Arts in Action with Mike Sincic RETURNS Saturday, October 21!

Looking for a unique creative experience for your family this Saturday? Good news: Arts in Action is BACK in the Great Lakes Children’s Museum! Please join us with your children for a fun, INTERACTIVE experience on Saturday, October 21 from 9:30 to 11:30am.

GLCM partners with local artists representing interesting mediums of creative expression in Northwest Michigan to present hands-on arts and culture workshops designed for children 2-8. Our next Arts In Action workshop will feature leaf rubbings and tree paintings- with Mr. Michael Sincic!

Although Michael lost his sight two decades ago due to a brain tumor, he has made a name for himself in Northern Michigan as a popular local artist.

A watercolor by Michael Sincic.

Join us Saturday for his special interactive workshop, where he will help your little one create a work of art in a different way than they may be used to- one that requires sharpening their sensory abilities, without using their eyes.
This workshop is a no pressure, drop-in format, and is included FREE for members, or with the cost of admission for guests! Please note that we will be closed to the public for exclusive use rentals during the noon and afternoon sessions on this day, meaning tickets for the morning session will be in higher demand. We highly recommend that those who wish to participate make reservations ahead of time.

Don’t miss this awesome, interactive workshop for children- but FUN for the whole family!
These hands-on, skills-building activities are supported in part by generous grants from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. THANK YOU MACC and NEA!!

New Reservation + Birthday Booking + Sales Software at GLCM!

GLCM is making the switch to a new admissions, sales, and membership software called DoubleKnot on Tuesday, October 3rd!

At the Museum, we use one software for our admissions, another for our reservations, a different system for memberships, and one more for field trips. We are excited to switch to an all-in-one system that will allow visitors to the Museum to make reservations, track and renew their membership, book a field trip, make a birthday party reservation, and more. This system will make everything at the Museum run much smoother, but just like with any major change there could be some bumps in the road. Please bear with us if we experience technical difficulties – especially the first week of October. 

After October 3rd, when you’re browsing the GLCM website and click to buy a membership, make a donation, make a reservation, book a field trip, reserve a birthday party, buy an event ticket, or look at the event schedule you’ll be directed to www.doubleknot.glcm.org which is branded to look like the Children’s Museum’s website.

Here’s how to get your login ID with our new system!

If you experience issues with our online system, please let us know! Whether it’s a broken link or a comma out of place, we want to know about issues so that we can fix them!

Report an Issue or Inconvenience

Click here to let us know about a problem with the website, reservation system, birthday booking, online donations, memberships, etc.

Come one, come all! Be safe this fall!

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Kids’ Free Fishing Day – June 17, 2023

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Join us for Water Safety Day!

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is proud to present Water Safety Day 2023; an event promoting being safe while enjoying the Greatest thing about the Great Lakes; Water! The Great Lakes can be dangerous, but by learning a little water safety, we can play in, on, and around water in a safer way! Let’s talk about safety in a fun – not scary – way so we can enjoy the Great Lakes together!

Join us for Water Safety Day May 20th, 2023 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm!

This event is FREE and open to the public! Water Safety Day will take place right outside the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, which will still be open for General Admission (we suggest a reservation if you want to play in the Museum). But stop by the fun on your way into the Museum to learn how to be safe on the water from these amazing partners:

Help us make a SPLASH at this first-annual water safety event at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. In addition to all the fun you can always find at Discovery Pier and Elmwood Township Park like fishing, watching the tall ships, and playing at the beach, we will have several fun safety stations set up on the West side of M-22.

Lots to do!

You can learn about different types of lifejackets and how to wear them, run ‘sinking boat’ drills, attend a beach safety class with America’s Boating Club, take the PFD Quiz to get a FREE LIFEJACKET donated by Long Lake Marina, learn about swim safety and CPR with the Red Cross, see the Elmwood Fire Department Rescue Boat and Ambulance up close*, and learn about more ways to stay safe in, on, and around the water!

America’s Boating Club will demonstrate why water safety is so important: we are surrounded by water and drowning is a leading cause of death of children. But we can play safely in the water! We will learn:

  • How to wear a lifejacket—Linda Lifejacket will show you all the features of hers.
  • What is the difference between a toy and a lifejacket.
  • What your child looks like when in trouble in the water—and what they look like when wearing a lifejacket.
  • What the animals teach us about water safety; turtles, birds, sea otter.
  • Why you should always wear a lifejacket on a boat; four good reasons.
  • We will have the kids do a “sinking boat” drill to learn the importance of knowing where lifejackets are and how to put them on.
  • We will set up and conduct the Boating Quiz. When the kids complete the quiz they will get a new free lifejacket courtesy of Long Lake Marine.
  • We will show parents how to be “WATER WATCHERS” and how to throw ring buoys and help someone in trouble in the water.

At about 11:30 am, watch the Coast Guard run a recovery drill* where they will drop a rescue diver in the water at Elmwood Beach and recover the diver before they fly on home! Make sure to get there before 11:30 to see the Helicopter rescue drill!

 

*Barring any emergencies that require the attention of our Emergency Services.

You don’t need an RSVP, Ticket, or Special Invitation to attend! Everyone is welcome to join us for Water Safety Day!

Arts in Action with Mike Sincic – May 6th!

