New Additions Highlight Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Brunch with Santa

Commerce, Texas

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making an early stop at the Northeast

Children and parents prepare crafts and write
letters to Santa at the Brunch With Santa event.

Texas Children’s Museum for the annual Brunch with Santa. This year’s event will be on Saturday, December 6 from 9:30 to 11:30. The Commerce Kiwanis will provide a pancake breakfast. Returning for the 2014 Brunch will be the cupcake Christmas train and balloon entertainment.

Santa will be surprised to see new additions to the Children’s Museum. The newly painted airplane contains additional interior enhancements. Hunt Regional Healthcare area has an added siren in the ambulance. The Duncan House and Cypress Bank exhibits are new. The transformation of the fort to a Pirate Ship is in progress. Most recently, the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum garnered the honor of Best Creative Children’s Experience in Texas by Official Best Of, a national travel site.

 “This is my favorite event of the year,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director. “It is exciting for us to see the children so happy with the excitement of Christmas.”

 In addition to brunch, several Christmas craft areas entertain the children. They may write a letter to Santa and mail it at the Children’s Museum. Children have the opportunity to play in all the exhibits. They can make bubbles in the Kiwanis Bubble Room, doctor the dogs in the Commerce Veterinary Clinic, buy groceries in the Brookshire’s Grocery exhibit, milk a cow, or play in any of the other play areas.

Santa’s elves will provide balloon entertainment
for Brunch With Santa participants

“This event has become a highlight for families in northeast Texas,” said Beckey Thompson, board president. “It is a great way to begin the Christmas season.”
Get your cameras ready, bring your wish list and say “hello” to jolly, old Saint Nick. Tickets for the event are $7.00 per person and are $10.00 at the door on the day of the event. For more information, call the Northeast Texas Children's Museum at (903) 886-6055.

Thhe Northeast Texas Children's Museum is located at 2501 State Highway 24, Commerce, Texas 75428.  For more holiday celebrations and events, be sure to visit the Events and Entertainment pages of Texoma Connect.

Children’s Museum Open House to Highlight New Exhibits

A ribbon cutting and other events are scheduled.

Shani Finney, Cory Finney, John Weatherford, and Sara Livingston
enjoy a time to explore the Duncan House.

September 17, 2014, Commerce, Texas

The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is pleased to introduce expansions of both inside and outside the museum. Since beginning in 2002, the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum has invested in providing hands-on, minds-on opportunities for children.

This summer has been a busy time at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. More than 6,000 people visited the museum over the summer, and construction of new exhibits continued throughout June, July, and August. The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum has scheduled an Open House on Thursday, September 18 from 10:00 to 4:30 to recognize our donors and to officially open the new exhibits. The public is invited to attend.

A ribbon cutting for the Duncan Playhouse, sponsored by Duncan Insurance, the Cypress Bank exhibit and the Hunt Regional Healthcare Area will be held at 10:30 AM.

“Each of these sponsors has done so much for the Children’s Museum,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum. “We also want to thank L-3 for painting our plane and refurbishing the interior of the plane. L-3 even donated airplane seats for the shuttle area of the museum. To be able to offer new exhibits for the children is very exciting for us, and we could not do this without the support of our sponsors.”

Visitors may also notice the brick façade walls that have been added to the businesses inside the Children’s Museum. The Museum has received many positive comments throughout the summer as children, parents, and grandparents saw changes with each visit.

“Additions been made to the inside of the Children’s Museum, and we will be introducing our guests to the Great Outdoor Discovery Area,” said Beckey Thompson, president of the board of trustees. “The development of this area is just beginning, but we look forward to being able to offer an outside area for the children. The support the Children’s Museum received through the Silent Auction in April made possible the initial development of this area.”

The children’s museum is located at 2501 Highway 50, the NW corner of Culver and Hwy 50, Commerce, TX 75428. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30.  For more fun, interesting things for children and teens in the Lake Texoma area, visit The Kids ActivityCalendar.  

July Hails Month of Adventures at Children’s Museum

From Spa Day and Friends on Wheels to the Critterman and dinosaurs, July is set to be the “Month of Adventure” at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. Activities during the month vary on a daily or weekly basis.

