Chronicle Excerpt

Nearly five years after first breaking ground, the United Learning Center (ULC) will celebrate its official opening in Centralia with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m.

The ULC is a collaboration between United Way of Lewis County, the Discover! Children’s Museum, the Boys and Girls Club of Lewis County, and Bezos Academy, a tuition-free Montessori-style preschool.

The City of Centralia owns the 17,900-square-foot building located on the corner of Maple Street and North Pearl Street.

United Way of Lewis County and the Discover! Children’s Museum operate as the main tenants. United Way subleases its portion to Bezos Academy and the Boys and Girls Club.

Cascade Community Healthcare, an early partner in the project, may occupy space at the center in the future.

Discover! opened its doors on April 25.

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Chronicle Excerpt

Four-year-old Brycen Milton’s meticulous eye for detail paid off when he won a coloring contest in 2013 sponsored by those seeking to start a children’s museum in Lewis County. As a reward, during the grand opening of a pilot museum at the Twin City Town Center that year, he created a cast of his handprints.

Today, those handprints and Brycen’s photo grace the wall just inside the door of the brand-new Discover! Children’s Museum at 415 N. Pearl Street in Centralia. And on Saturday, Brycen, now 17, assisted with the ribbon-cutting at the grand opening.

He doesn’t color anymore — I asked — but the young man from Napavine said he’ll likely put his fine motor skills to work as an electrician.

He can do anything he wants, something evident by the very existence of the museum once only a dream of his preschool teacher and another working mom.

Seventeen years ago, Kelly Vanesse organized a field trip to the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, and a parent picking up her child from preschool afterward bemoaned the fact that the local community didn’t have a similar venue.

Vanesse and the parent, Renell Norquist, a nurse at Providence Centralia Hospital, set to work in 2009 exploring what it would take to start a children’s museum in Lewis County. They sought advice from local community leaders who embraced the idea, including members of the Chehalis Community Renaissance Team, known today as Experience Chehalis.

“I’m just amazed, you know, seeing a dream come true,” Vanesse said. “What’s so amazing is actually seeing it come to fruition. We have an incredible board.”

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Located in the heart of Centralia, this newly constructed museum space was created to give children and families throughout Lewis County and Southwest Washington a place where curiosity leads the way, and learning happens through play. With interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, Discover! Children’s Museum encourages kids to experiment, imagine, and discover the world around them.

The journey to opening day has been more than a decade in the making. What started as an idea from two local educators grew as parents, educators, and advocates came together around a shared vision for a children’s museum. Over time, it evolved into a true community effort supported by volunteers, donors, civic leaders, and partners.

“Discover! Children’s Museum was built by the community and for the community,” said Board Chair Larry McGee. “Since the 2013 pilot museum first sparked this vision, we are incredibly grateful to the many people who believed in it and helped bring it to life.”

Located within the new United Learning Center, the museum operates in partnership with United Way of Lewis County, the City of Centralia, and neighbors, including the Bezos Academy, Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, and Cascade Community Healthcare. The grand opening represents an important milestone as families begin to experience the space and build meaningful connections.

Visitors can expect a vibrant, family-friendly environment filled with hands-on experiences designed to support early learning, creativity, and play. The museum’s exhibits encourage children to ask questions, experiment, and learn by doing, an approach proven to support early childhood development and lifelong curiosity.

Discover! Children’s Museum aims to become a hub for family engagement, school partnerships, and community events throughout the region.

Families interested in visiting during the grand opening can learn more by following Discover! Children’s Museum on social media or visiting the museum website for updates on hours and programming.

The museum is seeking an Operations Manager, Outreach Coordinator, and Front Desk/Admissions Services Associate to help build a welcoming, energetic team dedicated to serving families across Lewis County.

“At the Discover! Children’s Museum, kids can create, build, and explore through interactive exhibits designed for learning, playing, and discovering,” said museum Executive Director, Shelby Campbell. “Every visit will feed their imaginations and build confidence, and we’re thrilled to begin assembling a team that will help bring these experiences to life.”

The museum is seeking applicants who are passionate about working with children and excited about providing new opportunities for learning and growth in Lewis County. Team members will play a key role in creating a warm, inclusive environment where families feel welcomed and inspired.

Interested applicants can learn more about the positions and application details at:
https://discovermuseum.my.canva.site/

Questions may be directed to: info@discovermuseum.org.

