Every community space has a beginning — a moment when an idea is shared and slowly shaped into something real. For Great River Children’s Museum, that beginning was guided by people who believed deeply in the power of play and in the potential of our community long before a building existed.
As we mark the conclusion of the first terms of our founding Board members, we do so with gratitude and celebration. These leaders carried the museum from a bold idea to a vibrant, welcoming space for children and families — through years of planning, fundraising, and perseverance, including the uncertainty of a global pandemic.
From early community programs and Capitol visits to hands-on exhibits that traveled the region before the museum opened, their leadership showed up in both visible milestones and quiet, behind-the-scenes moments. We are honored to celebrate the founding Board members whose terms are coming to a close.
Glen Palm
Founding Board Chair | The Original Dreamer and Founder of Great River Children’s Museum
Glen Palm was the original dreamer behind Great River Children’s Museum and a lifelong advocate for children, families, and the power of play. As a co-founder and Board Chair, Glen helped guide the museum from a shared idea into a community space where families now gather to explore, connect, and learn together. His steady leadership and belief in the mission carried GRCM through its earliest and most uncertain years.
Glen’s vision is rooted in decades of work in early childhood education and parent engagement. A Professor Emeritus of Child and Family Studies at St. Cloud State University, he spent 30 years teaching child development, family studies, and parent education, and helped create and lead the Parent Education Licensure Program. For more than 40 years, he also worked as a parent educator in Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) programs in Minneapolis and St. Cloud.
In the community, Glen helped launch initiatives such as Super Saturdays and the Dad’s Project, strengthening connections between fathers, caregivers, and children. That commitment to co-learning and listening could be seen years later as Glen welcomed families into early programs like the Play, Explore, and Learn (PEL) Lab — learning alongside caregivers, gathering feedback, and shaping the museum with community voices at the center.
He is the co-author of four influential books on fathers and parent education and has long emphasized that the bonds formed between adults and children — especially through play — are vital to healthy development. That belief lives on throughout Great River Children’s Museum, where joy, connection, and shared discovery are at the heart of every visit.
Sara McKeever
Founding Board Member | Education & Experience Committee Co-Chair | Marketing Committee
Sara brought a deep understanding of early childhood education and family learning to the Board as an ECFE Parent Educator. Her insight helped shape how children and caregivers experience the museum, keeping curiosity, accessibility, and development at the center of our work.
Whether advocating for children and families at the Minnesota State Capitol or representing the museum at community events like Albertville Kids Day, Sara helped ensure that GRCM’s voice — and values — were present beyond our walls. Her care for families is felt throughout the museum today.
Buddy King
Vice Chair | Community Engagement & Programming Co-Chair | Cultural Inclusion Group Member
Buddy’s leadership grounded the museum in community connection and belonging. As Executive Director of Higher Works Collaborative, Youth Pastor at Jubilee Worship Center, and a board member for several youth-serving organizations, Buddy helped shape a museum that reflects and serves all families. Through his leadership at GRCM community roundtables, his voice strengthened the museum’s commitment to inclusion, representation, and meaningful engagement.
Greg Reigstad
Treasurer | Finance Committee Chair | GRCM Founder
Greg has been a steady and thoughtful steward of the museum’s financial health since the very beginning. A retired professor and former Director of TRiO at St. Cloud Technical and Community College, Greg helped build the financial foundation that allowed GRCM to grow with intention and care.
From early public-facing moments — like when the museum was still known as the Great River Children’s Exploratorium — to statewide collaboration through the Greater Minnesota Children’s Museum Coalition, Greg helped ensure GRCM was both sustainable and connected. He will remain on the Board temporarily as Treasurer to support a smooth transition, continuing his legacy of leadership and service.
The Meaning of Founding Leadership
Serving on a founding board means showing up before there is certainty — believing in something that does not yet exist and helping carry it forward anyway. These leaders did exactly that, with generosity, resilience, and a shared belief that our community deserved a children’s museum.
We thank Glen, Sara, Buddy, and Greg for their time, heart, and unwavering commitment. Their legacy lives on in every laugh, discovery, and moment of wonder inside Great River Children’s Museum.