Sandcastles adds tunnel maze for babies and toddlers

Lincoln Heyse, 19 months, and Emerson Walters, 3, try out the new exhibit.

Sandcastles adds tunnel maze for babies and toddlers

LUDINGTON — Sandcastles Children’s Museum recently purchased a Soft Zone Tunnel Maze through a grant by the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. The tunnel maze is geared especially for toddlers and babies just learning to crawl and pull themselves up. It includes tunnels, ramps, and blocks to climb on, around and through. The new exhibit will be featured each week for Preschool Fridays when the museum is open from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Great Lakes Energy People Fund has supported the museum in many ways over the past several years. The museum received grants of varying amounts in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. The two largest grants supported the airplane exhibit and the renovation of the upper floor. The 2016 grant funded the purchase of KEVA planks, which have been a hit at Friday Night Live as well as in the museum. Since parents like building with them too, they are a great draw for parent-child interaction, according to Kristin Korendyke, executive director. The 2017 grant funded Grandpa’s Little Barn, a sturdy little barn and animals located in a quiet spot where parents and grandparents often sit and play with younger children.

“Sandcastles Children’s Museum would like to thank Great Lakes Energy and all of their customers who support the People Fund,” Korendyke said. “The board of directors, executive director, manager and staff appreciates their partnership which allows us to enhance the educational impact of our museum for the children we serve.”