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· · · Exhibits and Survey· · ·
The GMCM Exhibit Committee has been hard at work fine-tuning the specifics of our future exhibits. Community feedback has been and continues to be vital in the exhibit development process. In recent weeks, we've been traveling to local libraries and playgroups to survey families about their ideas. We'd like to hear your opinion! Complete our online survey and tell us what you'd like to see at GMCM. |
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· · · GMCM at Kids Day · · ·
Children of all ages had fun exploring and playing with us at Kids Day on the Burlington Waterfront on May 16. The GMCM booth was humming all day. Over 200 happy children designed their own t-shirts; used real tools to take apart old phones, toys and radios; played with our musical wooden Singing Tree; and stacked colorful beads on our new Bead Loom. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers without whom this would not have been possible. And a special thank you to volunteer Derek Bratek who spent many hours designing and fabricating the Bead Loom and beads.
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· · · We're in "The Best of Burlington" · · ·
GMCM is featured in the Summer 2009 edition of "The Best of Burlington", a quarterly lifestyle magazine. Look for it at Borders, Healthy Living, Fresh Market, and the Shelburne Country Store or click here to read. |
· · · Children's Museum Conference · · ·
GMCM Board member Lindsay Tompkins and Volunteer Coordinator Sue Hale came home energized after attending the Association of Children's Museums' annual conference in Philadelphia last month. They also did some hands-on research with visits to the Please Touch Museum and the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The theme of "Declare Your Impact!" reiterated what community leaders and child advocates have known for years:
"Children's museums are helping to revitalize downtown economies; to advocate for afterschool program funding; to restore a child's natural connection to the outdoors; to save art, music, science and history education in the schools; and to ensure that cloud watching and bubble making not become lost art forms." --- ACM website
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· · · Play, Naturally · · ·
"I'm bored! There's nothing to do." Sound familiar? Next time your child utters these famous words, try this fun outdoor activity. Head out to a park, schoolyard or your backyard with a bucket, some rope, and a stuffed animal or small toy. Find a tree with a sturdy branch and have your son or daughter toss the rope over and knot one end to the bucket. (It's okay if it takes a few tries.) From your child's point of view, they're creating a fun pulley/elevator system for their toys. But really, they're learning about weight and balance, cause and effect. And this is the best part: Step back and watch your child play. Let him or her direct the action. It's how children learn. |
