Programming offers a wide variety of educational experiences to help residents connect with the environment, each other, and the natural world around them.

Families, residents, and visitors are invited to enjoy the summer season with the return of two popular community programs.

All activities on the riverfront, accessible via Pearl Street, will be free to the public. No ticket is required. Admission tickets will be required to enter the Museum. 

Due to strong interest in the program, Life EMS plans to host a second Ottawa County EMT class beginning in September.

The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from the oceans’ sunlit surfaces to their inky depths, exploring how 21st-century technologies like robotics, ROVs and AUVs, satellite monitoring, miniaturization, and high-definition imaging are transforming scientists’ understanding of the more than 70 percent of Earth covered by oceans.

The initiative, part of the national America250 effort commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary, empowers students to create original content exploring the nation’s past, present, and future through community-driven storytelling and youth perspectives.

The coalition focuses on providing consistent positive role models and pathways forward for youth facing systemic challenges such as violence, theft, and drugs.

Students are invited to create and submit 30- to 60-second vertical videos sharing a positive, real-life experience from their public school.

This interactive exhibit invites audiences to explore multiple aspects of aviation, from the rich history of the Tuskegee Airmen to 21st-century STEM concepts.

The Nursing Scholars program was designed to remove financial barriers for aspiring nurses while creating a direct pipeline for talent to remain in the community.

The program is made possible by a generous gift from Calvin alumnus Michael and Wendi VanWoerkom, founder of ExoTerra, an aerospace company specializing in satellite propulsion systems and recently acquired by Voyager Space.

After witnessing bullying and negative messaging in their schools and communities, the students decided to design a service project focused on spreading encouragement through positive affirmations and acts of compassion.

The expo offers a hands-on experience that brings healthcare careers to life.

Coinciding with the expansion, Life EMS welcomed its first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class in Ottawa County.

The state ranks 31st nationally in 8th-grade math proficiency, with the largest gaps affecting students experiencing poverty, students of color, students with disabilities, and multilingual learners. 

The funding will sustain six tutoring positions serving more than 150 Kentwood students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The gift will fund advanced laboratory equipment, create the VanWoerkom Aerospace Lab, and establish the VanWoerkom Endowed Professorship dedicated to space systems, hands-on student projects, and external research funding.

The new partnership will provide nursing students with expanded clinical training opportunities, tuition assistance, and direct workforce pathways in rehabilitative care.

The platform was developed in response to the needs of adult learners – particularly those who paused or postponed earning a degree due to time, cost, or inflexible schedules.

The competition invites students ages 13 to 18 across the U.S. to create a short film (up to three minutes) using only mobile devices.