.png)
LUDINGTON — Sandcastles Children’s Museum recently received a $3,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Mason County and a $2,500 grant from Great Lakes Energy People Fund for a social emotional learning exhibit called Zen’s Den.
The Community Foundation of Mason County has been a frequent supporter of Sandcastles’ exhibits and programming. This project is made possible by a grant from the Drs. Ruth and John Carney Education Fund and House of Flavors Fund of the Community Foundation for Mason County. The funds provided will install a custom-made magnetic learning board for the exhibit.
Great Lakes Energy People Fund has also supported many of the new features installed at the museum in recent years. This year’s grant will help fund some of the interactive technology featured in the exhibit.
“Our new exhibit will feature ‘Zen’, a caring character who will invite children in to explore hands-on activities that help them understand emotions, emotional needs, and positive practices,” said Kristin Korendyke, Sandcastles’ executive director. “Zen welcomes kids into his little cottage to explore different emotions through play, and we’ve come up with some creative ways to make this topic fun.”
Sandcastles has enlisted the help of local artists, a crocheters group, builders, woodworkers, a song writer, a videographer, and a graphic designer to help with building of the exhibit.
“We have the most amazing volunteers and support from the community,” Korendyke said. “I have called on all my favorite helpers to lend their talent to the creation of Zen’s Den which is scheduled to open at the museum’s New Year’s Eve Party, Dec. 31, 2024. “
Other community members supported the creation of the exhibit by participating in brainstorming sessions in the initial planning phase. A group of teachers, counselors, therapists, doctors, parents and staff from West Michigan Community Mental Health contributed to the ideas that should be presented. Another supporter, Hegg’s Furniture of Ludington, donated Zen’s big chair.
The exhibit will be Korendyke’s last before her retirement at the end of the year.
“After 18 years with this organization and building countless exhibits, this last one is near and dear to my heart. Emotional wellness is what our kids need; it’s what we all need. Like all of our exhibits, Zen’s Den will take a fun hands-on approach to the subject. In addition to its focus on identifying emotions and giving kids positive ways to process them, it will support parents as they navigate their child’s emotional needs.”
The museum has begun a fundraising campaign to raise the funds needed to complete the building of the exhibit and accompanying programming. Donations to support this initiative can be made on the museum’s website at sandcastleschildrensmuseum.com.
Sandcastles Children’s Museum is currently open Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Its birthday party room is available.
_________________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
The easiest way is to sign up for an automatic monthly payment on Paypal. Click this link.
Alternative methods:
- We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
If you would like to support MCP/OCP but do not wish to receive daily emails, please consider sending a contribution to any of the above methods or pay by Venmo (@masoncountypress).
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2024, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
.jpg)
