eNews March edition

eNews

Your source for what's happening at the Manitoba Children's Museum.

March 2008

In This Issue
	Spring Break Day Camp Spring Break: Drop-In For Fun Much More Munsch Exhibit AirWorks Exhibit Build For Kids Golf Tournament MCM at St. Vital Shopping Centre See the Museum in a New Light After Dark Mini Mondays Rogers Movie Nights Membership Card Pick-Up Volunteer Camp Counselors Needed Shop Blast Off -New Space Party! Hours & Special Dates

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Greetings!

Spring Break is just around the corner and the Manitoba Children's Museum has two great entertainment options that will keep kids busy and having a blast! Spring Break Day Camp offers 5 full days of safe, active play. We make sure that kids are always learning while they're having fun. Keep reading for registration information. Spring Break Drop-in For Fun offers families the opportunity to participate in guided activities and themed crafts and enjoy performances by guest entertainers all week between 11 and 4. We've even extended our hours March 31-April 4 to make sure you get the most out of your days! We'll also be making a special visit to St. Vital Centre on March 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Come out and create a Spring craft with us! Be sure to check out our two brand new exhibits: Much More Munsch and AirWorks. Walk into Robert Munsch's world and experience his stories coming to life in this creative, bilingual exhibit designed for ages 2-12. If your kids are more intrigued by science, they can formulate their own theories and test them in AirWorks. Your youngest ones wil be spellbound watching balls and scarves fly through the airways! We're celebrating Manitoba Arts & Culture Week with special Mini Monday programming on March 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Spring also motivates us to get out our golf clubs and start taking those indoor practice swings. We're giving you the opportunity to schedule your first game and support the museum at the same time! Our 12th Annual Build For Kids texas scramble tournament will take place on Wednesday, June 4 at Bridges Golf Course. Registration is open and sponsorship opportunities are available.

Spring Break Day Camp

Spring Break Day Camp March 31-April 4 9:30-4:30 Free early drop-off & late pick-up $140 ($125 members) MCM's Day Camp is about fun experiences where kids are safe and empowered. Our goal is to help build kids' physical well-being, nurture their creative energy and develop their intellectual potential. Each day of this action-packed week includes themed activities, play time in the galleries, movement and physical activity, quieter times at our learning centres, team building and small group activities and creative pursuits. There will also be a special guests and an outing. Monday: Sports On your mark, get set, go! You don't need to be a professional athlete to enjoy this action- packed day! Campers will also learn important attibutes of sports, like teambuilding and sportsmanship. Tuesday: On Stage Drum roll, please...Karaoke, air bands, plays and puppet shows. Kids can let their imaginations soar and showcase their talents on stage all day. Wednesday: Whoa! Everything's Backwards This is a wild and crazy day for kids. We're doing everything in reverse. It's not all fun. It's hard work! Thursday: Mad Laboratory This is your child's chance to become a mad scientist! Messy experiments and creative innovations are encouraged here! Friday: Abracadabra! How did he do that? Is this a trick? It's magic! Campers will be amazed to learn magicians' secrets. They'll learn through hands-on experimentation and become amateur magicians themselves! Registration is open and spaces are limited. Call 924-4000 or download the registration form on our website.

Spring Break: Drop-In For Fun

Spring Break Drop-In For Fun March 29-April 6 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Spring Break can be a long week for parents and caregivers. It's hard to keep kids safe, busy and entertained seven days a week! That's why MCM offers family-friendly programming all week. Visit the museum between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and have fun with your young ones! Free Face Painting Storytelling Guided Games Daily Themed Crafts Special Guest Entertainers Gallery Activities Cotton Candy (fees apply) T-Shirt Spinning (fees apply) Pucker Powder (fees apply) We are also extending our hours March 31-April 4. The museum and Shop will be open 9:30- 6:00.

Much More Munsch Exhibit

Much More Munsch World Premiere February 2- September 1, 2008 Clang, Clang, Rattle-Bing-Bang... The Manitoba Children's Museum is making noise with Much More Munsch, our new travelling exhibit based on the books of celebrated children's author Robert Munsch. For the past twenty years, Robert Munsch has created a distinctive method of imagining, developing and telling his stories. His books are the outcomes of a dynamic creative process. This 1,200 sq.ft. bilingual exhibit welcomes kids into Robert Munsch's home, encourages them to explore his world and discover their own creative abilities. Mix and match words, phrases, scenes and sounds and discover the art of storytelling. Perform for your friends and family. Stomp your way to Mortimer's room. Get Thomas into his snowsuit. Create your own cast of characters. Be one of the first to read and hear unpublished stories. It's fiction! It's fun! It's fantastic! It's the Much More Munsch world premiere! For ages 12 and under. Included with museum admission. Accompanying School Programs: I Want to be a Storyteller: Preschool-Grade 3 (3 versions) Writer's Workshop: Grades 4-6 Call 924- 4004 or email schools@childrensmuseum.com for program details. Much More Munsch is presented by Friesen's and generously supported by the RBC Foundation, Premiere Van Lines, The Department of Canadian Heritage and The Winnipeg Foundation.

