No matter the time of year, you’ll never fail to find a family fun excursion in Mt. Pleasant. The Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum (MPDM) has become a destination for thousands of families and classroom children from across the Great Lakes Bay Region.
When most people hear the word “museum” they often picture a facility filled with valuable collections protected behind glass, however that is not the case at MPDM. The museum proudly presents a “please touch” environment for children of all ages. The entire exhibit floor is an open play zone with no right or wrong way to interact with each exhibit. Families are encouraged to explore, learn, create, and grow in this unique setting. Even more importantly, each exhibit aligns with academic standards, so children are constantly learning while discovering new hands-on activities. Cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills, and social skills are only a few of the many attributes that children are able to cultivate. MPDM emphasizes early learning in math, science, and fine arts through the following exhibits:
Farmers Market: Visitors use their math skills to learn how to buy fresh produce at the market and create healthy meals at the Eat Right Smoothies station.
Beemazium: Young ones are able to explore the science behind honeybees by studying them in their live beehive. Families can dress up like honeybees, move honey around the giant hive, and tend to the queen.
Water Works, Inc: Who doesn’t love to play in water? Visitors manipulate running water by directing its flow and investigating how it moves around and over obstacles in this winding exhibit.
Exploratorium: Children are able to use their imaginations in this exhibit by creating a rocket ship that can be projected into space from the air-powered rocket launcher.
One World: This cultural exhibit highlights Japanese culture through a focus on Mt. Pleasant’s sister city, Okaya, Japan. Families are able to explore life in a traditional Japanese home.
Baby Carrots: This space is designed for our littlest visitors to explore life on the farm, plant a garden, gather eggs, or go fishing; everything is their perfect size!
Friendship Field: This outdoor exhibit provides a nature-maker space, mud pie kitchen, pollinator wall, shade barn, and theater during the spring, summer and fall seasons.
In addition, the museum provides weekly programming including Animal Antics, Loony Tunes, Youngsters Yoga, Kids at Art, and Lego Club. Monthly programming such as Science Sundays and Sensory Nights, birthday parties and field trips are also available. Interested in upcoming special programs and events? Visit our website, www.mpdiscoverymuseum.org, and/or follow us on social media. The Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum (MPDM) is open every day from 10am-6pm, including most holidays! Join us as we strive to spark creativity, nourish learning, and inspire the curiosity of children through self-directed discovery in an engaging hands-on environment.
Christina Proulx joined the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum team in July 2015 as the Event Coordinator. Shortly after, she graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts in December 2015. Christina’s current role is Event and Marketing Director. Christina plans to continue her education and pursue her Master’s in Public Affairs. She is originally from Standish, MI and has lived in Mt. Pleasant for 5 years.
