EXHIBITS
Hands-On Learning Through Play
The Children's Discovery Museum is in the process of completing the fabrication of our brand-new exhibits for our Exhibit Hall! These state-of-the-art installations were developed by our experienced team alongside designer Rusty Lamar of Field Magnet Design, LLC. Our team worked with Rusty, who has years of experience designing whimsical public installations and children's exhibits, to create exhibits that spark a child's curiosity and invite them to play and discover, incorporating a mixture of opportunities for imaginative play, cause-and-effect experimentation, and content knowledge acquisition. Each exhibit is appropriate for a range of ages and encourages our grown-up friends to explore and play alongside their children.
While many of our exhibits are already completed and installed, we still have more to come!
Here's a sneak-peak at each of the four zones in the Exhibits Hall.
Forest
“I am a steward of the environment and I am familiar with the plants and animals of Maine.”
A strong relationship with the natural world is fostered by developing empathy for other living creatures and interacting with nature in a respectful manner that satisfies innate curiosity but leaves no trace. In the Forest, a massive elm tree named Evelyn towers above the forest floor where children are immersed in a rich, magical experience that nurtures a connection to the outdoors. A research cabin near by allows children to dig a little deeper, studying the intricacies of the outdoor world.
Thank you to our Forest Sponsors!
Oak Grove School Foundation, Ramlose Foundation, Franklin Savings Bank
THE MILL
“I am a maker. I can use tools and make changes to build and fix things. I can create something that didn’t exist before.”
STEM learning is stimulated by intuitive exploration of force and motion through manipulating objects, operating simple machines, and inventing gadgets. In the Mill Zone, interactive industrial buildings clustered around the Giant Clock Tower invite children to explore three main mill industries – paper, textiles, and shoe-making.
Thank you to our Mill Zone sponsors!
American Society of Civil Engineers, Bangor Savings Foundation, Central Maine Power, Davis Family Foundation, Golden Pond Wealth Management, Skowhegan Savings Bank
THE CITY
“I am a member of the community. I can use my skills and interests to communicate with others and make the world a better place.”
The new exhibit floor will be separated into different zones, including the City Zone, featured here. A whimsical and interactive Main Street will combine a world of make-believe with realistic city scenarios where children can explore the built environment and the social connections that emerge from it. Unstructured play amid familiar and fantastical city structures allows children to cultivate social skills, experiment with different occupations, and start examining elementary economics. You can expect this zone to include exhibits like a Farmers Market, Auto shop, Post office, Hardware store, Lemonade Stand and Restaurant.
Thank you to our City Zone sponsors!
G & E Roofing, KV Federal Credit Union, Central Maine Motors, Burger-Roy Family Charitable Trust, Brown House Properties, The Unity Foundation
THE RIVER
“The watershed is vast, but my actions matter”
Learning the principles of ecology, conservation, and Earth science at an early age creates an appreciation for the natural world and nurtures lifelong stewards of the environment. The piers, pilings, pipes, and spouts of the city lead us to a big bend in the river. The water zone moves away from human-centric playspace to “Magic School Bus”-style field trip into the world of Maine’s aquatic life. Half-walls and Aquatic plant forests rise up from the floor to allow children the sensation of moving underwater. The layout focuses on animal homes to mimic the “neighborhood” structure of the city zone allowing children to draw parallels across species.
Thank you to our Watershed sponsor!
Borman Family Foundation, Plourde Family
In addition to the sponsors above, we'd like to thank MaineGeneral Health and Northern Light inland Hospital for their collaborative support of our Health & Wellness component which is integrated into the exhibits and our entranceway mural. And thank you to Colby College, Kennebec Savings Bank, and the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation for your general support of our exhibit hall.
Sponsorships still available!
If you'd like to learn more contact amarinda@childrensdiscoverymusuem.org.