Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club Returns with Community Partners for Hands-On Great Lakes Fun
March 4, 2026 (Toledo, Ohio) – The National Museum of the Great Lakes is inviting its youngest visitors to explore, create, and discover through Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club, a monthly program designed especially for children ages 0–6 and their caregivers.
Held on the third Thursday of the month at 11 a.m. in March, April, May, September, October, and November, Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club takes place inside the museum’s Great Lakes Community Education Center. Each session features a community partner, bringing fresh stories, interactive activities, and engaging experiences that connect little learners to the region’s history and natural world.
This season’s partners include Nature’s Nursery, Frogtown Players, Maroks GlassRoots, and Black Swamp Bird Observatory. From live animal ambassadors and beach glass exploration to theatrical storytelling and hands-on crafts, each program is thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, build early literacy skills, and create meaningful Great Lakes connections.
“Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club is about cultivating the next generation of Great Lakes ambassadors,” said Cris Shell, Experience Manager with the National Museum of the Great Lakes. “Working with incredible community organizations allows us to create memorable experiences and a connection to the Great Lakes through place-based, playful, and accessible programming.”
The program is included with regular museum admission and is free for National Museum of the Great Lakes members and Museums for All participants (families receiving SNAP benefits). Registration is required.
For a full schedule and to register, visit nmgl.org/events.
About the National Museum of the Great Lakes: The National Museum of the Great Lakes preserves, shares, and celebrates the past, present, and future of the Great Lakes story. As an interactive, experiential museum, we offer visitors the chance to explore thousands of years of history and stories through nine dynamic exhibit galleries—including a rotating temporary exhibition space—and two historic museum vessels, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio, plus the pilothouse of the storied St. Marys Challenger.
Founded in 1944 as the Great Lakes Historical Society, we have a long-standing commitment to education, research, and storytelling. Our initiatives include the publication of Inland Seas®, a quarterly journal of Great Lakes history since 1945, and decades of maritime preservation and archaeological exploration. Today, we strive to be the gathering place for Great Lakes conversations—welcoming all to connect with the stories, people, and innovations that have shaped and continue to influence this vital region.
WHAT: Lil’ Scupper’s Kids Club
WHEN: Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 11 am
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 11 am
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 11 am
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 11 am
Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 11 am
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 11 am
WHERE: National Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St., Toledo, OH 43605
ADMISSION: $20.00 (Museum & Ship) / $14.00 (Museum Only) – Adults (18-64)
$18.00 (Museum & Ship) / $12.00 (Museum Only) – Seniors (65+)
$14.00 (Museum & Ship) / $8.00 (Museum Only) – Youth (6-17)
FREE – Children 5 and under, GLHS/NMGL Members,
Museums for All participants
MEDIA CONTACT: Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, 419-460-8181
