DeWayne Hamby
The board of directors of Trek Thru Truth, an interactive children’s Bible Museum planned for the Cleveland area, has announced the hiring of an executive director, DeWayne Hamby. In his new role, Mr. Hamby will help spearhead the fundraising and awareness for the project, along with board president and event coordinator, visionaries Doug and Jill Caywood.
Mr. Hamby, a former longtime resident of Cleveland who will return for the new position, brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing in the non-profit arena, as well as journalism and media expertise.
“When I first met with Doug and the board, I was blown away by the creativity and innovation of this project, especially as it relates to impacting children with stories from the Bible,” Mr.
Hamby said. “I am thrilled to be entrusted to be a part of it.”
Mr. Caywood, who along with his wife, Jill, first envisioned the project in 2005 as a Bible-themed children’s discovery museum, said the addition of an executive director will move the project to the next level.
“Our Board has worked diligently on the development of the programming, conceptual design, curriculum, collaborations and potential sites for our region’s emerging children’s museum,” Mr. Caywood said. “We have assimilated many of the tools, data and connections which our first executive director will need to bring this one-of-a-kind Bible-focused children’s museum from design to reality. We are excited to see how DeWayne’s varied background and strengths will be fostered through this position.”
Current plans for Trek Thru Truth include a 60,000 or more square foot facility housing 52 permanent interactive walk-through exhibits themed around familiar, as well as lesser known, stories from the Bible where visitors can use their senses to make the Word come alive. The museum will include multiple escape rooms, including themes such as Daniel in the Lion’s Den and Jonah in the Belly of the Whale, as well as a Moses in the Bullrush wading pool and a Zacchaeus-themed tree playground.
"Each exhibit will be grounded in scripture and creativity to create a memorable experience for guests of all ages," officials said. "The project will also include a theater, meeting rooms, café, walking trails, a petting zoo and temporary exhibit area featuring educational and topical subjects such as “Bugs in the Bible,” “Transportation in the Bible,” “Professions in the Bible,” etc.
Officials said, "Trek Thru Truth, an emerging member museum in the Association of Children’s Museums, is being planned for the Cleveland area, which has been mentioned as one of Tennessee’s fastest growing cities. Nestled between Chattanooga and Knoxville and near the Ocoee River, the site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events, the museum is poised to be a go-to tourist destination for families and have a significant economic impact on the area."00
“As the vision and mission of this facility has been shared in Bradley County and many of the surrounding counties, each response has been so supportive. Trek Thru Truth is not just another children’s museum…it is a ministry for families, schools, and churches,” Mr. Caywood said.
For the past several years, the board has held galas and formed strategic partnerships with individuals and companies to build funds needed for the project. The next opportunity is the Trek Thru Truth Fall Festival taking place on Sept. 16 at the RiverMaze in Ocoee. Artists, food vendors, churches and ministries are invited to exhibit at the festival, which is expected to draw a crowd of thousands, officials said.
For more information or to get involved with a one-time, monthly or annual donation, visit trekthrutruth.com.
Doug and Jill Caywood