How to make a reservation to play at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum
How to make a reservation to play at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. GLCM’s new gallery schedule lets you stay and play all day!
Go to www.greatlakeskids.org/tickets
Choose the date you want to attend
Choose the time you’d like to arrive.
Select the blue time slot to confirm your arrival hour. (you may arrive late)
You can arrive as early as the time on your ticket up until 4:00 PM. Admittance will not be granted until the time on your ticket; this is our primary method of ensuring we stay within capacity and ensure the best guest experience for everyone.
Confirm your arrival time.
If you have a membership, sign into it now. If you’re new to the Museum, feel free to make a free profile – especially if you’re considering a paid membership in the future.
Confirm your tickets and move to checkout.
Your cart will show all tickets, donations, discounts (including membership discounts) and anything else in your cart. If you have a login, you can enter your first name, last name, and login ID to identify yourself. If you have any discount codes, you can apply them here. (Gift Cards will be applied in the next screen). Click checkout to pay the balance shown and check out.
Pay for your order using any of the options shown, including gift cards. Your reservation is not confirmed until payment is received.
You’re all set to show up to the Children’s Museum and play!
GLCM is starting a new Gallery Schedule!
Kids of all ages will get the chance to play all day once again!
(Also See: New Reservation + Birthday Booking + Sales Software at GLCM!)
Why is there so little availability for tickets? Why can’t I buy a ticket for this weekend? Why can’t I book a birthday party for next month?
If you’ve been at the Children’s Museum in the last 3 years and had to stop playing because your session ended – we have good news! We are getting rid of museum sessions and going back to daily admissions! That means that when you purchase a ticket to play in the Museum Galleries, you can stay and play until we close at the end of the day. You’ll be able to make a reservation WEEKS in advance and arrive late without worrying about play time.
BUT there’s a trade off; without sessions to close off, guests will have to share the galleries with Field Trips and Birthday Parties. Whereas any group could reserve the Museum for Exclusive Use and have the place to themselves, now groups who book a field trip or birthday party will get the Great Lakes Room all to themselves – but will share the galleries with the general public.
If you wanted a birthday party with the whole Museum to yourself that’s still an option – but you have to book it for an evening when the Galleries are closed to the public.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION
| Sessions + Exclusive Use | Timed Ticketing + Bookings | |
|---|---|---|
| General Admission (Individual tickets to play in the Galleries) | Tickets are purchased for one 2-hour block, guests must arrive and depart within the 2-hour window Guests may arrive any time within the 2-hour window, but cannot stay late if they arrive late | Tickets are purchased for an arrival time, guests must arrive at their ticket time and may stay until the Museum closes at the end of the day. Guests may not arrive before their ticket time (due to gallery capacity) but are welcome to arrive late and stay late. |
| Group Reservations (Birthday Parties, Field Trips, and other Reservations) | Field Trips and Birthday Parties were under Exclusive Use, meaning that any booking had the Museum completely to themselves. This was true whether it was a Morning, Noon, Afternoon, or Evening reservation. | Field Trips and Birthday Parties scheduled during open hours will now have just the Great Lakes Room to themselves, and will have to share gallery space with the general public. You can still book a birthday party where you have the whole Museum to yourself if you choose the after-hours option. |
EXCITING NEWS and generous opportunity from B2 Outlet Stores, just in time for back-to-school shopping!
GLCM friends, please visit the very cool B2 Outlet Store in the Cherryland Center! When you checkout, use this coupon and you’ll receive 10% off your purchase AND 10% of the purchase will be donated to Great Lakes Children’s Museum!
This coupon is valid NOW through September 15th, 2023- the perfect time to get some GREAT DEALS for back-to-school!
There is no limit to the number of times that a customer can use this coupon, so please continue to stop in and shop throughout the time period!
THANK YOU, COMMUNITY, AND THANK YOU B2 OUTLETS!
Cherry Town Fun Night -GLCM STYLE- at the National Cherry Festival!
What is Cherry Town Fun Night- GLCM Style, you might ask? Well, it means our MOST popular activity for kids of all ages- STOMP ROCKETS!
Children will create their own rocket(s) and launch them from the Great Lakes Children’s Museum’s special rocket launchers! Change the trajectory of your rocket by experimenting with different angles, force and momentum, all while getting some exercise and having a GREAT time! Activities are free to all children!
The MET <Michigan Education Trust> will also be attending, sharing fun coloring activities and information about how you can save money while saving for your child’s education- a WIN-WIN!
Join us Wednesday, July 5th from 4pm – 7pm at F&M Park (at Railroad & Washington Streets)
Let’s Make GivingTuesday 2022 the Biggest Yet!
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement to help people do more good!
How to Give:
There are many ways to be a part of GivingTuesday! You can volunteer your time, lend your voice to a cause, share needed supplies, or donate money. Simply find a worthy cause that’s important to you and connect with them!
For example, if you wanted to include the Great Lakes Children’s Museum in your giving efforts, here are some things we’re in need of (or we’d appreciate):
Website
- Spread the word about our new website
- Purchase a membership
- Make a tax-deductible donation
- Sign up to volunteer
- Donate to our fundraising events:
- A-Ha! Silent Auction Gala – sponsorship or auction donations
- Donate generously to our Annual Campaign for Kiddos!
Social Media
Help us reach new followers with a like or share of our events or posts on FB, Instagram or Twitter
Who Participates?
GivingTuesday means different things to different people, but we all have something to offer. Nonprofits like the Great Lakes Children’s Museum rely on big-hearted benevolence to keep their organizations running smoothly. We appreciate YOU!
Festival of Trains 2022 Art Contest
Calling all creatives 12 and under! It’s a Festival of Trains Art Contest where we need YOUR help designing a poster to be used throughout Michigan to advertise this year’s Festival! You can also WIN free family passes to the Festival of Trains this year, beginning December 17th!
Official rules:
Entries will be divided into three age groups: Under 5, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12. (13 is too old for this contest, thank you for understanding.)
Winners from each group will receive a Family Pass to the Festival of Trains! The Grand Prize winner will be selected from the top posters of each group. Once a grand prize winner is selected, the Museum will overlay the artwork to include festival details. All contestant artwork will be displayed in the facility throughout the Festival.
Poster size is 8.5” by 11” using any art medium. Posters must be received at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum by 4:30 pm on October 28. Have fun using your imagination!
Artwork must include name, age, and either a contact number or email on the back of the poster. That information will be used to contact the winners. There are no entry fees to participate.
The Museum is open seven days per week. Sunday and Monday the Museum opens for noon and afternoon sessions. Tuesday through Thursday there are morning, noon and afternoon sessions. Morning sessions begin at 9:30 am and end at 11:30 am. Noon sessions begin at noon and end at 2:00 pm, and afternoon sessions begin at 2:30 pm and end at 4:30 pm.