Lincoln Children’s Museum
Marketing & Hospitality Specialist | May 2024 – August 2024
Marketing & Hospitality Intern | May 2022 – August 2022
Experience
As the marketing & hospitality intern at the Lincoln Children’s Museum, had the chance to support both digital storytelling and in-person guest experiences. My role included:
- Managing and creating social media content across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
- Designing visually engaging posts to promote events and drive attendance
- Writing and editing website copy and email newsletters
- Assisting with event planning and on-site coordination
- Interacting with guests and families to enhance their Museum experience
- Supporting day-to-day marketing operations and brainstorming content ideas
This role allowed me to blend creativity with communication, whether crafting posts that got kids excited about visiting or helping families feel welcome at events. I loved being part of a team that made learning fun and meaningful for the community.
Campaign Identity & Messaging
At the Lincoln Children’s Museum, I wrote and edited content across social, web, and print, adjusting tone and messaging depending on the audience. From playful, parent-facing social posts to more polished donor communications, I helped bring the Museum’s mission to life through words. Projects included promotional copy for events like “Play, Putt & Pour,” storytelling-focused posts for “KEO for a Day,” and digital and print ads for campaigns like the LNK Visitor Guide.
Play, Putt & Pour
Play, Putt & Pour is an annual golf fundraiser for the Museum. In promotion for the event, I was suggested by my coworker, “don’t focus on the kids, focus on the beer.” This was a strange concept for me to adjust to, because I work for a Children’s Museum – how to I focus on the beer? Well, when it comes to golf and these types of fundraisers, is the beer the adult version of “play?” From here the design and copy was formed – still use our colors, our general language, but “adultify” it. Adults are still kids at heart – they just like different things.
KEO for a Day
KEO for a Day is a program done during the elementary schools’ fall break. Once applications are in, the selected student spends the day at the Museum as the “Kid Chief Executive Officer for the Day,” complete with a grand opening of welcoming guests, creating videos and social media content, special projects with our administrative staff and Playologists, and time to invite friends for lunch and exclusive playtime in the Museum. The purpose of is project is to inspire and empower young leaders in a variety of ways at the Museum. While the event itself was meant to occur after my summer at the Museum was done, I was tasked with a large amount of the promotion and set-up for the day.
Museum Promotional Content
I developed and executed promotional content aimed at engaging diverse audiences and increasing visitation. This included the “Mornings at the Museum” programming, created in response to guest feedback requesting something for parents and guardians in the mornings while the kids are playing. By crafting messaging that resonated with this audience, we successfully launched this new program to better serve the community’s needs. I also wrote and designed print ads for the LNK Visitor Guide, helping to showcase the Museum as a must-visit destination for families and tourists. These efforts reflect my ability to blend audience insights with creative messaging to drive awareness and attendance.
About
The Lincoln Children’s Museum sparks imagination and learning through play, offering hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences for kids and families. Located in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska, the Museum is dedicated to helping children explore, discover, and grow through creativity and curiosity. With three floors of immersive exhibits, educational programming, and community events, the Museum creates meaningful moments that inspire lifelong learning through the power of play.
Madalynn Abele 