July begins with Spa Day on Wednesday, July 2 at 1:30. The pampering begins as young girls make bath salts, get manicures, have their hair done and receive foot massages courtesy of Fire ‘n Ice.

Celebration of Independence Day is on Thursday, July 3 at 11:00. Dr. Wendell and Linda Edwards present a program, Children in Colonial Times. The Edwards appear in Colonial dress to show how children in Colonial times entertained themselves. Then Bettina Zvanut continues the experiences as she demonstrates how to make soap.  Homemade soap will be available for the children to take home.“Making soap was so important to families in Colonial times, and it is fun to show the children how that was done”, said Ms. Zvanut.

The “Month of Adventure” continues with a week of Friends on Wheels on July 8-11. Special guests appear at11:00 a.m. each day. Guests include fire trucks on Tuesday, police cars on Wednesday, trains on Thursday and Gus the Garbage Truck sponsored by Republic Services on Friday.

The Texas Bubble Lady, sponsored by the 10-2-4 Ranch, presents a bubble show on Thursday, July 17 at 2:00. Her appearance will highlight the week of Things That Go Pop on July 15-18. Other presentations of Things That Go Pop will be at 11:00 and 2:00 each day.

 There must always be a time for books in the summer. Puppet Productions presents Three Billy Goats Gruff on Tuesday, July 22 at 11:00 and 2:00. The Children’s Museum is pleased to announce the appearance of Mary Casad, author of Bluebonnet the Armadillo, on Wednesday, July 23 at 11:00.

the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is the place to find a summer adventure.
As July ends, the Critterman Show comes on Friday, July 25 at 6:00. This presentation, sponsored by Dixie Turman State Farm Insurance and McDaniel Dentistry, reminds children of the adventure found in animals.  “We are pleased to bring quality entertainment for families to the Children’s Museum,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director. We appreciate the sponsorship of our local supporters in bringing the Texas Bubble Lady and the Critterman to Commerce.”

CSI Police Camp on July 23, 24, and 25 from 10:00 to 12:00 provides more adventures. Officer Chad Ballard of the TAMU-Commerce Police Department and Officer Alex Suarez of the City of Commerce Police Department will direct children through the adventure of crime solving.

From Spa Day to the Bubble Lady, and from Friends on Wheels to the Critterman, the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is the place to find a summer adventure. For additional information on any of the activities, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.  The Northeast Children's Museum is located on the NW corner of Culver and Highway 50, Commerce, TX 75428

Find more fun learning opportunities for Texoma area kids this summer on the Kids Korner on TexomaConnect.com.

Family Night Begins Exciting Summer at Children’s Museum

June activities and a free family night at the Northeast Texas Children's Museum are announced.
(June 6, 2014, Commerce, Texas)

There is no better way to begin a summer of exciting activities at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum than to have a free admission Family Night sponsored by the 10-2-4 Ranch. The event will be Friday, June 20 from 6:00 to 8:00.“I know that families will be excited to have a free admission,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director of the Museum.

“I expect that they will also be excited to have an evening when the Children’s Museum is open.”
The excitement for the summer will continue with changes both inside and out of the Children’s Museum. Interior changes include a brick façade on the outside of stores to create a shopping mall environment. Duncan Insurance is remodeling the house exhibit. Hunt Regional Healthcare is providing an updated hospital exhibit. Changes to the building’s exterior include the addition of a large fenced in area. Plans for the area are still in the development stage.

Other activities for June include “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” by Puppet Productions at 11:00 and 2:00 on June Tuesday, June 17 Barbara Tucker’s fourth annual Cooking Camp is June 25, 26, and 27 from 10:00 to 12:00. This year’s recipes include a day of Half-Baked Breakfast, Wrap-It-Up Lunch, and Taste for Dinner. The Cooking Camp is for ages 6-12.
July activities include a Spa Day for young girls on July 2 at 1:30 followed by Children in Colonial Times on July 3. July will also bring a return of theme weeks such as Things That Go Pop Week and Dino Week. Along with theme weeks, there will be return appearances of the Bubble Lady sponsored by the 10-2-4 Ranch on Thursday, July 17 at 2:00, and the Critterman sponsored by McDaniel Dentistry and Dixie Turman State Farm Insurance on Friday, July 25 at 6:00 PM.

