Local bank supports Star City exhibit at Children's Museum
First Clover Leaf Bank donated $6,300 in May for the exhibit
Star City is part of a learning experience for children at the museum that includes a market, medical center, airline, TV station, police and fire departments, a library - and the new bank and post office.
Officials with the First Clover Leaf Bank of Edwardsville and Children's Museum board members celebrated the opening of the new bank and post office exhibit with a ribbon cutting at the museum Thursday, Aug. 28.FCLB donated $6,300 for the exhibit in May, and will donate $2,500 in 2009 and 2010 for the Star City exhibit at the Children's Museum, according to Rachel Rodden, marketing assistant with First Clover Leaf Bank.
The bank/post office exhibit teaches children the importance of learning basic banking transactions in a fun and exciting way, said Lisa Leehy, Children's Museum executive director.
"It's ready for children to play in," Leehy said.
Leehy said the museum will later add a safe for the bank, and a place to sort mail for the post office.
"We'll also have some international money and stamps on display for children to look at," she said.
Climb up to the loft on the second floor, and children can have fun at the library, fire and police department exhibits in Star City.
Children can dress up in fire and police uniforms, and try out the Star City jail in the loft, Leehy said.
Leehy said the fire and police exhibits have been "hugely" popular at Star City.
"I guess (children) think it's fun to put the uniforms on and dress up," she said.
The entire Star City has been a work in progress for more than a year, Leehy said.
"We put in the fire and police departments in the loft last September," she said.
The museum added a market to Star City in March, and a library in April. "These will be permanent exhibits," Leehy said.
Rodden said she is excited for the bank to be able to contribute to Star City, and the community in general.
"I think it's fantastic," she said. "Anything we can do to help out our community is well worth it."
Rodden said the new bank and post office exhibits are a great learning experience for children.
"They can not only learn about banking, it's a good learning environment for children to interact with others," she said.
Star City was created as a learning environment for toddlers to children 12 years of age, helping to expose them to language, math, science, social science and health, Leehy said.
Programs at the museum include Toddler Explorers, Saturday Explorers and Summer Explorers, as well as field trips and other outreach programs. For more information, visit www.childrens-museum.net or call 692-2094.
