The Gift of a Great Start

Give the gift of a great start.

We’re working to bring a children’s museum to downtown Grand Haven, a place made for play, close to home.

90%

Great starts happen early.

By age five, a child’s brain is nearly 90% grown. Play in those years builds the skills children carry into kindergarten and beyond.

Imagine it.

Picture a gray Saturday in February. A toddler crawls through a space made just for the littlest explorers. A grandfather and his grandson take the helm of a Coast Guard play boat. Their older cousin wires her first circuit and watches a tiny bulb light up.

That’s the gift we want to give: a great start for every child, in every season, close to home.

The only thing of momentous value we leave behind is the next generation, our kids—all our kids. We all need to work together to give them the gift of a good start in life.

Colin Powell, It Worked for Me

Hear from our neighbors.

Families and educators from Grand Haven and Spring Lake share why our kids need a children’s museum close to home. (5 min)

When children play, learning happens.

And when communities create safe places for play, we all thrive.

For Play

Open-ended spaces where children explore, pretend and try again.

For Learning

Hands-on science, art and discovery inspired by the river and the lake.

For Connection

A year-round gathering place where families of every background belong.

Become a Museum Insider

Get the inside scoop as the Museum takes shape: exhibits, news and ways you can help.

Voices of support

“I just can’t think of any place where the impact will last longer than investing in a children’s museum for our community.”

Jennie Nowak
Board President

“The most important volunteer project I’ve ever been involved with was the Imagination Station… I think the people who get involved with the children’s museum will have the same sense of satisfaction.”

Wendy Creason
Imagination Station Project Chair

“If you truly don’t understand how important it is to support a children’s museum in our community, please visit one. And please visit it when it’s busy too, so you can see all the joy.”

Kelly Grimes
Retired Grand Haven Educator