“We continue to evaluate each of our activities to see what is popular with our visitors and members,” said Beckey Thompson, Board President. “We watch to see what times appeal to our families and try to make changes as we see what is of interest to them.”

A new part of the summer will be Reward Cards for visitors to the Museum. After four visits, families may put their card in a drawing for a Museum-sponsored “Back to School Party”.

The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00. For additional information, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at (903) 886-6055.  The Museum is located at the NW corner of Culver and Highway 24, Commerce, Texas 75428. 

There will lots of fun acitivites for children in the North Texas and Texoma areas this summer.  Summer Camps off a wide variety of learning experiences and althletic camps offer kids the opportunity to sharpen their athletic skills and overall fitness.  Day camps in drama, dance, creative arts and natural science help young minds expand while having fun.  Find a list of youth activities and camps in the Lake Texoma area on
http://www.texomaconnect.com/Kids_Activity_Guide_Texoma.html

Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Announces Spring Events

Museum sets “Dollar Day” on Saturday, January 18

The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is beginning 2014 with exciting events.

Bubbles - weird science!

The events vary with activities for children and adults that include preschool programs, educational programs, special events and fund-raisers.

“The Children’s Museum will be a busy place this spring, and we look forward to the participation of children and adults in our activities,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director. “We are looking forward to three new exhibits coming this spring, including a bank exhibit sponsored by Cypress Bank, an updated playhouse sponsored by Duncan Insurance and a new hospital area sponsored by the Hunt Regional Healthcare. In addition to exhibits, we’ll be having many events.”

Beginning on January 15, Healthy Kids from A to Z will begin an eight-week class for preschoolers. The session begins with the letter “I” and ends with the letter “P”. Each week preschoolers and mothers study a letter of the alphabet, participate in music and a healthy activity and learn about a healthy snack.

On January 18, the Children’s Museum offers “Dollar Day” – a new event for children and families. All “Dollar Day” visitors pay $1 admission instead of the standard $5.00 admission.

“The Children’s Museum has so much to offer, Freeman stated. “We hope that ‘Dollar Day’ encourages families to make a first-time visit to the Museum.”

 The month of February is set to begin with the Daddy-Daughter Dance on Saturday, February 8. The theme for this year’s event is “Sweet Moments.” The evening will include dancing, pictures, crafts, food, and face painting. Early ticket sales receive a discount. Couples are $30 until January 25. After January 25, ticket prices increase to $35 until February 7. On the day of the event, tickets are $40 per couple.

“It is our hope that discounting tickets will encourage earlier purchase of tickets so that we will know how many girls will be attending,” stated Beckey Thompson, Board President. “We do have a limited number of tickets, and almost sold out last year.”

The Weird Science program for fifth graders also begins in February. The program begins on February 11 under the direction of Kathleen Hooten. Fifth grade classes throughout the area visit the Museum to experience Weird Science.

After Spring Break, the Children’s Museum will have a Silent Auction on Monday, March 17. The Silent Auction will be a Museum fund-raiser. The public is encouraged to participate by providing items for the auction and by attending the event.

The highlight for April is the Bridge Event. Toni Deaton and Nancy McFarland co-chair the Bridge Event. This is the sixth year that Bridge players from across the area will come together to enjoy the prizes and make new friends.

The Northeast Texas Childrens Museum is located at 2501 State Highway 24, Commerce, Texas 75428, only about 45 minutes from Lake Texoma and well worth the trip.  For more information call (903) 886-6055

For more actyivities and fun learning experiences for children and teens in the Lake Texoma area, visit the Kids Korner on www.texomaconnect.com.  From martial arts to theater there are some exciting events and activities coming up for youngsters in the area.  If you have an event you would like to include in the Youth Activity Calendar, please email details to bj@texomaconnect.com.

Brunch with Santa

Commerce, Texas

Santa is coming to northeast Texas, making an early stop for the Brunch with

Twist_It Baloons 

Santa Event at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. The Commerce Kiwanis will provide a pancake breakfast. Returning for the 2013 Brunch will be the cupcake Christmas train and balloon creations from Twist-It Balloons.

