North Iowa Children's Museum

10/25/2026

Imagine a little hand pulling yours toward the next discovery.

“Come look!”
“Watch me!”
“I did it!”

Imagine the proud smile after figuring something out. A grandparent kneeling beside a grandchild to build something together. Two children meeting for the first time—and becoming friends through play. 💛

This is what we’re dreaming of for the North Iowa Children’s Museum. A place where curiosity is welcome, imaginations can run free, and families can make memories right here in North Iowa.

Our permanent museum isn’t here yet. We’re in our capital campaign, working to create a home for these moments—and the countless discoveries still to come.

Someday, we hope a child will walk through those doors, eyes wide with possibility, and begin a memory they’ll carry for years.

Today, you can help make that future possible.

Explore our vision, support the campaign, or share our story:
🌐 northiowachildrensmuseum.com

Ignite Imagination and Inspire Learning. ✨

10/16/2026

🐷💋 ANDI’S BIG KISS MADE THE NEWS!

Thank you to the Clear Lake Mirror Reporter for sharing the story of our 2026 When Pigs Fly celebration!

Andi Tisor raised a record $4,845 and earned one unforgettable piglet smooch! We’re so grateful to Andi, all of our celebrities and everyone who helped make this our biggest year yet. 💛

Take a peek at the story below—and thank you for helping the North Iowa Children’s Museum’s future take flight! 🐷✈️

Tisor kisses a pig for the NICM

​A little weather couldn’t keep the pigs down for long, as the rescheduled date for the North Iowa Children’s Museum (NICM) fundraiser “When Pigs Fly” went off without a hitch last Sunday, October 4.

https://www.clreporter.com/articles/clear-lake-mirror-reporter/tisor-kisses-a-pig-for-the-nicm/?pubid=mirrorreporter

10/14/2026

🐷✈️ SOME DAYS DESERVE A REPLAY. THIS ONE DESERVES A RE-SQUEAL!

Blue skies, flying pigs, pumpkin-patch fun and some very brave piglet kisses… our **2026 When Pigs Fly recap is here!** 🎥💛

Press play and relive a beautiful afternoon at **Plain Ol' Pumpkins**, where this community came together to celebrate our biggest fundraising year yet!

🎥📸 **A special shout-out to Kruger Co. Productions LLC for the wonderful videography and photos of our event!** Thank you for capturing the smiles, excitement and heart behind this day—and giving us these memories to enjoy and share.

Together, you helped raise **more than $47,000 for the North Iowa Children’s Museum—including Hearing Associates’ incredible $20,000 match!** 🎉

To our sponsors, prize donors, celebrities, pilots, volunteers, hosts and every person who purchased a pig, supported the raffle or made a donation: thank you. Those smiles, cheers and unforgettable moments happened because of you.

Watching children run, play and discover together reminds us why we’re working toward a permanent children’s museum—a place where families across North Iowa can make memories like these for generations to come.

**Take a minute to enjoy what you helped make possible. We’re so grateful.** 💛

What was your favorite moment of the day? Tell us below! 👇🐽

10/07/2026

A big heart for North Iowa’s littlest learners! 💛

Please help us welcome Jennifer “Jenn” Nelsen, DNP, PMHNP-BC, to the North Iowa Children’s Museum Board of Directors! 🎉

As a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, Jenn brings a passion for children and families, with a special interest in maternal, child, and adolescent mental health. She believes in giving young minds room to create, explore, and grow—and is excited to help build more opportunities for families to learn and play together.

As a mom of FIVE children, Jenn knows a thing or two about keeping curious minds busy! You’ll often find her coaching sports, volunteering in classrooms and activities, or chasing her crew outside. 😊 She also serves on the Board of Directors for Northern Lights Alliance Homeless Shelters.

Jenn, we’re so glad you’re bringing your heart, perspective, and enthusiasm to NICM. Welcome aboard! 💛

Show Jenn some love in the comments! 👇

10/05/2026

🐷💋 SHE RAISED THE BAR. THEN SHE PUCKERED UP.

Andi Tisor brought in a record-breaking $4,845 for the North Iowa Children’s Museum—and collected her very memorable “prize”! 😘

Our 2026 Celebrity Kiss-a-Pig champion put her whole heart into this campaign. From guest bartending to rallying Team Andi, she worked hard for every dollar—and followed through with one unforgettable kiss!

Andi, thank you for your hustle, your generous spirit and your willingness to get a little silly for something that matters so much. 💛

To everyone who backed her: you helped make this moment happen. And thanks to Hearing Associates’ incredible $20,000 match, our community’s generosity went even further!

One sweet kiss. An extraordinary effort. A brighter future for North Iowa’s children.

Let’s give Andi a round of a-paws… or should we say, a-hooves? 👏🐽

10/05/2026

🐷✈️ THREE LUCKY LANDINGS. THREE BIG WINNERS!

