About Us
We are a 501 (c)(3) organization that is dedicated to our mission to develop an innovative children’s museum in Colorado Springs. We believe that all children deserve opportunities to explore the world in ways that children’s museums offer.
We began the museum in 2005, when a group of mother’s were gathered around the table. They knew the value a children’s museum. Starting with a part-time mobile museum, and then a move to the Citadel Mall was the first location. In 2020, a new location was scouted and unfortunately closed in 2023. PPCM continues to host in-school field trips and personalized birthday programs, and a continued commitment to our community drives us. Our newest location is located within the Pikes Peak United Way Family Success Center. We are still a pop-up model with varied times and dates. Come check us out!
Our Board Members
Pamela Mora
MSV, Sachs Foundation Chief Operations Officer
Graduating from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2012 with a Bachelors in Sociology, Pamela began to look at the career path that kept calling her back; social services. From working with homebound seniors, providing behavioral treatment plans for youth, to supporting people with developmental disabilities, social work became a passion for Pamela.In 2016, Pamela graduated from the University of Denver with a master’s degree in social work and emphasis on Family Systems. Pamela began working with students in out-of-school time in Denver’s Five Points and surrounding neighborhoods.Pamela serves on the board of directors for Safe Passage, Vice Chair on the AAYLC Board of Directors, and is a commissioner with the 4th Judicial Court Commission. She was named Next Generation Leader with the National After-School Association. In 2024, Pamela was named a Woman of Distinction with Girl Scouts Colorado. Pamela loves to travel, read, and spend time with her husband, 2 children and 2 dogs.
Skky Cowan
Apartment Management Consultants, LLC
Regional Property Manager
Skky Cowan is a multifamily real estate professional and Regional Property Manager who joined Apartment Management Consultants, LLC (AMC) in 2017. She began her property management career in 2006 as a leasing agent and has since supported income restricted communities, with experience in lease-ups, value-add strategies, and market repositioning. Skky is known for strengthening day-to-day operations and helping teams improve performance at underperforming sites through a practical, data-informed approach to budgeting, marketing, and resident experience. She also oversees staffing, training, and complex property operations, building accountable, service-minded teams. Skky is honored to support the Pikes Peak Children’s Museum as a member of the Board of Directors, bringing expertise in governance, planning, and operational excellence in service of the museum’s mission and the families it serves.
Kelsey Sampsel
Educator, Artist
Educational Director
Kelsey Sampsel serves as the Educational Director at Pikes Peak Children’s Museum, where she leads strategic initiatives to create inclusive and engaging, visitor-centered programming. Kelsey holds a BA in Art History from Arizona State University and an MA in Teacher Leadership from Western State University.
Drawing on over a decade of experience as a professional artist with exhibitions in galleries around the globe, Kelsey specializes in bridging art and design with diverse audiences through innovative, multi-disciplinary learning experiences. Her commitment to excellence in education has earned her nominations for national awards in personalized learning.
Kelsey is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning and believes that creativity is fundamental to human development. At the museum, she is dedicated to building cognitive, social, and developmental foundations, ensuring the museum serves as a welcoming and fun space for all learners.
Shani Cottrell CPA
CPA, MPAcc, Hoelting & Company Inc.
Audit Manager
Shani is the Treasurer of the Pikes Peak Children’s Museum. Numbers have always made sense to her, but it’s the people behind those numbers—and the communities they strengthen—that fuel her work. As a CPA with a Master of Professional Accounting, she works as an Audit Manager specializing in not‑for‑profit and local government entities—experience that has shaped her belief in the power of strong financial stewardship to support meaningful missions.
As a mother of two, Shani is inspired by the creativity and joy children bring to the world, making the museum’s mission especially close to her heart. Her commitment to service extends beyond the museum. She also serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee for Tirzah International, a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering women. Across all her board roles, she strives for thoughtful leadership, steady financial insight, and holds an unwavering belief in the good that nonprofits can accomplish.