Submitted photo Lisa Martin (middle) and Michael Hayes (right) updated President Phillips Kolsun and the Elkins Rotary Club on the progress of the Elkins Interact Children’s Museum.

ELKINS — Lisa Martin (board president) and Michael Hayes (board treasurer) updated the Elkins Rotary Club on the progress of the Elkins Interact Children’s Museum (ICM).

Beginning in 2019, ICM operated as a mobile museum with an eye toward establishing a brick-and-mortar location. A significant gift was received from the Gerald and Judith Davis Foundation that helped move the needle closer to that goal. The organization launched a capital campaign and began the search for the right location. Earlier this year, Seneca Mall, LLC, offered ICM a lease on the Dann building on the corner of Third Street and Davis Avenue in downtown Elkins that will serve as the location of the museum for the foreseeable future. The Board of Directors have chosen to keep a portion of the original donation as a “nest egg” that can continue earning income toward a future home should they outgrow the Dann Building location. “Everyone involved in ICM, from Board Members to volunteers to our loyal fan base is excited for what the future holds,” according to Board President, Lisa Martin. “We can’t wait to have a dedicated space where families can come no matter the weather and without the time constraints they’ve had at school and public events. Having a building will also allow us to host field trips and birthday parties, as well as special events like camps and age specific events for middle school students, grandparents and many others.”

Late 2025 and early 2026 will see a flurry of activity for the museum. From now through January, the board will begin preliminary work on the downtown location, plan the museum start-up and launch the Founding 150 Campaign to support the start-up. In early 2026, the group aims to hire a director, refine its business protocols, work on the downtown space, continue its fundraising efforts and plan the grand opening of the downtown space. If all goes as planned, the museum will have its grand opening event and donor recognition in April.

Fundraising will be a key component in making ICM successful. Community support will allow the museum to purchase additional exhibits, such as a WOW exhibit that encourages movement and incorporates the community theme, along with other high quality, durable activities for the children to experience. Additional staff can be added and ongoing efforts to transform the museum spaces will be supported.

The Founding 150 campaign looks to draw together a group of 150 individual/family, business and non-profit organizations to raise a total of $500,000. To be part of the Founding 150, donors will be asked to contribute at the $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 levels; 2-year pledges will be accepted as well as in-kind gifts. Major donors will be recognized with on-site signage and will be invited to a pre-opening celebration at the downtown location. “Being a part of the Founding 150 is important because no matter where Interact Children’s Museum goes from here, those who contribute now will forever be recognized as the ones who made it possible to open the first brick and mortar museum,” added Martin.

All gifts to support the Elkins Interact Children’s Museum are welcome. In addition to cash gifts and in-kind gifts, gifts of time and talent are also needed. The space will need lots of work to be ready to connect the community through education and play.

“The volunteers at Interact Children’s Museum are still busy running our mobile museum. We have schools in Randolph and Tucker County scheduled every month for the rest of the school year. We also have a couple of public events planned. On Sunday, Dec. 21 we’ll be having a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest Fundraiser with the help of our friends at K.T. Bright, CPA. Watch for more information soon. Then on Thursday, Jan. 15 we’re once again partnering with Big Timber Brewing for an evening of fun for young and old. The information about that event can be found on our website,” concluded Martin.

Anyone interested in receiving the organization’s newsletter or volunteering with the group is encouraged to contact Martin at interactmuseum@gmail.com. They need volunteers who want to work with children, of course, but also helpers who can do computer work, move exhibits and soon those who want to paint, hammer and build. More information about the Interact Children’s Museum can be found at its website, www.interactchildrensmuseum.org, on Facebook (Interact Children’s Museum) or by emailing Martin at the Museum’s email address. Gifts may be made to support the work of the ICM by mailing a check to Interact Children’s Museum at PO Box 1481, Elkins, WV 26241 or by visiting the museum’s website and clicking on “Donate.”

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page — Rotary Club of Elkins — or contact club president Kenny George at kenneth.george@blueridgeriskpartners.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.