Every summer, the Museum welcomes campers from pre-k through 12th grade to Camp Curious, where they get to explore history, science, and culture through exhibits, artifact explorations, hands-on experiences, creative crafts, and more. From presenting their own planetarium shows to building their own cardboard pinball games, these young learners have the opportunity to do incredible things they remember for a lifetime.
This summer, we hosted a new, three-day Museum Makers camp as part of our Camp Curious program. During Museum Makers, campers learned about the fascinating world of exhibit design.Â
One of our campers traveled all the way from Sturgis, on the east side of the state, to attend. His dream is to become an exhibit designer, and this camp was his only opportunity to explore his passion during the summer.
Through the Museum Makers camp, the student from Sturgis and his peers explored the history of Renaissance-era Cabinets of Curiosity, learned the nuance of classifying artifacts and specimens, and got hands-on experience with the exhibit design process. They met with our exhibits team, experimented with graphics, and even designed their own mini-exhibits.
For our camper from Sturgis, this experience was not only educational but deeply affirming. Meeting with our in-house exhibits design team made his dream of becoming an exhibit designer tangible.Â
Stories like his are why we do what we do. Camp Curious is more than just a summer day camp; it is a place where dreams take root and curiosity blossoms.Â
To continue providing these transformative experiences, we need your support.
As we look ahead to 2025, your generous donation will help ensure that we can keep igniting the imaginations of children from all over Michigan and beyond. By donating to the Grand Rapids Public Museum, you are investing in the future of countless young learners who, like our camper from Sturgis, find inspiration and a lifelong love of learning at the Museum.
Please consider making a donation today to help us start 2025 on a strong financial footing.