As all children anticipate, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making a stop. They will be in their sleigh to talk to the children. Children may choose to write a letters to Santa Claus. A Christmas story will be read, Christmas crafts will be made, and the choir from Commerce Elementary will sing as part of the event.
 “This is my favorite event of the year,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director. “It is exciting for us to see the children so happy with the excitement of Christmas.”

  Children will have the opportunity to play throughout the Children’s Museum. They can make bubbles in the Kiwanis Bubble Room, doctor the dogs in the Commerce Veterinary Clinic exhibit, buy groceries in the Brookshire’s exhibit, milk a cow, and play in the forty play areas in the Children’s Museum.

“This event has become a highlight for families in northeast Texas,” said Dr. Gil Naizer, president of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Board of Directors. “It is a great way to begin the Christmas season.”
So get your cameras ready, bring your wish list and say “Hello!” to jolly, old Saint Nick at the Brunch with Santa on Saturday, December 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. Tickets for the event are $7.00 per person prior to the event, or $10.00 at the door on the day of the event. For more information, call the Northeast Texas Children's Museum at (903) 886-6055

The Christmas season is a magical time for kids of all ages in the Lake Texoma area with parades, historic home tours, concerts, the Christmas Pops, and Holiday Lights..Find all kinds of fun Texoma Christmas events and things to do to celebrate the season on  www.TexomaConnect.combrunch.

Northeast Texas Children's Museum Launches "Family Night"

Family Night Begins With Critterman at the Children’s Museum
Press Release Northeast Texas Children's Museum

The Critterman is set to bring exotic animals to Northeast Texas Children’s Museum.

 The first Family Night at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum will be held on Friday, July 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The Museum will close daily operations at 4:30 pm and reopen at 5:00 pm.
“This is the first time that we have tried opening the Children’s Museum at night,” stated Sharline Freeman, Executive Director. “We hope that it will give families who work during the day an opportunity to come to the Museum at night with their children.”

To add to the evening venue, a special presentation by the Critterman will be offered.  The Critterman presentation is sponsored by McDaniel Dentistry and Dixie Turman State Farm Insurance.

“We are thrilled to bring this children’s entertainer to our area,” said Dixie Turman, State Farm Representative. “We are also excited about being a part of Family Night at the Museum.”

Readers of D Magazine named the Critterman “Best Children’s Entertainer” in 2012. He will be bringing his most popular show, the Squirm Factor, to Commerce for the first time. His Squirm Factor show highlights animals from around the world that make one squirm. As part of the show the animals will arrive on a cart for introduction by the Critterman.

The presentation of the Critterman at 5:30 PM is free with the price of admission to the Children’s Museum. The Museum is located at 2501 Highway 50 in Commerce, Texas. For additional information, call the Museum at (903) 886-6055.

For more family friendly events visit www.texomaconnect.com. 

Northeast Texas Children’s Museum prepares summer events schedule

Northeast Texas Children’s Museum prepares summer events schedule

Northeast Texas Children’s Museum prepares to offer its widest selection of summer camps and special events.
By Alton Biggs

Commerce, Texas -- Does your child like bubbles? Perhaps your

young girl desires to be a glamorous movie star? Are your children interested in critters, or is there an interest in dinosaurs? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, then the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum has a program for you.

This summer the Children’s Museum will present a variety of camps, daily activities and special events. In addition to Theme Weeks, a Cooking Camp will be offered on June 26, 27 and 28, and a CSI Camp will be offered on July 17, 18 and 19. Special events will include Glamour Girl Spa Day, Children in Colonial Times, Texas Bubble Lady, Fashionably Fabulous, University Day and the Critter Man.

“Since so many of our Museum visitors travel from other communities, we wanted to offer more daily activities this summer,” Sharline Freeman, the Museum’s executive director, said. “With the wide range of activities that are a part of the different theme weeks, parents and grandparents can choose the activity that most interests their child. Of course, we expect children to play in their favorite exhibit, too.”

Both boys and girls enjoyed participation in last year’s Cooking Camp at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum.“The Children’s Museum is offering so much this summer that we encourage parents and grandparents to call the Museum for additional information,” Dr. Gil Naizer, board president, said. “Parents may also want to be on our e-mail list.”