AirWorks Exhibit

New AirWorks exhibit in the Live Wire Gallery! AirWorks is MCM's newest permanent exhibit. Send balls and scarves through 100 feet of tubing and watch where they'll come out! Discover whether you can make the objects follow different paths with the diverter boxes. See which objects move faster than others and how many can move at once. AirWorks is an action-filled science and sensory exhibit that encourages open-ended experimentation with a variety of objects. Form your own theories and test them out!

Build For Kids Golf Tournament

12th Annual Build For Kids Golf Tournament Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Bridges Golf Course Don't miss this chance to spend a day on the links at Bridges! Now you can have fun golfing and support the Manitoba Children's Museum at the same time. Become a sponsor, register a team, or join as an individual. The tournament will be Texas Scramble format and have a shotgun start. Your registration fee includes a hot lunch, buffet dinner, registration gift, green fees, power cart, use of the driving range, all contests and team prizes. Space is limited, so register soon to avoid disappointment. Register by April 15 and you will automatically be entered in the Early Bird Draw for a round of golf for 4 at Bridges Golf Course. Come and join us - the best part is you don't have to be a pro to support the kids! For more information on registration or sponsorship, contact Erin Kangas at 924-4005 or ekangas@childrensmuseum.com

MCM at St. Vital Shopping Centre

MCM visits St. Vital Shopping Centre Monday, March 31 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. We'll be at St. Vital Shopping Centre beside the Play Park to kick-off Spring Break. Learn about our newest birthday party theme, our Much More Munsch exhibit , new school programs, Summer Day Camps and so much more while your kids are making spectacular Spring crafts! Join the St. Vital Centre Kids Club and enter to win your very own Exclusive Birthday Party with us! You will also enjoy special savings on Kids Club days at the museum. Visit the Customer Service Centre at St. Vital Centre to learn more.

See the Museum in a New Light After Dark

See The Museum in a New Light....After Dark! Available Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Ages 6-12 Only $15 per child (plus GST) Sleepovers include: Museum staff to help facilitate your event Museum Mystery Scavenger Hunt Movie viewed on a 50" TV! Extras: Cotton Candy $1/bag T-Shirt Spinning: $10/shirt with 3 paint colours Sleepovers are designed for 50+ kids and must be booked in advance. They are ideal for youth groups, Sparkes, Cubs, Beavers, Brownies, schools, 4 H clubs and more! Call 924-4004 to book your sleepover today!

Mini Mondays

Mini Mondays Mondays are special days at the Manitoba Children's Museum. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, we plan themed crafts and activities that are designed with our preschool visitors in mind. Storytimes are at 11:30 and 1:30 in the foyer. Travel around the world with us in March! Every day is a new theme! March 3: Dragons of China March 10: Manitoba! A Celebration of MB Arts & Culture Week March 17: Ireland's St. Patrick's Day March 24: Chilean Street Dancing March 31: no Mini Monday-Spring Break

Rogers Movie Nights

Rogers Movie Nights are Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. Grab a snack and settle in for the show! March 1: 101 Dalmations Running Time: 79 mins. Rated G When the infamous Cruella De Vil dognaps all of the Dalmatian puppies in London, including 15 from Pongo and Perdita's family, the Dalmation Pong leads a heroic crew on a quest to rescue them. March 8: Snow Buddies Running Time: 87 mins. Rated G The snow buddies are back- this time in an exciting dog sledding competition in Alaska! When the going gets tough, the daring dogs band together with their new friends and muster up the courage to face the challenges ahead. Will they have what it takes to win the race and find their way back home? March 15:Bee Movie Running Time: 90 mins. Rated G Having just graduated from college, a bee by the name of Barry B. Benson is disheartened by the prospect of having to work with honey all his life. As he ventures outside of the hive for the first time, he discovers that humans have been stealing and eating the bees' honey for centuries! Barry realizes that his true calling in life is to set the world right by suing the human race for stealing the precious honey. March 22:Aladdin Running Time: 90 mins. Rated G Aladdin is a poor, young man who pretends to be a prince in order to win the hand of princess Jasmine. Aladdin is aided by the Genie of the lamp and is always trying to stay one step ahead of the evil Jafar. March 29:Pocahontas Running Time: 81 mins. Rated G Pocahontas falls in love with British captain John Smith, but they must hide their love from their friends and family and try to stay together because of the conflict between the English and Native Americans. Please note that movie titles are subject to availability. Parental discretion is advised. All movies are free with museum admission. Call 924-4000 for more information.