The Discover! Children’s Museum will offer hands-on exhibits and programs designed to spark curiosity and support learning through play, providing a new destination for families, schools, and visitors in Southwest Washington.

Chronicle Excerpt

The United Learning Center (ULC), located on the corner of Maple Street and North Pearl Street in downtown Centralia, is nearing completion, and its opening is within sight.

The 17,900-square-foot early learning campus will include a subsidized Montessori preschool for 80 children run by the Bezos Academy, the Discover! Children’s Museum and the temporary clubhouse for the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County’s after-school program.

Amy Buckler, Centralia deputy city manager and parks manager, told the Centralia City Council during its Tuesday meeting that the museum is anticipating a soft opening at the end of March. Larry McGee, chair of the Discover! Children’s Museum of Lewis County, confirmed that the target date is March 28.

The Bezos Academy’s preschool targets Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families in the community and will launch in September 2026. The start date for the Boys & Girls Club’s clubhouse is unknown at this time but will open sometime in between March and September, Buckler said.

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Chronicle Excerpt

Following 40 minutes of testimony from United Learning Center (ULC) stakeholders and community members, the Centralia City Council on Tuesday night approved the transfer of $1.5 million from the city budget’s general fund to complete construction of the project.

Stakeholders from United Way of Lewis County, Discover! Children’s Museum and Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County spoke passionately about what the completion of the ULC will provide for the community prior to the council’s 6-0 vote at its April 8 meeting. Construction has been recently halted as the project’s partners await final National Environmental Policy Act approval in order to receive federal funding. About $4 million has been awarded to the project through the federal government.

City staff proposed supporting the first phase of the ULC construction by using $1.5 million from general funds set aside for capital projects to alleviate a short-term cash flow shortage. City Manager Michael Thomas said the funding is not additional money; the city is retaining its real estate excise tax (REET) funds that have constraints as to how they are spent and replacing them with more-flexible general fund dollars.

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Chronicle Excerpt

Commentary by Annie Oien, United Way of Lewis County

In the heart of Centralia, a transformative vision is taking shape: The United Learning Center.

(ULC) is poised to create a beacon of hope and opportunity for children and families in our community. With the unwavering support of local and federal officials, including state Rep. Peter Abbarno, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, the ULC promises to impact lives far beyond Centralia, reaching families in every corner of Lewis County.

The United Learning Center represents a “Campus of Compassion,” a hub that will provide tangible support needed to break cycles of poverty and build a brighter future for our children. This project is a unique collaboration between United Way of Lewis County, Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, City of Centralia, Bezos Academy, Discover! Children’s Museum and Cascade Community Healthcare. This powerful partnership brings together the best in early learning, after-school care, creative play, mental health resources, and family support.

The ULC’s broad mission is clear: Tackle pressing challenges faced by our community — poverty and lack of access to quality education and child care are two pressing issues. Lewis County consistently ranks among Washington state’s highest in poverty and unemployment rates. This presents significant barriers to success for many families, but the ULC has the capacity to make a tangible and lasting difference.

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Chronicle Excerpt

Here’s a look at ongoing work to build the United Learning Center in Centralia on Thursday afternoon.  The 12,800-square-foot United Learning Center is a joint project to build a new educational facility involving the City of Centralia, the United Way of Lewis County, the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, Cascade Community Health, Discover! Children’s Museum and the Bezos Academy. Once open, the United Learning Center will offer at least 80 children free early learning education opportunities. The children will be from low-income families. The center is at the corner of Maple Street and North Pearl Street in downtown Centralia.

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After the groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 8, 2021, nobody anticipated nearly three years of delays preventing construction of the United Learning Center, a new 12,800-square-foot educational facility in downtown Centralia.

“It’s been a long time coming,” United Learning Center Project Manager Todd Chaput said during the April 23 Centralia City Council meeting.

When completed, the United Learning Center will be located on the northwest corner of North Pearl and Maple streets in an area that is currently a city parking lot.

“We haven’t had to tow anybody, but that will start next week. So if you park over there, be warned, next week is when they will start mobilizing on May 1,” Chaput added.

The United Learning Center is a joint project to build a new educational facility involving the City of Centralia, the United Way of Lewis County, the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County, Cascade Community Health, Discover! Children’s Museum and the Bezos Academy.

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