ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Great Explorations Children’s Museum is asking families and community members to help shape its next chapter.

The museum kicked off the first of eight public community forums Tuesday as it explores the possibility of creating a new Discovery Center designed to serve older children through eighth grade. The studies are scheduled as follows:

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WHERE: 5800 22nd St. S.
St. Petersburg, FL

WHEN: 

Wednesday, July 15

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Youth Community Forum – Young people are especially encouraged to attend and share their ideas.)

The meetings are part of a feasibility study aimed at gathering public feedback before any decisions are made about the project’s future.

For longtime supporters, the museum’s nearly 40-year history made attending the forum an easy decision.

“I’ve been at Great Explorations when it was just a few peg boards and things like that,” community member Donna Mainguth said. “I think we’ve just outgrown what we can do there.”

Museum leaders envision a space that blends the hands-on learning of a children’s museum with the interactive exhibits typically found in a science center, offering expanded experiences in science, technology, engineering and other STEAM fields.

“So you really take a science center and a children’s museum and you bring them together to create one,” said Laurel Ginn, chief administrative officer for Great Explorations Children’s Museum. “Our goal is to be able to capture the family from birth all the way through eighth grade.”

Leaders emphasized that the project is still in its early stages, and no final decisions have been made. That includes whether the Discovery Center would be built at a new location or operate alongside the museum’s current home.

According to Ginn, Great Explorations expects to remain at its current site for at least another year and would not have access to a potential new location until June 2027.

Once the feasibility study is complete and organizers determine the next steps, the museum plans to launch a fundraising campaign.

“At 40 years, we don’t want to ruin anything that we’ve already done,” Ginn said. “We want to make sure that we are embracing everything that the community wants from us as an organization.”

Supporters say the project has the potential to give more children access to educational opportunities that prepare them for the future.

“It’s important to know that we give our young people as much opportunity as we can to fulfill their potential,” Mainguth said. “Every child deserves a chance.”

Registration is encouraged, but organizers say everyone is welcome to attend and share their ideas. Visit Great Explorations for more information.

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