Our foam pigs took a very short flight—and landed some pretty fantastic prizes for their ticket holders! Let’s hear it for our **2026 When Pigs Fly Pig Drop winners!** 🎉

🥇 **1st Place: Marty Krebs** — all the way from Missouri!
🥈 **2nd Place: Mia Devries**
🥉 **3rd Place: Owen Duenow**

And the winning didn’t stop at the target! Congratulations to our raffle winners:

✈️ **Flight Raffle: Joslyn Kent**
⛳ **Golf Outing: Eve Weiss**
🌊 **Lake Outing: Pat Whitfield**

Thank you to the generous businesses and individuals who donated these wonderful prizes—and to everyone who purchased a pig, entered a raffle, supported a celebrity or helped bring this event to life. 💛

A special thank-you to **Plain Ol' Pumpkins** for hosting us and **Hearing Associates** for their extraordinary $20,000 match!

After a little extra waiting, what a beautiful day we had to celebrate together. We’re so grateful to our pilots, volunteers, celebrities, sponsors and this incredible community for making this our biggest year yet.

**The pigs may have landed, but your generosity is helping the North Iowa Children’s Museum’s future take flight.** 🐷💛

10/04/2026

🐷✈️ TODAY IS THE DAY—PIGS WILL FLY!

Our pigs had a little extra time to practice their landings… and now it’s time for their big moment! Join the North Iowa Children’s Museum TODAY for When Pigs Fly at Plain Ol’ Pumpkins! 🎃

📅 Sunday, October 4
📍 Plain Ol’ Pumpkins | 4333 260th Street, Clear Lake
🎃 Pumpkin patch open: 12:00–4:00 p.m.
🐷 When Pigs Fly: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
✈️ PIG DROP: 2:00 p.m.!

The three foam pigs landing closest to the target’s center will win prize packages—including a grand prize of MORE THAN $700 in North Iowa gift cards! 🙌

And we already have something BIG to celebrate: more than $47,000 raised and counting, including the full $20,000 match from Hearing Associates! 💛

Bring your family, cheer on those flying pigs and celebrate what this community is making possible for North Iowa’s kids.

Let’s make some memories—and stick some landings! 🐷🎯

10/03/2026

🐷✈️ PRIORITY BOARDING FOR 400 VERY IMPORTANT PIGS!

All 400 foam pigs have been dropped off at the airport—and judging by that priority tag, they’re getting the VIP treatment! 😉

Next stop: Plain Ol’ Pumpkins! Tomorrow, we’ll find out which THREE lucky pigs land closest to the target and bring home the prizes. Could one of them be yours? 🎯🏆

📅 TOMORROW — Sunday, October 4
📍 Plain Ol’ Pumpkins | 4333 260th Street, Clear Lake
🎃 When Pigs Fly festivities: 1–3 p.m.
✈️ PIG DROP: 2 p.m.

Every pig has helped bring the North Iowa Children’s Museum closer to becoming a reality, and we’re so grateful for your support. 💛

Come cheer on your pig and enjoy an afternoon at the pumpkin patch. These little piggies have places to fly! 🐷

10/01/2026

🐷✈️ OUR PIGS HAVE A NEW FLIGHT PLAN!

When Pigs Fly is officially rescheduled—and after our biggest fundraising year EVER, we have plenty to celebrate!

Thanks to this incredible community, we’ve raised **more than $47,000 and counting, including the full $20,000 match from Hearing Associates!** To everyone who purchased a pig, backed a celebrity, supported the raffle or donated: THANK YOU. 💛

Now, let’s get those pigs airborne!

📅 **Sunday, October 4**
📍 **Plain Ol' Pumpkins | 4333 260th Street, Clear Lake**
🎃 Pumpkin patch open: **12:00–4:00 p.m.**
🐷 When Pigs Fly: **1:00–3:00 p.m.**
✈️ **Pig Drop: 2:00 p.m.**

The three foam pigs landing closest to the target’s center win prize packages—including a grand prize of **more than $700 in North Iowa gift cards!**

After the drop, meet us at the NICM trailer for Pig Drop and raffle winner announcements. Then it’s time for our Celebrity Kiss-a-Pig champion, ** Tisor, to pucker up!** 😘

Want your own memorable piglet moment? Our **Piglet Pucker Station** opens afterward! A **$20 donation** buys a kiss for you—or a willing friend or family member. Participation is always voluntary. 🐽

🎟️ All purchased Foam Pig tickets remain valid, and admission on October 4 is included with every Foam Pig ticket. You do not need to be present to win!

📸 At check-in, choose a wristband:
💙 Blue: Consent to photos/video for NICM promotional and fundraising use.
🧡 Orange: Please do not photograph or film.
Parents or legal guardians should choose for their children.

Thank you for your patience and for helping build a permanent children’s museum for North Iowa families.

**Tag your fall-fun crew and help us spread the NEW date!** 👇

10/01/2026

A BIG commitment to little learners! 💛✨

We’re celebrating an incredible $20,000 commitment from River City Morning Kiwanis to the North Iowa Children’s Museum!

Kiwanis members know that showing up for children can change their futures. With this generous commitment, they’re helping bring our future museum closer to reality—a place where curious minds can explore, small hands can make big discoveries, and families can learn and play together.

As a Spark Ignitor supporter, River City Morning Kiwanis is helping us fulfill our mission to Ignite Imagination and Inspire Learning. Just imagine the first “I did it!” moments, the unexpected discoveries, and the memories waiting to be made. 🧩💡

To every member of River City Morning Kiwanis: thank you for believing in this vision and investing in the children who will bring it to life. Your generosity will help create opportunities for North Iowa families for generations to come.

Join us in giving this generous group a BIG thank-you! 👏💛