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celebrating the childlike wonder
in all of us
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Great Lakes Children Museum
13240 S. West Bay Shore Dr.
P.O. Box 2326
Traverse City, MI 49685
(231) 932-4526
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Support the Great Lakes Children's Museum
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Featuring July Programs...
Mad Science Monday, Children's Art Fair, Summer Fests, Toddler Time, InterActive StoryTime & More! |
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July Schedule Changes
 The Museum will be closed for Independence Day,on Wednesday, July 4.
We are now open seven days a week. This change will remain in effect until Labor Day weekend, when we will again be closed on Mondays.
We hope that you and the children in your life have a great Fourth of July and a fun Cherry Festival. Enjoy your summer fun with the kids! |
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Children's Art Fair - Call For Artists!
Friday August 10, 5:30 pm to 9:00
 The tenth annual Children's Art Fair will be held Friday, August 10, 2012 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Friday Night Live.
Artists are needed! If you or someone you know is a budding artist in 1st through 8th grade, please contact the Museum by July 31st to register and participate in this year's event on August 10th.
All types of artists will be accepted. Have fun, express your creativity, learn business skills, and make money this summer at the Children's Art Fair!
Pre-registration is required for this activity. A nominal registration fee of $5 is required. Registration closes July 31 or when spaces are filled. Call the Museum at 932-4526 for registration information or download the 2012 Children's Art Fair Registration.
This event is made possible through the generous cooperation of the Downtown Traverse City Association. |
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Mad Science Monday
Mondays through the Summer, 1 pm to 3 pm
Every Monday from 1 pm to 3 pm, we will have fun science activities for the whole family. With school out, older children can experience the joy of discovery with these special hands-on science explorations. (Children six and under can participate with adult assistance.) Included with the price of admission.
Nano-Mania, July 9
Enter the world of the extremely small! Drop in and enjoy the fun of participating in hands-on Nano Science investigations. You will be fascinated by things so small that you can't even see them with your own eyes!
All the Colors of the Rainbow, July 16
Make your own color wheel to take home. Find out how colors mix.
Dancing with the Stars (and Planets), July 23
If you love to learn about astronomy, this day is for you. Make a model of the solar system that will roll up and fit in your pocket!
Science Rocks! July 30
Hands-on geology is fun! Learn about old fossils. Mix up a batch of edible cookie rocks. |
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Traverse City Summer Festivals
Cherry Town Fun Night & Traverse City Film Fest Kids Fest
Summer is here and the Great Lakes Children's Museum is hitting the road! We have already been to Kids Free Fishing Day. (For some great photos of Kids Free Fishing Day click here.)
On Wednesday, July 13, we will once again visit Cherry Town Fun Night at the Cherry Festival. We'll have some very special craft activities and our perennial favorite -- stomp rockets. (For pictures of the 2011 Cherry Town Fun Night click here.)
Also look for us at the Kids Fest for the Traverse City Film Festival. The final schedule for the Kids Fest is still in the works, but we know that we'll be there!
 | | Making Stomp Rockets |
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July Toddler Time Schedule
Wednesdays & Fridays, 10 am to noon
Toddler Time is offered offered on both Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am to noon. It is an opportunity for toddlers to interact with each other and learn through a variety of activities and experiences. Toddler Time encourages toddlers' natural curiosity, enhances fine and gross motor skills, guides appropriate social behaviors, and facilitates essential cognitive growth. Most importantly, it's fun! Toddler Time is included with the price of admission or the cost of your annual membership.
Play-dough Fun, July 6
Roll it! Squish it! Shape it! Poke it!
Kids will explore the marvelous medium of play dough.
Wonderful Wheels, July 11 and 13
Wheels are rolling! Children will manipulate cars & trucks on a small roadway.
Grocery Store, July 18 and 20
Weigh your bananas! Go through the check out! Play food and play money will make this trip to the Museum Grocery Store a great chance for dramatic play.
Stamp-O-Rama, July 25 and 27
Create your own pictures with stamps made from fruits and veggies. (store-bought stamps too.) Paint and ink are wonderfully washable.
Toddler Time is supported by a grant for the Oleson Foundation. |
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July InterActive StoryTime Selections
Stories with a Twist! Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 am
InterActive StoryTime features great works of children's literature and activities and crafts led by Museum staff and volunteers, which enhances the experience for children and deepens their understanding of the selected book.
InterActive StoryTime is offered twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle, July 3 and 5
A hungry caterpillar hatches out of an egg and eats and eats, and eats.
Where's My Teddy?
by Jez Alborough, July 10 and 12
Eddie loses his teddy.His teddy's name is Freddy.
The Very Quiet Cricket, by Eric Carle, July 17 and 19
Little Cricket tries to chirp "hello" to all the bugs he meets but can't make a sound.
A Weekend With Wendel, by Kevin Henkes, July 24 and 26
Wendell the mouse visits his friend Sophie's house.
Red, Red, Red, by Valeri Gorbachev, July 31 and August 2
When all the neighbors see Turtle hurrying by, they want to know why. He just says he is going after red, red, red.
InterActive StoryTime is underwritten through a generous Early Childhood Reading Grant from the Target Foundation. |
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Free Admission to Active Duty Military
Memorial Day to Labor Day
 The Great Lakes Children's Museum voluntarily participates in a program coordinated by the National Endowment for the Arts that provides free admission to active duty military throughout the summer. This is our third year of joining over 1800 other museums across the nation to support military families. We are pleased to be able to give them some hands-on learning and fun in Northern Micigan.
The military ID holder plus up to five family members receive free admission. For a description of the program and a list of all participating museums, click here. |
Museum Store Featured Item - Solar Print Kit 
On a Mad Science Monday at the end of June, families had a great time making solar prints. This kit, available in the Museum Store, contains everything needed to make solar prints, including 3 blank note cards with envelopes, 2 preprinted stencil sheets, 2 frames, twelve 5" x 7" sheets of solar print paper and instructions.
Spark your child's creativity with these activities that are fun to make and easy to use.
Use the stencils provided or find items in nature and place on the sun-sensitive paper. The paper undergoes a chemical change when exposed to sunlight. Within minutes you will have created your own custom solar prints for note cards or framing. We also have refill paper packs.
Made by Toysmith.
Members always get 10% off in the Museum Store. |
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Looking for a Constant Contact Sponsor
Delivery of our newsletter has been made possible, without cost, through Constant Contact's Care4Kids program (see below) and the sponsorship of Hanna Bistro in downtown Traverse City. We were sorry to see Hanna close on May 27.
Does your business use Constant Contact? Your sponsorship of our newsletter would be at no cost to you! Call or email the Museum if you'd be willing to let us "piggy-back" on your Constant Contact subscription. |
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Childhood is a short season
~Helen Hayes
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