The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum has been educating people of all ages since 1896. But with city budget cuts and drops in private donations, it might be short of funds in 2011. There is a group of local students who are trying to do their part to help.

These are students who have used the museum to learn about history in Colorado Springs. And now, they're using what they've learned to try to help the museum stay open next year.

Jobie Hollaway is a third grader at Pikes Peak Expeditionary Learning Elementary School. He's one of dozens of students who have worked to understand the biographies of influential people in the history of Colorado. But there is another piece to their project.

"This has been a culminating activity we call them our final products, or our final projects, and we really like those projects to be able to help someone in the community," says Ginger Mashburn, one of the teachers who helped organize the project.

They plan to make calendars, using pictures of them in costume and including biographies of their characters.

They'll then sell the calendars to raise money for the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.

"This is amazingly meaningful to see this kind of involvement from children," says Matt Mayberry, the director of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.

The museum is operating as usual this year. But they are concerned about 2011 and after. "So these types of fund-raising activities and other earned income that the museum might be able to generate is really critical to us being able to do that. And every donation counts," says Mayberry.

The museum credits past classroom fundraisers with helping build their current building. And the students at Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning hope their work can help the museum into the future.

"It's going to be a good one," says Jobie of the calendars.

The museum also tells 11 News that they while these short-term donations are extremely helpful, they're working very hard to come up with a long-term plan to keep them operating as usual.

If you're interested in buying a calendar to help the museum, they'll be available for order at the end of may for $15 to $20. You'll be able to order them through the school by calling 719-522-2580.