Children traverse the climber from the second to third floor and down again, and these children can be seen as you walk in the door. Just walking in the door elicits ‘oohs’ and ‘wows.’ That response is due to the two-story ‘Luckey Climber’ that’s directly overhead as you walk in the front door. “We especially enjoy the reactions of the little ones. They were fabricated to withstand the hundreds of thousands of visitors who will experience them in the hands-on way that children’s museums encourage.Īll of these things add up to thrilled responses from new visitors, Young said. “The exhibits are layered with content that appeals to our youngest visitor, while also keeping our older visitors engaged. “They were conceptualized with museum staff with an exhibit design team that considered children’s various learning styles and abilities,” she said. The exhibits, too, have experienced a remarkable transition. Now, in addition to those programs, we offer infant and toddler programs, free floor programming, cooperative programs in conjunction with local organizations including the Ecology Action Center and Illinois State University, and teen programs.” “The museum offered programs for preschool through third grade, plus homeschool programs, in its former location. In addition to logistical changes, Young said the museum has undergone programming changes as well. Children’s museums are also unique places that bring children, families, and communities together for quality interaction and to make memories that last a lifetime.” From cause and effect to small motor skills and beyond, children’s museums are the place where neurons unite and imaginations soar. Studies show that observable and quantifiable learning takes place in children’s museums. It’s through the power of play that children learn who they are, how their world works, and much more. Play is the real work of childhood, and children’s museums are one of the few places where unstructured and spontaneous play takes place for our youth. It’s the mission of the Children’s Discovery Museum to inspire the love of learning through the power of play. “To date, the museum has hosted well over 120,000 visitors and has surpassed everyone’s expectations. “Seven short months later, the museum celebrated its 100,000th visitor,” Young said. The Children’s Discovery Museum welcomed the first visitors to its new home November 27, 2004. The museum board committed to $3.5 million to fill the now three-story facility with professionally designed and fabricated exhibits.” In 2002, Normal officially announced its commitment to build a $4.5 million, 34,000-square-foot building and to encompass the operations of the museum within the Town of Normal’s Parks and Recreation Department. “As plans unfolded for both the downtown redevelopment and the museum site, the Children’s Discovery Museum Board and the Town of Normal agreed to take things a step further. “This was part of a public/private partnership with the Town of Normal and was to be the cornerstone of its downtown renewal effort,” she said. Young said attendance kept growing, and it wasn’t long before the museum launched a capital campaign to fund what was originally intended to be a 24,000-square-foot museum with professionally designed exhibits. The museum added programs in partnership with Bloomington Junior High School, local scout troops, and also developed their own programs for youth in preschool through third grade.” So in March 1995, the museum relocated to an 8,000-square-foot facility on the Constitution Trail in Bloomington. “Requests started pouring in for field trips, birthday parties, and more exhibits-much more than the 1,100-square-foot museum could provide. “Families came to the museum, and they wanted more,” she said. It was intended to test the waters-to see if the community was interested in having such an attraction in town.” Six years and a seven-member board later, they opened a 1,100-square-foot ‘preview’ museum in a store space donated by College Hills Mall. “Her family relocated from Dallas to the Bloomington-Normal area, and it wasn’t long before she wondered why a community with two universities, three wonderful school districts, and an education-minded business atmosphere didn’t have a children’s museum. One of the original founders-and the current manager-Shari Spaniol Buckellew, had traveled the country visiting children’s museums, Young said. “ The Children’s Discovery Museum, originally named the McLean County Children’s Discovery Museum, was the fruition of a dream shared by two women in the community,” according to Heather Young, the museum’s public affairs coordinator. For the past 17 years, children in central Illinois have had a unique space to explore, learn, and play-a place all their own.
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