The first snow always slows me down, but it sure doesn’t slow down my daughter. As a mom of a very busy and active toddler, finding indoor activities during the winter to engage her with is high on my list. That is why I was thrilled to learn about the opening of Wildtorium, the Flathead Valley’s new interactive museum for families. This is exactly what we’ve been missing!
Speaking with Brittney Crest, the Launch Director of Wildtorium and also a mom to a 10-year-old, she explained, “The project has grown from those of us in the community wanting something more so we can connect with our kids.” The Flathead Valley has plenty of drop-off options and structured programming—meet-ups for hikes, art classes, all good things—but not many spaces where caregivers and kids can learn side by side. Wildtorium’s answer is elegantly simple: exhibits designed with “things for everyone.”
This isn’t an overnight idea. Back in 2017, a small group of educators and parents started meeting regularly to dream up what a children’s museum could look like here. They created a nonprofit, kept the conversations going, and in 2023 officially branded as Wildtorium with a volunteer board of six. This spring, they secured a spot in a 13,000-square-foot location in Kalispell, sharing a brand-new building with Bird’s Nest daycare, and set their sights on opening by winter break. If all goes to plan, it will be right in time for the season when families are most in search of warm, meaningful places to land.
To get there, the board made a pivotal call. They needed someone dedicated to shepherding the opening. Brittney stepped off as board chair to become Launch Director now and Executive Director upon opening. They’ve built a team of volunteers helping with fundraising and logistics, and soon, it will become a staff that will include a programs manager, because opening a museum is a community sport.
Wildtorium’s vision is big-hearted. They want to foster innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills through interactive exhibits and programs so our youth grow into thoughtful global citizens. The first location will focus primarily on ages 4 to10, with a special Tiny Movers area for ages 0 to 3 that’s thoughtfully blocked off just for them. Expect lots of sensory elements. And this part makes me especially happy: they’re working with early childhood experts and a neurologist to make sure each exhibit aligns with how children actually develop and learn. “We want kids to touch and engage,” Brittney said. It’s hands-on, but also brains-on and hearts-on.
Wildtorium will also reach beyond offering just exhibits. They’re planning programs for childcare facilities and school districts, including dedicated field days with the Kalispell school district on Tuesdays, when the museum will be reserved just for those students. For upper-elementary and middle schoolers who sometimes feel in-between, Wildtorium is bringing STEM-forward offerings too—think seasonal “Rocket Building” or “Marble Madness” weeks to explore gravity, force, and motion. I could feel Brittney’s excitement at the idea of an exhibit packed with kids experimenting, troubleshooting, building, failing, and trying again.
Which brings me back to giving. In a season defined by lists and wrapping paper, Wildtorium feels like a different kind of gift. It gives families a place to belong together. It gives caregivers an easy “yes” on a snowy afternoon without the pressure to entertain. It gives kids permission to lead the way and adults permission to follow, to be surprised, and to play. It gives our schools a partner. And it gives all of us a tangible way to invest in the kind of community we say we want. One where learning is shared.
Of course, places like this don’t appear by magic. Wildtorium is in the middle of a $100,000 campaign to cover first-year operating costs and open its doors. “This is something being built by the community for the community,” Brittney said. “It has been a labor of love.” If you’re feeling that spark too, there are so many ways to help: donate if you can, volunteer your time, become a member, or simply spread the word to the families in your life who need this kind of space.
For opening updates, hours, and membership details, follow @wildtorium on Instagram and sign up for the newsletter at Wildtorium.org. With a little luck—and a lot of collective effort—Wildtorium will be ready by winter break. I’m picturing boots dripping dry by the door, marbles clattering down a track, the low hum of discovery in the air. A community gift we can unwrap again and again.
“The project has grown from those of us in the community wanting something more so we can connect with our kids.”
“This is something being built by the community for the community,” Brittney said. “It has been a labor of love.”