The week of June 18 will be Math Week with exciting math activities at 11:00 each day. The highlight of the week will be a Glamour Girl Spa Day on June 21 for young girls. Participants will get their hair and nails glamorized. As each girl makes bath salts, the ingredients will be carefully measured. Tickets for the Glamour Girl Spa Day will be $3.

The Museum will offer Fabulously Fashionable for older girls on Friday, July 19. Elisabeth Leyerle, a model with the Neal Hamil Agency in Houston, will be coordinating this event for girls entering 5th through 7th grades. The participants will receive information on makeup, hair, fashion, and poise from this young model.

To celebrate Independence Day, the Museum will offer Children in Colonial Days with Dr. Wendell and Linda Edwards on July 3. The Edwards will dress in Colonial costumes as they explain what children did over 200 years ago.

Things That Go Pop Week will be the week of July 9. The highlight of the week will be the Texas Bubble Lady on July 11 at 1:30. This event will be sponsored by the 10-2-4 Ranch.“We are very excited to be a sponsor of the Texas Bubble Lady,” stated Colette Young, owner of the 10-2-4 Ranch. “I understand that she came to the Museum about four years ago, and the children loved the program. We are glad the 10-2-4 Ranch can bring this program to the Museum.”

A University Day will be part of Community Week on July 25. This will be followed by Dino Week and Science Week. The Theme Weeks will culminate with an End of Summer Week beginning August 21. The Museum will end the summer activities with the appearance from Dallas of the very popular Critter Man on August 22.

For more information, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.

For more information on Summer Camps in the Texoma area visit www.texomaconnect.com where you will find Day Camps, Overnight Camps, Athletic Camps, Nature Camps, and plenty of Arts, Crafts and fun events for kids this summer.

Daddy-Daughter Dance at Museum

A valentine train and gumdrop trees grace dance.

The Valentine train arrived at its station in the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum
just in time for the upcoming Daddy-Daughter Dance on Saturday, February 2. The theme
of “How Sweet It Is!” is extended in the landscape along the track of the Valentine
train. The Valentine train sits on top of a giant cupcake. Lollipop and gumdrop trees can be seen as the train moves around the track.

The landscape and Valentine train were built by Steven Pawlow, affectionately called
“the train man” at the Children’s Museum because of the multiple trains he provides.
“The Valentine train is special to me because of the help and enthusiasm my wife and
two daughters provided,” Mr. Pawlow said. “They came up with many of the ideas. My
daughter Anne still talks about last year’s Daddy-Daughter Dance. I am not
exaggerating when I say that every time we drive by the Museum she mentions the
Daddy-Daughter Dance again. And, yes, I do already have my ticket. Anne’s excitement
grew as she saw all the decorations that went into the Valentine train and the
surrounding landscape come together.”

The Thalian Culture Club and McDonald’s will provide the evening’s food, which will
include chicken nuggets, fruit, and a candy bar among other desserts. Candy necklaces
and a candy bar will all help provide a very sweet evening for young girls and their
father figures. The dance floor will be the center of activity including games as
well as dancing.

“I’m looking forward to having a large group on the dance floor,” said Daniel Starks,
disc jockey for the evening. “We will be trying such activities as Freeze Dancing and
the Limbo. The dance floor will be a fun place.”

In addition to the dance floor, young girls may have their picture made courtesy of
Mike King. They may make a candy necklace, courtesy of State Farm Insurance, or make
Valentine cards and other Valentine crafts. Of course, young girls always enjoy
shopping for groceries at the Brookshire grocery area, doctoring the dogs at the
Commerce Veterinary Clinic or taking orders for pizza at the Lone Star Eatery
exhibit.

“There really is something for everyone”, said Beckey Thompson, Northeast Texas
Children’s Museum Board member.

The Museum is located at 2501 Hwy. 50 in Commerce, Texas. For more information,
contact the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at (903) 886-6055.

For more events in North Texas and Lake Texoma area, visit the Events page of www.texomconnect.com.  Other childrens activities and events are on the Kids Korner with tons of educational learning opportunities and winter activities.

Source:  Northeast Texas Children's Museum