CURIOSITY GROWS HERE!

CURIOSITY GROWS HERE!

Pssst… hey you! Yes, you. I’ve got some exciting news to share! During this strange and challenging year we’ve been dreaming up something big. As I write this, we’re busy installing a new exhibition in the David & Carol Van Andel Children’s Gallery, on the lower level of the main building, within the Covenant Learning Center. Head down the stairs across from the James & Shirley Balk Café and you can’t miss it.

Curiosity Courtyard: A Garden Discovery Experience just opened in February, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to present it to you. This new space designed specifically for children and families has been 2+ years in the making. In partnership with Museum Explorer and Bluewater Studio, we’ve created a bold, bright and immersive place for indoor exploration and creative play.

Inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classic The Secret Garden and composed of elements prevalent in English garden design, this new space includes ten engaging activity stations for our youngest guests—and their adults!—to expand their imagination and grow their curiosity. Pass through the grand entry gates, open wide in welcome and promenade along the winding brick path. Stop by the frog “fountain” light table, then make your way to the rose trellis to hone your pruning skills. Stroll to the turf lawn for a game of hopscotch or quoits (a ring toss game popular in 19th century England), then catch your breath during a quiet moment of rest and reflection in the gazebo. Practice balance and proportion with topiary building blocks, and plant and harvest vegetables at the Caretaker’s Cottage. Finally, turn the key and swing open the arched wooden door to discover the walled garden, then enjoy a storybook under the canopy of leafy green you’ll find inside.

As in our previous children’s exhibitions, Curiosity Courtyard features a stunning digitally printed carpet, custom-designed for our exhibition, richly illustrated with mossy stone pathways, vibrant tangles of flowers and an array of creatures and hidden objects tucked into the nooks and crannies to sharpen your powers of observation. Grab an activity card from the pedestal at the center of the hedge maze for a fun scavenger hunt.

In order to ensure a safe environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Curiosity Courtyard will open with limited hours and reduced capacity. Periodic closures will take place to sanitize surfaces. Additional information can be found at MeijerGardens.org/ChildrensGallery. As in all our indoor areas, masks are currently required for guests ages 5 and up. We thank you in advance for your patience, understanding and flexibility. Come grow your curiosity with us—we can’t wait to see you!

Essay by Jess Hart, Director of Education

Find hidden objects throughout the Curiosity Courtyard inspired by the beloved classic, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson.