Exploration Station, an interactive children’s museum, welcomes children from birth to 8 years old to explore its many exhibits. The children’s museum, located at 104 N. Chestnut St. in Lumberton, is open by appointment only. It is accepting donations and invites the public to engage in its virtual silent auction Nov. 18-20.
Courtesy photo | Robeson County Partnership for Children, Inc.
LUMBERTON — A virtual silent auction to raise funds for Exploration Station has been scheduled for Nov. 18-21.
After COVID 19 caused a cancellation of the nonprofit’s Circus themed in-person event in March, an alternative “Under the Big Top” online auction fundraiser was devised to raise money to support activities at Robeson County’s only children’s museum, according to Robeson County Partnership for Children.
The Partnership, which operates Exploration Station, will serve as host for the auction, which will give supporters a way to help Exploration Station from the comfort and safety of their home.
Participants can bid on a wide range of packages, from recreational and travel experiences to home décor and apparel. Each participant must register for an online account at https://rcpc2020.ggo.bid. The bidding will open 9 a.m. Nov. 18 and close 9 p.m. Nov. 21.
Participants will be notified by text or email during the auction when they have been outbid on an item and will have the chance to set a “Max Bid” on an item and let the system bid for them until the bids reach their desired maximum. Bidders may also “favorite” items to keep a watch on items on which they wish to bid.
Once registered, participants can bid from any mobile device.
Among items to be bid on are a NASCAR experience driving a race car complete with video, and tandem skydiving with Mike Elliott, who jumped with former President George Bush. Experiences up for bid also include a stay in the mountains of Asheville, a backyard pig-pickin’ and concert, and a private screening for 25 people at the historic Carolina Civic Center. Electronics fans will find an Apple Watch, Iphone XS and Ring Security System, among the packages offered. Other items include spa visits, dining and entertainment gift card packages, home décor, artwork by local artists, and child friendly offerings.
The fundraiser comes at a critical time for Exploration Station. The interactive museum closed in March under Gov. Roy Cooper’s orders and was not able to begin scheduling single-family visits until September. In addition to revenue lost from attendance and memberships, popular summer camps and special programming were cancelled, which created more revenue losses.
The museum relies on the donations of community members to provide a safe, educational play space for children from birth to age 8. The Exploration Station helps encourage fine and gross motor skills for children and provides an environment in which children have the ability to participate in creative and exploratory play, with minimal adult direction.
“Young children do not get enough opportunities to explore without interference or interruption … They spend too much time in prescriptive environments where they are told what to do and how to do it. We need to correct that unfortunate trend, giving them space and materials to let their instincts as learners take over as they physically explore their world. It’s what they do naturally and unfortunately what is being inhibited with increasing frequency,” said Kate Wells, CEO of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Arizona.
Auction sponsors include Drs. Joseph and Annette Burke, Commercial Piping and Fabricating, Cook Insurance Services, United Bank, Mr. and Mrs. David F. Branch Jr, First Baptist Church WMU, Hunt and Brooks Attorneys at Law, Lumberton Jr. Service League, McCrimmon Family Dentistry, Members Credit Union, Dr. and Mrs. Colin Osborne, Pembroke Chamber of Commerce, Mr. and Mrs. David Ramsaur, Pier 41, Robeson County Board of Commissioners member David Edge, Dr. and Mrs. Chris Walters, Rust Enterprises, First Bank, Beck and Blackley Chiropractic Clinic, Walmart #7209, and Emerge Gymnastics.
