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Amelia Park Children's Museum prepares for grand opening
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MassMutual employees volunteered their time to help the Amelia Park Children's Museum prepare for its grand opening during the United Way's Day of Caring. Reminder Publications photo by Katelyn Gendron
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By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
WESTFIELD On Sept. 5, over 20 MassMutual employees volunteered for the United Way's Day of Caring to help the Amelia Park Children's Museum (APCM) prepare for its grand opening on Sept. 27.
The museum has been in transition for the past year closing its Elm Street location and moving to a new facility at 29 South Broad St. while board members continued to fundraise to finance many of the remaining exhibits still yet to be built.
In an interview with Reminder Publications, Robin Jensen, incoming chair of the APCM board explained that despite only having a few exhibits fully functional the board decided the museum's doors must open in order to generate revenue for the remaining exhibits.
"There is enough here for a child to be educated and innovated," she said, noting that each of the exhibits cost between $25,000 and $375,000.
Only two of the 13 proposed exhibits have been installed including The Kid Powered Universe exhibit and the Big Y exhibit. However, Jensen said the Berkshire Bank exhibit, the Friendly's exhibit and the medical exhibit have been fully funded and are waiting to be installed.
Each exhibit allows children to learn about various aspects of daily life such as grocery shopping at Big Y, withdrawing cash at the Berkshire Banks ATM or dining out at Friendly's. The Kid Powered Universe allows children to learn about space exploration and the powerful energy created by the sun, as they shoot 2,000 foam balls out of compressed air cannons to "power the sun."
Other exhibits without full funding include the Act It Out Theater, the restaurant or caf , the Toddler Garden, the Healthy You (Wellness) exhibit, the science stations, the multicultural exhibit and nature center.
MassMutual employees were on hand last week to help organize the museum's supplies, landscape and prepare of a month-long series of events to gradually open the museum.
The month-long grand opening calendar includes the beginning of the Greater Springfield Music Together Classes, a 10-week music and movement program for children up to age six and their parents or caregiver, Fall Playgroups on Mondays and Wednesdays, the Touch-A-Truck Open House & Brick Viewing Events on Sept. 13 and the APCM's Annual Public Meeting on Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
The Touch-A-Truck event will bring a variety of emergency vehicles as well as a smart car, army humvee and dump truck to the museum's grounds as well as face painting and raffles from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The rain date is Sept. 14. Jensen noted that this event will also allow parents and their children to tour the new museum and utilize the exhibits. There is a suggested donation for $10 per family.
Courtney Chisholm, APCM supervisor, explained that the efforts of numerous volunteers, including those from MassMutual and those each weekend have allowed the museum to finally open its doors for regular hours later this month.
"The Amelia Park Children's Museum would not run if it was not for volunteers," she said. "We would still be two years away from opening if not for them."
She noted that the museum has been open for fundraisers and birthday parties since the move from Elm Street. Regular hours beginning after the grand opening will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. The museum will be closed on Tuesdays.
Jensen said she believes the Elm Street location was "a mom and pop set up" for the Westfield community but hopes that this new location will provide a "regional" children's museum for all those in the Valley.
For more information about the APCM, events or playgroups call 572-4014 or visit their Web site at www.ameliaparkmuseum.org.
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