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celebrating the childlike wonder
in all of us
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Quick Links...
Our Website
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Great Lakes Children Museum
13240 S. West Bay Shore Dr.
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 932-4526 |
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Support the Great Lakes Children's Museum
with an online gift
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Featuring January Activities
Countdown to Noon, Peace Day, SwingShift and the Stars, Director Transition, and More . . .
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Happy New Year!
Best wishes to you and the children in your life for a year filled with wonder & discovery.
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January Schedule Changes
We will be open Monday, January 20 for MLK Day, because Traverse City schools are out. We will be closed January 1.
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Countdown to Noon - 2013-2014
Tuesday, December 31 - 11 am to 3 pm
One of our most popular annual events is Countdown to Noon! Join us for the fun and festivity.
Can't wait till midnight? It's midnight somewhere in the world. Watch the ball drop and make some noise. New Year's activities begin in the Great Lakes Room at 11:00 am. Make your own party hats, noise makers, and 2013 time capsules. Countdown begins at 11:59 am. Activities continue until 3:00 pm.
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Peace Day at the Museum
Monday, January 20 - 11 am to 3 pm
 In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we will again be offering special programs and activities at the Great Lakes Children's Museum focused on tolerance and peace. Age-appropriate experiences will include messages about anti-bullying and peaceful communication. This day is part of a series of events celebrating the ideals of tolerance and diversity, which will take place throughout the Grand Traverse region from January through March. The series, called Embrace The Dream, represents a collaboration of local organizations and venues working together to herald Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The events include live music and stage performances, interactive exhibits, films, fine art, and more. For more information visit the online calendar. |
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Funday Sunday - Family Fun
Sunday, January 12 & 26 - 1:30 and 2:30 pm
On alternate Sundays from January through April the Museum offers special Funday Sunday programs. Sessions begin at 1:30 and 2:30 pm and are included in the price of admission.
- January 12, Amy Cyr - Card making
- January 26, Marcia Borell - 3-D Fish Mobiles
Activities are appropriate for children 2 and up; however, children 6 and under may need adult help to complete the activity. The purpose of Funday Sunday is to engage multi-aged family groups in a special shared art or cultural activity on a wintry Sunday afternoon.
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SwingShift and the Stars Raises $21,704
 The Great Lakes Children's Museum had a lot of fun with SwingShift and the Stars events this fall, raising over $21,000, through the hard work and dedication of our dancers, Lauren and Lars, as well as everyone who supported us at the four events. We are grateful beyond words for Lars' and Lauren's hard work rehearsing and performing their dances, and for the generous donors who supported the Museum. In December our dancers received perfect scores (all 10s) from the judges. Unfortunately, the audience vote pushed another team up into first place. For more photos from the final event, click here or on their photo.
SwingShift and the Stars is a series of four fundraising events, modeled after the popular Dancing with the Stars television show. The Museum is proud have been one of the six local organizations to be selected for the 2013 season. SwingShift and the Stars has helped 36 charities raise more than $970,000 since its inception in 2008.
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Holiday Happenings
Weekday Programs through the Holiday School Break
We have been offering family fun and learning throughout the holiday break. Here are the last few:
Feed The Birds, Monday, December 30
Bring a few feathered friends right up to your window with munchies you make to put outside for them. The birds will love you, and so will the squirrels.
Get Crafty, Thursday, January 2 (repeat)
Are you just itching to make something? We will set out an extravaganza of craft supplies for you to experiment with. Everything from craft sticks to pipe cleaners! We will provide a creative assortment of scraps and really cool stuff for you to get creative with.
Snow Much Fun! Friday, January 3
Part of our special Holiday offerings for kids of all ages (not just toddlers this week). For a real cool sensory experience, we will bring the snow inside to scoop, turn colors, and melt. Try out some wacky science experiments with snow and ice. And...make a "snow-flakey" craft or two to take home.
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Long-time Director Departs
 John Noonan, longtime Executive Director of the Museum will be leaving in January. Past President of the Board of Trustees Ellen Fred said, "I've worked closely with John for many years, and I can honestly say that his dedication to the Museum has been inspiring. He has done so much, both publicly and behind the scenes, to create a safe space for families to come and learn and play. Without a doubt, he will be missed." Read more... |
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Museum Receives $18,500 in Grants
from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
For the second year, the Great Lakes Children's Museum received essential support for the hands-on activities and interactive programs that we offer all year round.
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs renewed $17,000 of support for the Museum in the form of an operational and program support grant, and also awarded a first-time $1,500 mini-grant for professional development.
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January Toddler Time Activities
Fridays, 10 am to 12 pm
Toddler Time offers a unique opportunity for our youngest Museum-goers to interact with each other and learn essential skills through specially designed, developmentally appropriate activities. Offered every Friday morning, Toddler Time is included with the price of admission or the cost of your annual membership.
Snow Much Fun! January 3
Part of our special holiday offerings for kids of all ages (not just toddlers this week). For a real cool sensory experience, we will bring the snow inside to scoop, turn colors, and melt. Have fun experimenting with snow and ice. Make and take a "snow-flakey" craft or two.
Laundromat, January 10
Cardboard boxes are transformed into washers and dryers. Children can fill them up with our play clothes and put in the soap. A truly wishy-washy dramatic play experience!
Open it! Close it! January 17
Open it, close it. Spin it, and get in it. Toddlers will have fun opening and closing and investigating a big bunch of crazy containers. Interesting items inside will be: cars, fish, magnetic letters, stuffed animals, snowflakes, bean bags, dinosaurs, frogs, bugs, and scarves.
Fishful Thinking, January 24
The fishing will be good all morning. Catch some fish with poles and magnets. Watch and feed some live fish. Play fishy games that make learning fun.
Tents and Tunnels, January 31
Children will discover the fun of playing in tents and tunnels and using blankets, tables, and sheets to create their own special hideouts.
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January InterActive StoryTime Selections
Wednesdays at 11 am
InterActive StoryTime features great works of children's literature and activities and crafts led by Museum staff and volunteers. These experiences enhance the encounter for children and deepen their understanding of the book. Offered every Wednesday at 11 am, Interactive StoryTime is included with the price of admission or the cost of your annual membership.
Duck At The Door, by Jackie Urbanovic, January 8
Knock, Knock, Knock! Someone's outside the door. But who could it be in the middle of the night, and in the middle of a snowstorm?
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats, January 15
One winter morning Peter woke up and looked out the window. Snow had fallen during the night. Peter is about to have a snow adventure.
Chickadees At Night
by Bill O. Smith, January 22
Where do chickadees go at night? What a story they have to tell! Gather around, for a flight of fancy into the mysteries of the natural world.
Snowmen At Night
by Caralyn Buehner, January 29
What do snowmen do when the sun goes down and everyone is sleeping?
No InterActive StoryTime on January 1,
but you already knew that!!
InterActive StoryTime is underwritten through a generous
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Cheers to a New Year and another
chance for us to get it right.
~ Oprah Winfrey
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