Tag Archive for: educational
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!!
New Year’s Countdown for Kids
GLCM’s New Year’s Countdown for Kids takes place on Saturday December 31, 2022 during All Sessions (9:30-11:30 / 12:00-2:00 / 2:30-4:30 pm)
This experience is FREE with Museum Admission ($8 for children and adults, free for members). Reservations Required! This event sells out!
Would you like to welcome in 2023 but can’t wait till midnight?
It’s midnight somewhere in the world! Countdown to 2023 with the Great Lakes Children’s Museum!
Watch the ball drop and make some noise! Fabulously fun New Year’s activities will take place all throughout each session.
The ball drop will happen ½ hour before each session ends. Activities will include decorating the ball, making noise makers and party hats and more!
Merry Mystery Sasquatch Search
Join the Merry Mystery Sasquatch Search!
Monday December 26th – Friday December 30th, all sessions
This experience is FREE with Museum Admission ($8 for children and adults, free for members).
Ever wonder if Bigfoot exists? Can you imagine seeing a Sasquatch? Believe it or not, the Great Lakes Children’s Museum is conducting a Merry Mystery Sasquatch Search this holiday season. Come with curiosity. Use sasquatch science to investigate and explore the mystery of Bigfoot. Have some fantastic fun following and making your own footprints. Ask questions: “If bigfoot is out there, what would he eat, where would he hide, what does he sound like?”
Find the answers to all your sasquatch questions.
The science is in the searching.
Tickets will be available for purchase the week of December 19th
(each day goes on sale a week ahead of time)
Holiday Happenings Celebrations!
Help us celebrate holidays from around the world!
Holiday Happenings Celebrations is an interactive experience that celebrates holidays from across the globe! Celebrate familiar and new holiday traditions in the Great Lakes Room with us! This drop-in program will be available alongside normal gallery play for two whole days!
Thursday, December 22nd and Friday, December 23rd (All Sessions)
This experience is FREE with Museum Admission ($8 for children and adults, free for members).
Martin Luther King Jr. Day at GLCM
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at The Great Lakes Children’s Museum. Each session will provide peace explorations through hands on activities and crafts. There will be puzzles to solve, plenty of tabletop games to play, and a “walk along” story to participate in.
This program is free with paid Museum admission and is aimed at pre-school and early elementary ages with adult participation.
As a special bonus this year, The United Way of Northwest Michigan is providing a free take home activity bag for each child. This bag contains the wonderful book Not Norman, A Goldfish Story, by Kelly Bennett.
Registration is required for each session. Visit our Registrations Page to pick your time slot and buy your tickets.