This will be the first of three blogs dedicated exclusively to our work with the new Great River Children’s Museum, located in downtown St. Cloud. This particular blog will discuss who Great River Children’s Museum and the community outreach they are targeting.

Now and again, a project comes along that generates a buzz around the BCI office and our community. Of course, we take pride in every project that we work on and do our absolute best to create lasting, beautiful solutions for our clients, but some are especially close to our hearts. For example, the work we have done for Anna Marie’s Alliance and Tri-County Humane Society’s new facility was especially impactful.

We are excited to announce our next great venture. BCI Construction has been awarded the Construction Manager Role for the new Great River Children’s Museum, in downtown St. Cloud.

What is the Great River Children’s Museum?

Great River Children’s Museum is a nonprofit that creates a space where children and their caregivers can create, explore, and discover through the power of play right here in central Minnesota. GRCM is looking to create a space outside of a child’s home and school that offers fun interactive learning. Focusing on STEM-based education, the museum is looking to offer programming and opportunities to build cultural awareness, music education, art, and much more. 

Programming at the museum will include core exhibits, day-to-day projects and activities as well as group field trips and classes. This will be split into indoor play areas, outdoor play areas, and classroom settings. The museum hopes to also include traveling exhibitions and outreach projects to best serve the community. It will be a space for regular visitors and annual trips as well as an option for last-minute fun.

Besides just area residents, Great River Children’s Museum hopes to provide a fun space for groups looking for activities closer to home – saving a long drive to and from the Twin Cities. It’s also a great stopping point for campers or cabin-goers looking to blow off a little steam halfway between home and the lake. 

How Can Community Members Help?

Donations

The first step in this project (as with any adventurous ideas) is fundraising. Great River Children’s Museum is looking to raise roughly $10 million to fund full indoor/outdoor exhibit areas. Every donation brings the museum a little closer to its goal. if you would like to donate, you can mail in your donation or send funds securely online through one-time or monthly donations.

The future location of the museum is the old Liberty Bank location on 7th Avenue. As of right now, the drive-through tubes in the old bank are still functional, so if you so choose, you could deposit your contribution right into their office!

Corporate Sponsorship

Sponsorships and corporate gift options are also available if your organization or company is interested in becoming a sponsor. Contact Cassie at GRCM to learn more about these opportunities.

Spread the Word

Word of mouth is also a great way to get involved. Sign up for GRCM’s newsletter to stay up-to-date on the project, its progress, and current needs. You can also like and share their Facebook page with family and friends.

Volunteer

Finally, volunteers are always welcome. This project is by and for the central Minnesota community. The museum is looking for a variety of people with skills they can share, such as musicians, artists, teachers, etc. if you would like to volunteer, please submit this form.  

At BCI, we’ve worked on a ton of amazing projects around Central Minnesota. When we find one that has a goal of giving back to our community, we want to spread the word! Even if you aren’t able to volunteer, or donate to this amazing organization, we encourage you to spread the word around our community! Visit Greatrivercm.org to learn more.