Flint Children's Museum

Flint Children's Museum
Established	1980
Location	Flint, Michigan
Type	Children's museum
Director	Brian Dilworth
Website	www.flintchildrensmuseum.org
Association of Science-Technology Centers
astc.org

Flint Children's Museum in Flint, Michigan was inspired by a visit to a Washington D.C. children’s museum in 1979. Local educator Mary Newman began Flint Children's Museum.^{[citation needed]}

Located on the campus of Kettering University at 1602 University Ave. (Formerly Third Ave.) in Flint.

Background

In 1980, a hands-on antiques and crafts exhibit for children was installed at Flint’s Sloan Museum. By 1986, the exhibit had grown so significantly that, with community support and additional grants, the Flint Children’s Museum’s first permanent location was established at NorthBank Center in downtown Flint, operating there for 7 years.^{[citation needed]}

An anonymous gift in 1990 created the Mary Newman Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. That fund, named for the museum’s founder and first Executive Director, has since grown to over 1 million dollars, and the proceeds from that fund continue to provide support for the museum.^{[citation needed]}

The current facility was donated by Kettering University, designated to house the Children’s Museum through a long-term lease. The Museum has been operating at this location since 1993.^{[citation needed]}

Exhibits & Programs

Educational hands-on exhibits for children:^{[citation needed]}

• Mr. Bones - showing how our skeletons work
• The Discovery Zone - a rotating exhibit space where there is always something new
• Our Town - where they can shop for groceries or visit Frac-tions Pizza Parlor
• Recycled Rhythms - where they can develop their musical skills ona variety of unconvenetional instruments
• Center Stage - where young performers can act out anything they imagine
• The Tot Spot - a safe space with activities for our visitors ages 0–3
• Sproutside - a natural, outdoor learning area

Monthly Themed Activities

Month	Activity
January 2011	It's All About the Mitten
February 2011	Whirlwind of Weather
March 2011	You Are What You Eat
April 2011	Save It!
May 2011	Get Caught Reading
June 2011	The Great Outdoors
July 2011	Up, Up and Away
August 2011	Ready, Set, Go!
September 2011	Construction Zone
October 2011	Messin' Around
November 2011	Silly Senses
December 2011	Going Global

^{[citation needed]}

External links

• Flint Children's Museum webpage