There are over 100 museums in the state of Michigan, and only a fraction of them are dedicated to children. A place to explore, imagine, and experience, museums can drastically expand the mind of a child.
Wendi Onuki, Executive Director of the Forever Curious Children’s Museum in Fennville, will be bringing this concept to South Haven, with the creation of The Mitten, a brand new children’s museum. It will open later this year in the Historic Conger House, at 246 Broadway Avenue, and will be filled with Michigan-themed exhibits.
“For the last five years, we have been thinking about this new idea, and now the timing is great. We took this leap and it is going to be awesome,” says Wendi. The children will learn through play, as The Mitten will be a safe, welcoming place to learn and explore with the many interactive components that will be available.
“I have always loved museums and felt that they are magical spaces where imaginations can run wild. I brought my daughters to our museum in Fennville prior to working there, and it was such a wonderful spot for them to explore at their own pace,” Wendi tells us.
The Nature exhibit will have a small park ranger & naturalist station, animal puppets, a pollinator table, animal tracks, and more. There will also be Wooly Mammoth vs Mastodon activity, a rock polishing station, and other things pertaining to Michigan’s fossils and rocks.
Some of the other exhibits include a Mini Farmers Market, a Car Shop, an Invention Space, Reading and Art Room, The Great Lakes exhibit, and a Motown Music room, which will feature a giant floor piano, multiple instruments, and a stage, and will showcase the history of Motown itself. The Motown Museum in Detroit will be helping with the construction of the Motown Music Room.
The Mitten Children’s Museum will be open year round, so kids can enjoy it throughout all seasons. The excitement for working with schools is high, and they see many field trips and summer camps in their future. An admission fee will be charged, but they plan on offering some Free Admission Days throughout the year, as it is important to the museum that everyone has access to this new educational space.
Starting a nonprofit organization is not an easy task, and the community has already shown an abundance of support. The Forever Curious Children’s Museum launched a fundraiser to raise ‘$60,000 in 60 Days’ for The Mitten, and though they fell short of their goal, the momentum for this project has not slowed. The museum will help bring business to the entire city of South Haven and surrounding areas, and they are hoping to partner with local organizations and other museums to collaborate on this new venture.
“Living in South Haven, I have felt for many years that we could use additional recreational, cultural and educational amenities for children and their families, and we already have so many great partnerships with different organizations in South Haven. I am eager to build on those connections and work together to make something really special for our local families and those in the surrounding communities,” says Wendi.
Open house dates and times have not yet been scheduled, but watch for tours and presentation announcements in the Spring, ahead of the grand opening. There will be ample volunteer opportunities at The Mitten, and as they are a nonprofit organization, they are still in need of sponsorship and donations to help cover operational costs. Though the online fundraiser has already ended, you can mail a check to the Forever Curious Children’s Museum with ‘The Mitten’ written in the memo.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
