By Stewart A. McFerran
There are lots of things to observe at Cognition Science and Discovery Center in Beulah. All five senses are best used here. Located across U.S. Highway 31 from the Cherry Hut, the nonprofit center has a fresh, contemporary feel with a time-honored mission: to help people learn through hands-on experiences that inspire awe, wonder and a curiosity to investigate their world
In addition to science activities and games, you’ll find animals of all kinds. Giant African turtles sometimes roam about, to the delight of small children who may not outweigh them. Boa constrictor “Severus” can be seen adorning the necks of Cognition staff, and colorful birds are heard chirping from their cages. I’ve seen young children taste the shiny rocks on display, though I don’t recommend this.
With support from Cognition’s co-founder and Executive Director Kimberlee (Wenkel) Miller, I recently installed a new exhibit that encourages visitors to make observations using only their sense of touch. The exhibit, located outside Cognition’s front door, includes a large section of tree trunk with a hole once used by animals to enter and exit. By placing an arm through the hole, a visitor can feel with one hand the object placed inside the trunk. Then, before pulling their hand away, they’re asked to describe their find in words.
One parent made me promise there were no spiders in the log before reaching inside. She described the object as “smooth” and having “arms and legs.” She even recognized the plastic character before she pulled it out. Low and behold, Green Gumby had been lurking inside the tree!
For information about membership in Cognition Science and Discovery Center or its camps and parties, go to DiscoverCognition.org. Visit the center in person at 232 N. Michigan Ave., Beulah. Hours listed on the website are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Contact Cognition staff at 231-383-4095.
Stewart McFerran works part time at Cognition Science and Discovery Center, where he draws on his past experiences as an instructor at Northwestern Michigan College’s Northern Naturalist program and as a graduate assistant at the Western Michigan University Center for Science Education.
