General Information
Letter from the Director
Dear Friends,
Children's Museum has just completed its 35th year as a regional family museum and, after looking back at its history and accomplishments, is looking forward to an exciting future. Even in our tough economic times, the museum continues to offer innovative and enriching educational experiences to the families and children of our region.
The Appalachian Heritage exhibit was completed in November of 2008 and offers a fresh view of life in Southern Appalachia during the late 1800s. It is entitled ìAt Home in Appalachia: A Day in the Life of Sarah and Jonah.î It introduces Appalachian culture through its arts, crafts, storytelling, dance and music and then continues to offer a glimpse of everyday life for children during this time through the eyes of two fictional characters, Sarah and Jonah. There are opportunities for dress-up, picking vegetables from the garden, weaving, designing a quilt and other hands-on activities. The exhibit guide offers a self-guided tour as well as Tennessee Curriculum Standards links for teachers with school tours. An interactive computer program allows visitors to access more information about early Appalachian life with different levels of information appropriate for ages 6yrs. - adults. This interactive component of the exhibit is also available through our website, as is our Appalachian Teachers Manual. This wonderful addition to the museum was funded through a Museums for America Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The museum is also extremely fortunate to have received funding that will provide a beginning for an Environmental Learning Center and Garden. This new outdoor exhibit will be located in back of the museum and will be connected to classrooms along the west wing. As the project gains momentum, we will provide more details and look to the community for your ideas and support. Preliminary plans include raised garden beds, bird houses, a meadow area, a butterfly garden, an outdoor classroom, a rock garden, a rain garden, organic gardens and areas for other environmental projects.
As you may have noticed when visiting the museum, we have many projects underway and hope to see the completion of some of these in the upcoming year. We appreciate your patience with our construction and closure of exhibits, but our first and foremost goal is to continue to improve our museum to better serve the children and families of our region.
As we move ahead with our projects, our staff and board are extremely thankful for the support of our community, museum members and supporters through volunteerism, in-kind services, and financial support. We could not move ahead without you. You are the key to our success. In 2009, we look forward to strengthening our partnership with the community to continue to offer great educational experiences for everyone.
Happy New Year!
Mary Ann Damos
Imagination Gallery
"Quartet -The Printers' Show" will have its grand opening event on Saturday, February 7, from noon to 2 PM and will display the work of Terry Batiste, Coral Juras, Aase Vaslow, and Phyllis Wichner. The exhibit will include four different ways of making prints: woodcut, linocut, collagraph, and etchings. The opening reception for the Oak Ridge Schools' student show, "Through the Vision of Children," will take place on Friday, March 6, from 6 PM to 8 PM. The exhibit will remain on display until April 8 and will feature the work of approximately 200 students in grades K-12.
Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts of all levels will be participating in the International Festival on February 21. In addition, there will be a Victorian Tea for Junior Scouts on March 21, an Eco-Action Badge Workshop on April 18, and Daisy Day for Daisy-level Girl Scouts on May 9. All participants in badge activities must register with the Tanasi Office. For more information, please contact Joyce Morris at the museum.
Poster Contest
The Children's Museum, in conjunction with the Oak Ridge Heritage Preservation Association, is sponsoring a poster contest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Oak Ridge gates. For more information, please call Margaret Allard at 607-1122.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
In addition to the International Festival, Girl Scout activities, and art exhibits, future events at CMOR include: April 24, Celebration of the Young Child; June 7 to July 30, Imagination Station Summer Camp.
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