybe a scavenger hunt connecting what you’re learning in the classroom to artifacts on display? How about museum bingo, to help ensure maximum engagement during visitation? Maybe a field note worksheet, asking students to reflect on their experiences? Options are endless, and we love ideas! To help plan and prepare any activities, educators and group leads are invited to request a complimentary guest pass when booking their field trip so they can tour the gallery floor before visiting.

Don’t delay! FCMoD’s spring field trip season is filling fast, and we’re now booking field trips and camps for the summer. To learn more about group visits and field trips at FCMoD, visit our Group Visits page. When you’re ready to request a visit, please submit this online reservation form. For questions about Group Visits, please contact booking@fcmod.org.

img credit: City of Fort Collins Flickr