Quality Time for Children and Families

We offer a place away from work and household distractions where parents and caregivers can spend quality time with children.

Inclusivity

The Trailhead is for everyone.

Lifelong Learning

Our open-ended exhibits and play-based programs transcend age, intellectual ability and experience, and empower children to set their own pace and be guided by their curiosity and interests.

Collaboration and Partnerships

We collaborate with like-minded organizations and community members who share our passion for educating children through play.

In the fall of 2007, faced with another long, cold winter with young children, a group of local families came together to discuss the need for additional education programs for young children, as well as a safe and engaging community meeting place where families could gather. In 2008, The Trailhead Children’s Discovery Museum received its non-profit status. Since then, the Trailhead has offered an engaging and dynamic environment that inspires thousands of local and visiting children and families to explore, create and learn together through discovery and play.

After losing its permanent home in 2016 due to the sale of the building it occupied, the Trailhead has rotated through various semi-permanent locations. And similar to other organizations in the Valley, COVID brought museum operations to a screeching halt in 2020. Despite all of this, the Trailhead board leadership and staff have managed to keep the organization’s heart beating and its mission robust with quality programming in various classroom rental and outdoor spaces around the community.

In 2022, the Trailhead was working closely with the Center for the Arts to reopen the children’s museum in the old Center building. However, cost prohibitive repairs to that building have led the town and the Center to officially close that space to occupancy.

In light of that closure, the Trailhead connected with the Walter Group in early 2023, who jumped at the opportunity to help provide a home for such an amazing community resource. 501 Elk Ave. will provide a place to call home as well as a launching point from which the Trailhead can grow and plan for the future.

In June of 2023, the Trailhead Children’s Museum reopened the museum floor, and looks forward to welcoming the local and visiting Crested Butte into a joyful, playful, creative gathering space.

Our Board of Directors

Katie Mueller, President

Kurt Zimmerman, Vice President

Melissa Fenlon, Secretary

Lisa Sumner, Treasurer

Liz Ewing

Cathy Rancourt

Alexa Zin

Greg Vanderbeek

Garland Middleton

Our Staff

Sarah Broadwell, Executive Director

McKinley Lenker, Program Director

Kayla Harwood-Ponzini, Museum Coordinator