Membership Card Pick-Up

New and Returning Members: Thank you for helping us to reduce administrative costs! Several months ago, we made the decision to no longer mail out membership cards. Please remember to pick up your new card at the Admissions desk on your next visit.

Volunteer Camp Counselors Needed

Join the MCM Volunteer Team! Each year, the Manitoba Children's Museum offers spring break and summer break day camp. Volunteer counselors provide active and effective support to MCM staff and day camp programs. The volunteer counselor role provides an excellent opportunity for volunteers to develop communication, leadership, and other employment-related skills in a safe and encouraging environment. Each volunteer counselor is asked to contribute at least one full day during spring break camp and one full week during summer break camp. Day camp volunteers should be 15 years of age or older. Each volunteer counselor needs to attend an MCM volunteer information session and an orientation session. The next MCM volunteer information session is on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. The volunteer counselor orientation for Spring Break Day Camp will be on Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. Volunteers need to pre-register for both the information session and the counselor orientation. Please contact the Volunteer Resources Manager at 924-4002 or email lsilver@childrensmuseum.com to confirm your attendance.

Shop

Shop at MCM If you're taking a road trip, going on a plane or simply looking for things to keep your kids busy over Spring Break, you'll find great ideas in Shop. Travel Games Miniature versions of all the favourites that fit in your child's backpack: Connect Four, Hungry Hippo, Perfection, Lite Brite and more! Activity Books Connect the Dots, Can you see the Difference, Magic Erase and other solo games that challenge the mind and capture their interest With the arrival our our new exhibit, Much More Munsch, Shop has more Robert Munsch titles than you can imagine! Find all your favourites and some books you may not have read. Titles are available in English and French. SIGG bottles We're freshly stocked with SIGG bottles ranging in size from 0.3L to 1L with cute, wild and beautiful designs. These stainless steel bottles are considered the safer, greener and cooler way to hydrate and contain none of the chemicals used in polycarbonate plastics that have come under scrunity and are under review by the Canadian government (Maclean's, Oct.07). Envirosax Join the latest craze in environmentally friendly shopping/tote bags: Envirosax. Shop has a dozen designs to choose from- retro, contemporary, classic and more. The're washable and fold to fit in your purse! Shop also offers birthday party goodie bags in five different themes and gift certificates in any denomination! Your Purchase Counts Every purchase made at Shop goes directly back into the museum! As a non-profit, charitable organization, the Manitoba Children's Museum relies on earned revenue to cover approximately 70% of its operating costs. These funds enable us to present blockbuster exhibits, create new exhibits like the Dream Gallery, develop educational programs, offer new services and maintain our permanent galleries. By supporting Shop, you are supporting the Manitoba Children's Museum. We look forward to seeing you soon! Telephone: 943- 1449 Email: shop@childrensmuseum.com

Blast Off -New Space Party!

We have a new birthday party theme! Space Ages 6-12 (two versions) Blast off with our newest party theme! Your budding astronauts will participate in space challenges that are out of this world. They will learn about planets and their place in the universe. When the work is done, kids can get refreshed with super space drinks. For more information or to book a party, call 924-4004 or email birthdays@childrensmuseum.com.

Hours & Special Dates

Museum & Shop Hours Sunday- Thursday: 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. March 21, Good Friday: Museum & Shop Open 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 23, Easter Sunday: Museum & Shop Closed March 31-April 4, Spring Break: Museum & Shop Open 9:30- 6:00 MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Manitoba Children's Museum AGM will be held on Monday, May 26, 4:30-5:00 p.m. All members are welcome to attend.

As a non-profit charity, everything we do at the Manitoba Children’s Museum helps children in our community. Our goal is to provide an environment where children and their families, caregivers and classmates have the opportunity to let their imaginations soar and engage in self- discovery. We look forward to seeing you and your family soon at the Manitoba Children's Museum.

email: general@childrensmuseum.com

phone: 204.924.4000

web: http://www.childrensmuseum.com