Cave Creek Museum to premier Kiwanis Preschool Pioneers

Cave Creek, Arizona – On October 9, 2025, from 10-11 AM,Cave Creek Museum (CCM) will present the new Kiwanis Preschool Pioneers program for young learners thanks to the generous support of Kiwanis Club of Carefree.

Kiwanis Club of Carefree also supports the museum’s popular Kiwanis Family Fun Days. These two programs support the Cave Creek Museum (CCM) Family Learning Program and the museum’s commitment to learners of all ages. Kiwanis Preschool Pioneers is a literacy-based program for children and accompanying adults. Monthly, an age-appropriate book sets the stage for follow up activities like trying out a craft process, singing a song, grinding corn, dancing, acting out part of the story or searching together for Native American blankets or a cradle board in exhibits. The one-hour themed programs are developed by the museum’s in-house volunteer team that includes classroom and library sciences teachers, a museum educator, and an early childhood specialist.

On October 9, the program will feature The Adventures of Freya, Cave Creek Arizona is My Home. Local author Ashley Samuelson wrote the book after the birth of her daughter Freya. Freya’s story will lead participants to an eight-foot original hand-painted mural of Cave Creek created in the 1970s. From there, children will build their own floor map, using custom-made photo blocks of Cave Creek buildings, even adding their own house. The children then can use toy horses or cars to ride around the town.

“The CCM Family Learning Program aims to expand children’s programming and target exhibit interpretation for the youngest learners and their families,” says Tamsin Wolff, CCM board of director and profession museum educator. “This is the logical progression from the successful Kiwanis Family Fun Days and its formal school tour program. These efforts lay the foundation for lifelong learning and future museum goers, donors and supporter in Cave Creek and the greater Phoenix metro area impacting all Kiwanis zip code service areas.”

The first Kiwanis Preschool Pioneers program will take place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 10-11 AM at the museum. The program will take place monthly on the third Thursday of the month at the same time. Children must be accompanied by an adult and there is no charge.
Registration is required at cavecreekmuseum.org/events. Dates for other monthly programs also can be found on the website as well. Each program is limited to 15 children. Kiwanis funds offset the costs of admission and provide program supplies, volunteer training and promotional materials.

The 55-year-old museum’s mission is to preserve the artifacts of the prehistory, history, culture and legacy of the Cave Creek Mining District and the Cave Creek/Carefree foothills area through education, research, and interpretive exhibits. The Cave Creek Museum is located at 6140 E. Skyline Drive in Cave Creek, Ariz., 480.488.2764. Open October through May.