Category: Uncategorized

April 6th, 2025 11 AM – 4 PM  

The Fort Collins Autism Resource Fair is a free, annual event hosted by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery that provides information and support for the autism community in and around Fort Collins. 

Enjoy activities for people of all ages including arts and crafts, games, face painting, Lego building, social meetups, character meet and greet, parent supports, food trucks, and much more!  

ASD-trained students from Colorado State University are available for childcare assistance under faculty supervision at no cost so that families and caregivers can interact with providers.   

We are also honored to welcome world-famous scientist and bestselling author and advocate, Dr. Temple Grandin, who will give a talk in the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater.  She will also be available to autograph books (including her newest, Visual Thinking).   

Additionally, we are honored to be showcasing the new documentary, An Open Door, in the Dome Theater, celebrating the mind and works of Dr. Temple Grandin. A Q&A panel with the filmmakers will follow. 

Neurodiverse individuals and their loved ones are encouraged to explore the museum and share a day of fun. Let us help you find out more about the autism community of Fort Collins!  

Among the providers included this year are: 
The Arc of Larimer County 
CAYAC  
Foothills Gateway 
Colorado State University 
Peak Parenting Center 
Poudre School District 
The Social Learning Project 
And many more!  

*Free admission for all. The 2025 Autism Resource Fair is generously sponsored by Larimer County Behavioral Health Services Impact Fund Grant Program. 

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.

Scott McKinney
Digital Experiences Manager
FCMoD

 What does the Digital Experiences Manager do here at FCMoD?Primarily I take care of our Otterbox Digital Dome Theater and that includes everything from picking out what shows to run, doing maintenance on our computer systems, to making sure everything runs perfectly, assuring quality control on our projectors and video files. I also work on our interactive exhibits and our website.

What do you look for when booking new shows for the dome?I try to cover a wide variety of bases, and we have everything from easy access points like the Big Bird show, which is called “One World, One Sky, Big Bird’s Adventure” which is all about finding the north star and sharing a communal experience of stargazing around the world.

We also focus on shows that are more science-heavy like “Forward to the Moon” which talks all about the Artemis missions. We have “Mars: The Ultimate Voyage” which talks all about the scientific challenges it would take to get to Mars.

And we’ve got some cool new shows on our radar, one of which is “Super Volcanoes” Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch (Smaug from the Hobbit Films) talking all about super volcanoes. Another fun one is “Orbital” which is half scientific, half philosophical and it’s all about the Overview Effect which is what astronauts describe as the experience of first seeing the earth from space. It’s about getting that holistic view of the planet and how it changes your mindset on earth’s ecosystems, but also where we fall within the grand scheme of the universe.

 How many shows are we running?On our weekday schedule we have five shows a day, three in the morning and two in the afternoon. On the weekends we have at least six shows, three in the morning and three in the afternoon.  We get a little more variety in the weekend – our afternoon includes music shows so you can come see some of your favorite artists

What shows do we offer bilingually?
We have two shows available in Spanish right now, we offer “One World One Sky” in Spanish, “Un Cielo, Un Mundo”, and we also offer “Accidental Astronauts” in Spanish. We’re working on adding more titles in Spanish on the horizon as well.

Let’s talk about the after-hours music shows in the dome.
So, one of our goals with after-hours programming was to find different ways for people to bring their passion into the building and share it with their loved ones – that includes musical experiences. So, the first couple shows we’ve done have been Taylor Swift. It’s a cool celebration for the fans.

On top of what’s happening in the dome, we also have things like trivia and costume contests and craft activities. Inside the dome we have an hour of music from our fans’ favorite artists all remixed into surround sound with really cool overhead visuals that interact with the music. It’s a fun way to experience your favorite artist in a new way and introduce your friends and family to music you love.

How do you build these shows where you’re composing visuals set to music?
First step is building out a play list, so we interview the staff and ask members of the community what their favorite songs are from the artist. From there, we build a playlist that I cross reference with their concert set lists, so you get some of their tour favorites in there. There’s always a classic closing song that you want to hear at the end of a set.

Once we have our playlist set, I remix the files from stereo to surround sound for the dome. After that I start working on the visuals. I try to give each song a set of visual themes and break that down into verse/chorus/verse so that the patterns of the visuals match the patterns of the music – which is really fun because when you’re building up to the moment, you know the words and you’re singing along and it just kind of hits you differently.

What’s the vibe like at these evening shows?
Our Taylor Swift show was a big party – there were people dancing on the floor, a lot of parents in the seats singing along and there’s a couple moments in the show where you realize the effect this music has had… you start to realize this really is a classic. Seeing how much other people love music really reminds you how much you love music yourself, and it creates a sense of community and a bond with everyone around you. It lets you peel off that shy layer of being a true fan of something and allows you to just be yourself and enjoy music.

What’s your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part of the job is the problem-solving. Even though it stresses me out the most, it has the most reward. So, when we deal with moments when something is not working quite right, there’s a real joy in solving the puzzle and getting it to come together. It’s fun to solve a problem and have somebody react with “Yes! This is something I’ve been needing!”

Join us for another Tuesday Night Live event in support of our special exhibitions, Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity and The Bias Inside Us.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12th, we will present Invisible Disability: Masking in a Neurotypical World (youth focus). This panel discussion with neurodiverse individuals will explore what it’s like to have an invisible disability and the biases that surround them.

The conversation will be followed by low sensory walkthrough of exhibits. This event has a youth focus. A second panel will offer an adult perspective on December 3rd.

This is another Pay-What-You-Can evening event in the digital dome theater to help support access for all.

Click Here to learn more and register

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!

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