Partnerships
Since its inception, the Great Lakes Children’s Museum has collaborated and partnered with many community organizations and agencies. Those collaborations continue to grow today.
Program Partnerships
Social-Emotional Programming, a series of interactive, drop-in workshops for parents and their children to learn coping and growth skills together in a safe and supportive environment. Led by Caroline Thomas, LICSW, LMSW.
Great Start Collaborative – 5toOne Playgroups – Free every 2nd and 4th Wednesday
Rotary Charities Kids Free Fishing Day – Gyotaku Ancient Japanese Fish Painting
Peace Day Programming – Celebration of Cultural Awareness for Martin Luther King Day
Annual Children’s Art Fair – Downtown Development Association
Working with Clay- Michael Sincic – Arts in Action
Glen Arbor Arts Center- Sarah Cheek Toomey – Arts In Action
Learning Harmonica- Maritime Heritage Alliance – Arts In Action
Scratch Art and Clay- Michael Sincic – Arts In Action
Music and Movement- Dana Fall – Arts In Action
Parallel 45 Free Theatre Workshop – Arts In Action
Twilight Walking Tours with Wood Smoke Jim and River Lark Mary – Arts in Action
H.A.N.D.D.S. To The Rescue Animal Rescue Program – Partner Programs
Northern Michigan Railroad Club – Partner Programs
Oryana Natural Foods Beehive Health – Partner Programs
Yoga for Kids with Sara Townsend – Partner Programs
Grass River Natural Area – Partner Programs
Grand Traverse Lighthouse – Partner Programs
Northern Michigan Railroad Club & the City of Traverse City: Annual Festival of Trains
Children’s Vision Day
Traverse Area District Library
Children’s Book Festival
Media Partners
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Various school groups in Museum (ongoing).
Stuffee™ in-class programs (ongoing).
Life in the Pond in-class programs (2005)
Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes
Facilities sharing and joint programming with:
Inland Seas Education Association
Maritime Heritage Alliance
The Watershed Center – Grand Traverse Bay
Traverse Area Community Sailing
Regional Arts Organizations
Cultural Coalition (ongoing)
Arts in Action programs (ongoing)
Draw NoMI (ongoing)
Dennos Museum Center
Collaborative programming throughout the year
Association of Children’s Museums
Presented at Interactivity, annual national conference (2006, 2007 & 2011).
Published articles in Hand to Hand, national quarterly publication (ongoing).
Downtown Traverse City Assoc. / Downtown Development Authority
Friday Night Live (numerous).
Children’s Art Fair (2003-2011).
Celebration of the Young Child (2000-2005).
US Coast Guard – Air Station Traverse City
Provide annual Family Night without cost to families stationed in Traverse City
Half off admission for USCG (and other active military) throughout the year
Great Start Collaborative
Museum participates in Early Childhood Advocacy Collaborative (ongoing).
Offers Museum facility for events and activities (ongoing).
State Theatre & Traverse City Film Fest
Children’s films (ongoing).
Traverse City Film Fest – Kids Fests (2011)
MSU Extension
Volunteer programs in collaboration with 4H
Kids Free Fishing Day
Cosponsor event each year with:
Rotary Water Committee (representatives of all 3 TC Rotary Clubs)
DNR Fisheries
GT Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians
GT Area Sport Fishing Association
Old Town Playhouse Young Company (f/k/a/Traverse City Children’s Theatre)
Life in the Pond, a science-based play produced and performed by children’s theatre members (2005).
5ToOne
Ongoing free playgroups and parent networking at the Museum on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday every month
Everybody Reads
Ongoing collaboration around 3rd grade readiness through foundational preparation
National Cherry Festival
Provide Waves of Gravity portable ball wall and an interactive fact flip wall to the Festival annually
Provide programming at Cherrytown Fun Night annually