|
Members' Night Event
Staff Presents: Our Favorite Things!
| |
Thurs, Feb. 7, 5:30-8:00 pm
Our Favorite Things Member only event brings our distinguished staff out to discuss their favorite treasures from the Institute's collections. This event will give MEMBERS ONLY access to objects that may have never before been on display!
|
|
|
Greetings!
January is traditionally a quiet month at the Institute of Science as people settle in after the hustle and bustle of the holidays. For those who may already be suffering from a little "Cabin Fever," this is an excellent time to visit the museum. Can't make it to the beach this year? We can do one better letting you take the controls "Alvin" and play oceanographer for a while in Extreme Deep. Then, get ready to make your trip Up North next summer more interesting by learning about the Great Lakes and their history in Dive Deep into the Great Lakes, an Institute-produced exhibition which features shipwreck artifacts from the Port Huron Museum.
Continuing the Great Lakes theme, join us Thursday, January 24 when Dr. Scott Sowa of the Nature Conservancy joins us for a lecture about the bays of the Great Lakes and their importance to Michigan.
Looking ahead, we will offer Special Winter Break activities the week of February 18 and registration for our annual Member Only Maple Festival and Breakfast on March 3 has begun!
Don't forget Friday, February 1 after 5pm, courtesy of the MASCO Corporation Foundation, admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science is free as part of their free first Fridays sponsorship.
We hope you will join us for a visit or one of these special events to make the journey toward spring faster than you'd expect.
Go Science!
|
|
Lecture Series Presents: Centers of Commerce, Culture and Conservation!
 The popular "What's So Great about the Great Lakes" lecture series presented by The Freshwater Forum at Cranbrook Institute of Science and The Nature Conservancy continues on Thursday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m. Director of Science Dr. Scott Sowa discusses how the bays of the Great Lakes region have influenced our past and hold the keys to our future in Centers of Commerce, Culture and Conservation. Each lecture in the series features Nature Conservancy scientists who will cast new light on topics that affect everyone who lives in the Great Lakes' unique ecosystem. Future lectures occur the third Thursday of each month through April 18 and topics include aquatic invasives, land protection, and challenges for migratory birds. Lectures begin with an opportunity to meet the scientist and a cash bar at 6:30, followed by a 7:30pm lecture. Tickets for each lecture are $10 for Nature Conservancy and Cranbrook Institute of Science Members, and $12 for non-members. To register, visit the Admission Desk at the Institute of Science or click here to register online. This series is sponsored by Northern Trust.
|
|
Restoration of 18 Century Cannon Continues in Dive Deep into the Great Lakes
 As part of the experience of the Institute's current travelling exhibition Extreme Deep, visitors enter their murky expedition via Dive Deep into the Great Lakes an installation created by the Institute of Science exploring the depths of the Great Lakes. A ghostly model of the twice-sunk Alvin Clark looms as a wreck above the exhibition and features artifacts from the wreck. "The Storm of 1913" explores the violent power of the Great Lakes when winds over 100 miles per hour and massive waves consumed 12 ships and killed more than 250 people over a two day period. Artifacts from these ships, on loan from the Port Huron Museum, reveal the types of salvage Great Lakes water exploration yields. At the center of it all, the most recent deep water treasure is immersed in a tank; a cannon which broke the water's surface for the first time in over 200 years after it was discovered during a Detroit Police dive in the Detroit River in 2011. Bearing the monogram of George III, the cannon may have been dumped by the British after "all the Kings arms" were ordered destroyed as the British retreated from America in 1796. The grime of more than two centuries is now slowly being removed via electrolysis in the tank. As the restoration nears completion, the Institute will develop opportunities for visitors to help complete the final cleaning via workshops in February and during Spring Break. Watch Facebook for details or check your next issue of the Institute's E-Newsletter. Extreme Deep and Dive Deep are free with admission.
|
Programs Offer Science Learning Opportunities for Children under age 8
 Looking to give a child a "leg up" in science studies? The Institute's Discovery Center and Young Scientists programs are both designed to stimulate curiosity about the natural world and engender a love of science at an early age. Cranbrook's Discovery Center is designed for children ages 3-8. Developed to foster adult/child interaction, the Center offers more than a dozen discovery "module" boxes each containing unique information and activities focused on a specific subject. Working with the adult who brings them to the Center, a child selects the module that piques their interest. Inside are books, activities, games, toys and props that encourage the family to explore the topic more thoroughly together. The intimate environment of the Discovery Center further stimulates the senses by featuring plants, taxidermy, scientific specimens and the chance to play "dress up" using international costumes. The Discovery Center is open every Sunday from 12:30 - 2:30pm and is free with admission. Visitors should register for a 45-minute session upon arrival at the Museum's Admissions Desk. As Cranbrook builds a volunteer base, the Discovery Center will be open more frequently. If you think you'd enjoy working with adults and children in the Discovery Center as a volunteer, please click here. The Young Scientists program is an inquiry-based experience for children ages 3-7 meeting every Thursday and is an excellent science opportunity for homeschooling families. A new topic each week offers hands-on science experiences for ages 3 and 4 at 10am, and Kindergarten and First Graders at 4:15pm. Upcoming topics include physics, camouflage, and maple. Each session is $10 for Institute Members and $13 for non-Members. Non-participating siblings and adults are free.
|
Maple Festival Continues Institute Tradition!
 Join us on March 3 for the 39th Annual Members' Only Maple Breakfast and Festival. A breakfast featuring pancakes will be served among the exhibits throughout the museum at 10am, 11:30am and 1pm. After breakfast, enjoy indoor and outdoor Festival activities and learn about the science of maple syrup production. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for children 2-12. Children under 2 are FREE. Pre-registration by February 25 is required for all breakfast seating's. The Museum and Festival activities are open only to registered attendees on March 3. Hours are 10 am to 3pm. No refunds will be issued. Register online or call 248 645.3245.
The Institute is looking for volunteers for both indoor and outdoor activities on March 3. No experience needed, we will train all volunteers. Click here to volunteer for this event.
|
New Hours Offer More Access to the Institute's New Observatory!
 Cranbrook Institute of Science now offers twice the opportunity to visit the observatory with extended hours every Friday and Saturday until 10pm. Three new telescopes, architectural upgrades in the viewing space, a new dome, and direct compatibility with the planetarium have created an entirely new observatory experience at Cranbrook. Starry Friday Nights are a long tradition at the Institute and we are excited to expand this opportunity to Saturdays. Planetarium programs also will be offered each Saturday night. The observatory is open every Friday and Saturday from 7:30 to 10pm, weather permitting, and the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 4pm for safe viewing of the sun.
The Institute is looking for volunteers for both indoor and outdoor activities on March 3. No experience needed, we will train all volunteers. Click here to volunteer for this event.
|
|
