Silver Lake Sand Dunes Celebrations

EXHIBITS
The exhibits at Sandcastles keeps growing, thanks to local volunteers. New this year are the Wishing Well Vortex and the Electronic SMART Table. Check out Grandpa's Farm, where children can visit the barn, chicken coop, planting area and milk Buttercup the Cow. The model Pere Marquette River allows kids to build dams and float logs and boats down the river. The Badger Play Ship is modeled after the S.S. Badger carferry and features a slide. Children are captivated by its many attractions, including real instruments, a wheelhouse, space to drive cars on and off, plus nooks and crannies to play in. Other great activities for kids include Discovery Bins, Dental Display, Salon, Theater Stage and Dressing Room, Art Center, Sand Box, and Grocery Store. At the Planting Gardens, children can pick and pull vegetables and learn how they grow.

During the summer, Sandcastles offers special programs. "Munchkin Mondays" are geared for pre-school children ages 2-4, where children are treated to a variety of activities at 10:30am. "Thrilling Thursdays" are for children ages 5-11 at 10:30am.

HISTORY
Sandcastles Children's Museum has been in operation since 2006, and first began as a "summer sampler museum." Visitation to the Museum has grown from 1,500 its first year to more than 15,000 in 2010. They first occupied a small building on south James Street, then moved to a larger facility four times bigger. Now they have found a permanent home in the former Elks Lodge, corner of N. Harrison and Ludington Avenue. Through donations and many volunteers, the building is being renovated to make it into a kid-friendly museum.

HOURS
Summer hours are 9:30am-5pm Monday-Saturday. Fall and winter hours (Sept. 9-Dec. 18) are Friday and Saturday 9:30am-1pm. Admission to Sandcastles alone is $4.00 per person, babies one year and younger free.

If you would like to make a donation to Sandcastles, you may write a check to the Community Foundation for Mason County and send it to Sandcastles at P.O. Box 595, Ludington, MI 49431. Or go online to mason-foundation.org to make a credit card donation directly to the Sandcastles Capital Campaign fund.