Interactive Exhibits

Big changes in 2013!!!

Our new focus exhibit is Take Flight! Its centerpiece is a REAL Cessna 4 passenger airplane purchased and refurbished in part by local pilots and a grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. Just as amazing is our control tower complete with communications with the plane and the Badger, electronic weather and flight information, a flight simulator, and much, more more. Many thanks to local friend of Sandcastles Frank Longmore! Travelers must go through customs, of course, before they visit Egypt and the Amazon. In Egypt they can work at an archealogical dig, learn about hieroglyphics, and create their own hieroglyhic souvenir. The mysterious Amazon is teeming with wondrous creatures. Both exhibits were funded in large part by a grant from the Community Foundation for Mason County. Packages and luggage must travel through the baggage conveyer - just as much fun but not as noisy as the corn on our retired farm exhibit.

We have even more new exhibits! Our bi-cultural dollhouse, made by the Tech Prep Department at the West Shore ESD, will feature both English and Spanish labels and be-cultural families. In addition to our saltwater tank, we will soon have a freshwater trout tank where children can watch the fish mature over the summer, ready for release in the fall. Our wonderful lizard friend Rook will be retiring and staying home this summer, but a lively new lizard will spend the summer with us. Friday Night Lives will feature an exciting new traveling exhibit, Musical Playground, which will feature large, outdoor, multi-cultural instruments.

Families love the interactive exhibits at Sandcastles! Many favorites will return.

Our Neighborhood features a grocery store, ice cream shop, bank, vet center, pizza place, community garden, and post office. On the Badger PlayShip, a child can be the captain, communicate with the control tower and plane, and explore the nooks and crannies. Our construction zone has been moved to the Badger's lower level. The bubble table is back, but the river will soon be transformed into a section of the Amazon. The stage and piano, along with our great costume collection, are waiting for some new shows put on by our visitors. There is a cozy reading nook for quiet time, an infant center for our youngest visitors, and a nursing/changing area in a private location. The wishing well vortex is always a draw, and our SMART Table is an electronic alternative to many of the other exhibits. The art center is fully stocked and ready for another great year. Other items of interest are located throughout the museum.

 

Bouldering Wall

Our new horizontal climbing wall - bouldering wall - presents a new kind of challenge and fun for Sandcastles visitors.

Saltwater Fish Tank

Watch our fish tank change as we add fish and other sea life throughout the year to create a rich underwater environment.

Construction Zone

Build creations of all kinds in the Construction Zone using less common building toys as well as some old favorites.

Other Favorites

Community Gardens

Cultivate or pull the beets, onions, and carrots; pick tomatoes, beans, and corn. Learn how these vegetables grow.

Badger PlayShip

Be the captain - check the instruments, ring the bell, and steer the ship. Be a passenger and drive your car below deck. Stay with your "pet" below deck or go up on deck to see what's going on all over the museum. Explore the nooks around the ship.

Pere Marquette River water table

Float logs down the river, let down the bridge, build a dam, sail a boat - and discover how water flows.

Bank

You can be the banker who cashes checks and hands out money or the customer who writes the checks and spends the money!

Mirror

Long skinny body? Two heads? You will be surprised to see the "new you" in our Fun Mirror!

Grocery Store

Gather your groceries and place them in a hand held basket or child sized grocery cart! Be the clerk making the sale! Learn about good health at the Good Nutrition Exhibit.

Ice Cream Parlor

Serve up ice cream or take the orders. Learn about nutrition, menus and pricing.

Post Office

Write a letter and deliver it to one of the color coded mailboxes!

Bubbles Galore

Create giant bubbles at our new bubble table!

Rook the Bearded Dragon Lizard

Everyone loves Rook! Try to be at Sandcastles when Rook is chasing after his lunch, live crickets, that he is given once per week.

Piano

Using our color coded piano keys and sheet music, play a variety of songs on the piano.

Sand Box

Enjoy the feel of Lake Michigan sand! Measure and compare with the tools provided.

Art Center

Paint a picture, create with pipe cleaners and foam, or create your own masterpiece with a variety of our art supplies. Hang it up to dry and take it home.

Theater Stage and Dressing Room

Dress up, sing, dance or act out your favorite story on center stage.

Infant Center

This is a safe place for non walking children. It is padded and filled with interesting things to see and touch.

Discovery Bins

Choose from over 20 Discovery Bins, each containing a themed activity with activity card: Marble Run, Animal Fur, Magnets, Magna-Tiles, Snakes, Vet Kit, Be an Artist, Animal Skulls, Bugs, Read Aloud Books, etc.

Check out more fun activities for kids here.

Last Updated: 04-22-2013