Calling all parents, grandparents, nannies and caregivers! Arts in Action is BACK in the Great Lakes Children’s Museum! Please join us with your children for a fun, INTERACTIVE experience on Saturday, May 6th from 9:30 to 11:30am, and 12:00 to 2:00pm.
This workshop is a no pressure, drop-in format, and is included FREE for members, or with the cost of admission for guests!
GLCM partners with local artists representing interesting mediums of creative expression in Northwest Michigan to present hands-on arts and culture workshops designed for children 2-8. Our next Arts In Action workshop will feature the art of collage- with Mr. Michael Sincic!
Although Michael lost his sight two decades ago due to a brain tumor, he has made a name for himself in Northern Michigan as a popular local artist.
Join us Saturday for his special interactive workshop, where he will help your little one create a work of art in a different way than they may be used to- one that requires sharpening their sensory abilities, without using their eyes.
Don’t miss this awesome, interactive workshop for children- but FUN for the whole family!
These hands-on, skills-building activities are supported in part by generous grants from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. THANK YOU MACC and NEA!!

Join us for EGG-stravaganza!

Join us for EGG-stravaganza, a exploration of egg science and art! Friday, April 7th during all three sessions we will be exploring and learning about eggs at our special drop-in program.

 

How does a whole baby chick fit inside that tiny little egg?  How can you tell the difference between a hardboiled egg and a raw egg without cracking into the shell? Visit our hands on science stations and see for yourself.  Find out how to dye an egg shell with colors that swirl!  Make an egg craft to take home.

Tickets are included in the price of admission; this program is an added experience that any Museum guest can drop into and out of during their time at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum.

Sign Up Here! Volunteer for this Event

Spring Break Astronaut Training is back!

Calling all future astronauts!

Do you dream of one day walking on the surface of the Moon or setting off on an adventure to Mars? Do you think that working on the International Space Station would be exciting? Join us at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum during Spring Break for a week of Spring Astronaut Training. It just might be your “cup of tea”.  Speaking of tea: Find out how an astronaut would drink tea (or any other liquid) in space!

This is a FREE program included with tickets to any session (Morning, Noon, or Afternoon) happening during Spring Break Week (March 27th -31st). Just pick up your tickets on our Reservation Page to save your spot! (Tickets go on sale 1-week in advance)

With fun, hands on activities you will do experiments, solve problems, explore space . . . . . . and even eat a snack like an astronaut!

Children will visit each astronaut training station and earn a sticker for each activity completed.

Experiment Stations: 

Static Electricity

Surface Tension

 

Problem Solving Stations:

Reconnect The Power Supply

Design, Build, Test  (a space vehicle)

 

Explore Space:

Space Guess Quest game

 

Early Learners Station:

Moon Adventure blocks

Lunar Landscape ( Sensory exploration)

 

Obstacle Course Station:

Human Hamster Wheel

 

 

Most resources have been provided by The National Informal STEM Education Network.

 

Volunteer Opportunity!

If you’d like to volunteer to help out at GLCM, follow the link below. You can sign up to help at a time that works for you – we’ll train you on what to do! Contact the Impact Manager at impact@glcm.org or 231-674-5352 with any questions.

Click here to view volunteer opportunities!

 

Join us for a Pi Day Celebration March 14th!

Join us for a ‘Rad’ time this Pi day, March 14th. All three sessions will feature a Round of activities related to geometry, math, and pie! Everyone attending will get a free book “All for Pie, and Pie for All” provided by Great Start for Quality. 

Each session will be jam packed with circle games, crafts, activities and a story . . . . And, most importantly, a free piece of pie. Sarah Lee is donating apple and cherry pie so you can celebrate Pi Day the delicious way.

(Real Pie, not just Pi)  

All activities are included with admission to the museum.   The story, “All for Pie, And Pie For All” will begin one hour after the beginning of each session. 

 

 

At the end of the day you’ll be able to say with confidence whether pies are round or if π=r2

Reserve Tickets Volunteer for this event!

Great Lakes Children’s Museum to host a STEAM/Makers Alliance Mini-Makers Pop-Up event

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is excited to host a STEAM/Makers Alliance Mini-Makers Pop-Up event on Friday, February 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Capacity is limited so reservations are strongly encouraged.

This is a free event put on by the STEAM/Makers Alliance of Northwest Michigan. It is hosted by the Great Lakes Children’s Museum and presented in concert with Newton’s Road, the Traverse Area District Library – Youth Services, 4H, Challenge Island, Arts for All, the GT Butterfly House and Bug Zoo, Inland Seas Education Association, and the Grand Traverse Conservation District.

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Attendees at this February’s Mini-Makers event will be able to have all the usual fun the Museum offers, plus activities from the Steam/Makers Alliance Members listed above. Multiple age groups are welcome at this event; the Museum itself is best for younger kids but older kids will find lots to do at the stations placed throughout the Museum this evening!

The STEAM/Makers Alliance of Northwest Michigan is a group of educators and organizations that teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math, and Making things. They meet regularly throughout the year to improve educational access in the region and collaborate to create amazing events. If you enjoy this event, or if you can’t make it this time, come see us at the TADL Makerfest on April 29th at the Civic Center. That is the big, crazy, outdoor version of this smaller, wacky, indoor mini-event.

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2022 Mini-Maker Event at the Nature Center

These photos are from the first Mini-Makerfest Pop-Up Event in 2022 at the Boardman River Nature Center.

Participants at this event can design a roller coaster, program a robot, animate a flipbook, learn about birds and their beaks, and lots more!

Reserve your FREE tickets here!