Groundbreaking of Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum held, expected to open next fall

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The Mount Pleasant Discovery Museum is one step closer to being built from the ground up.

Groundbreaking was held Dec. 16 at the future home of the museum, 5093 Remus Road, after enough funds were raised to construct the foundation of the building.

Funds still need to be raised to build the exhibits inside the future museum, said Jennifer Fields, co-founder of MPDM and member of the board of directors.

Fields said MPDM is moving to phase two of capital fundraising efforts, with the focus being to build an effective museum for the community.

The goal of the capital campaign is to raise $1.8 million.

The first year operating budget is projected to be $250,000, said Heather Frisch, MPDM office manager.

There are three parts to the capital campaign: corporate, major and general.

The corporate portion will entail asking corporations for donations. The major portion will include face-to-face solicitation with possible donors. The general campaign will include mailing those who may be interested in donating.

“We need an army of donors,” Fields said. “Every donation is helpful.”

While teaching at Mid Michigan Community College, Fields shared the MPDM project with her students.

A student donated $5 to the cause, but felt embarrassed.

“We’ve all been at a time in our lives where $5 is a lot of money,” Fields said. “We would have lost time, talent and treasure if she wouldn’t have made that donation.”

Fields said she hopes through donations the community will feel they have a part in the museum.

She said MPDM is hoping to make the museum a place to host events.

“We hope to make it a funky, eclectic place to gather,” Fields said. “The community needs that infusion.”

To make the museum a success, volunteers are needed, she said. They need people to invite people they know that would be interested and those interested in office clerical work.

MPDM galleries

MPDM will feature 11 galleries providing opportunities for children to reach Michigan Education standards and benchmarks.

These standards are fulfilled and will be cultivated though galleries including a farmers market, journey to Japan, river wire, beehive creation, a greenhouse, rocket climber, music fusion room and an outdoor exhibit.

Children will not be mingling with bees or real food in the farmers market, Frisch said.

She said the galleries will just simulate the places they describe.

Frisch said the exhibit company researched what children and adults were interested in learning about to determine the themes of the exhibits.

“Each children’s museum should be reflective of the community,” Frisch said.

The museum is expected to open next fall or early winter.