A rendering of a fishing bridge, from which kids can catch fake native fish via a magnetic pole.

A second floor expansion to the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, set for completion by 2013, brings locally themed exhibitions to enhance an already engaging and popular facility. With the help of industrial design students from UW-Stout and an ever-growing team of area supporters, the concrete-floored, empty second floor could soon be home to three new exhibits: Camping, Native American, and Agriculture/Dairy. With space set aside to house tables and chairs for field trip lunches and meetings, the museum also plans to create a multitude of interactive activities in each exhibit, from milking an eight-foot tall fiberglass cow to packing camping gear into a life-size car. Proposed concepts will also allow visitors to cast a magnetic line for native Wisconsin fish, harvest crops while driving a full-size tractor, and engage in a Native American pow-wow. Executive Director of the museum, Darcy Way, hopes to create an attractive yet functional space. “We want to keep things exciting for returning visitors and offer the ability to change out exhibits on the second floor in the future,” he said. While the museum still has some fundraising to do (and they welcome your support!), Way concludes the 2013 goal remains solid, with hopes some exhibits may open even sooner.