Music in the Park

Lots of changes going on down here... one of which is just that we have a whole lot more going on! Speaking of which, we hope you will all come out for a free special event that we are very excited. It's Music in the Park in Heritage State Park on Wednesday, July 29th at 1:00 pm. The Children's Museum at Holyoke is spotlighting Holyoke Strings, a program that teaches the youth of Holyoke the techniques of playing a stringed instrument in an ensemble setting. We hope to see you there!

In addition, we will be having our second Workshop Wednesday for elementary school aged children. Hosted by the talented Dayna, the workshop this week is Earthworks. Did you know it takes one million years for a glass bottle to decompose? What's the difference between a landfill and compost? Through games and stories, you will learn trash trivia, recycling rescues, and ways we can help our planet! Join us at 11:00 am (no pre-registration necessary). This program is included in the price of admission. For more information, please call (413) 536-7048 ext. 207
(photo source: openclipart.org)

The Think and Play Series, our Preschool program that happens every Friday at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, will be featuring Franny B. Kranny, There's a Bird in Your Hair! by Harriet Lerner and Susan Goldhor this Friday, July 31st. Hilarious and cute as a button, this is a Children's Museum at Holyoke staff favorite. Join Ashley to create fun hats decorated with flowers, animals, and sparkly treasures that will make you all as fashionable and daring as Franny herself! This program is included in the price of admission.

Finally, don't forget the summer schedule has kicked in. That means that every single day there are fun acitivities and programs going on! You can learn Spanish, pick up some Irish Stepdancing moves, and even put on a play! Check out previous blog posts for a more detailed schedule, or call the museum at (413) 536-7048 for more information.

Introducing...

It's that time again... Where we spotlight someone special down here at the good ol' Children's Museum at Holyoke. And today, it's Dayna's turn! Dayna Abrazinski is our Education Coordinator, and she is a one-woman operation in charge of all of our made-to-order educational programming. If you ever visit the museum for a field trip, have someone from the museum come to your school or camp for a demonstration, or your girl scout troop wants to do something special to earn a badge- Dayna is your woman! She also works closely with our floor assistants and volunteers to create fun activities and crafts for our visitors to take part in. If she's not concocting a new way to use our surplus of egg cartons at our crafting tables, you might find her knitting herself a bag out of old cassette tape ribbon. She is just that creative! She is a vivacious, enthusiastic, and very talented member of our team, and we're certainly glad to have her!

Speaking of Dayna, her new workshop is beginning this Wednesday, July 22nd! Join us at 11:00 am for Workshop Wednesday for the first of a series of workshops that are designed for school-age children and will cover a variety of subjects via fun, engaging, and hands-on study! This week is Stream Study. Using the canal as our classroom, we will explore the properties of moving water as math and science intersect. Topics for class discussion will include: volume, flow and adaptations to moving water made by animals. An additional fee (which can be paid upon arrival) of $2.50 applies for this workshop. No pre-registration is necessary. Please call 536-7048 ext. 207 for more information. (photo source: en.wikipedia.org)

Finally, don't forget about our Think and Play Series for preschoolers happening every Fabulous Friday! This week Ashley will be reading Angus and the Ducks by Marjorie Flack. Angus is one curious pup who learns his lesson the hard way! Laugh along as we read about this pesky Scottish Terrier, and be sure to stick around to make your own duck with flappable wings! This program is included in the price of admission, so be sure to stop in and enjoy!

New, new, and more new!

The summer is taking shape, and all the staff are so excited to have new ideas being thrown into the usual mix! Our new goal for the summer is to offer something special each day that we are open. Accordingly, we have invited our floor staff and interns to showcase their talents to really boost our daily roster. See below to learn about some of the new activities we will be offering (all programs are included in the price of admission unless otherwise noted)!
(photo source: policymed.com)

Workshop Wednesdays

11:00 am: (starting July 22nd) Science and history workshops with the fabulous Dayna! These workshops are designed for school aged children and will cover a variety of topics via fun, engaging, and hands-on study! Topics include: Stream Study (July 22nd), Earthworks (July 29th), Remember When( August 5th), Build-a-Boat (August 12th), and Windmills and Wind Energy (August 19th). An additional fee of $2.50 applies for this workshop. Please call 536-7048 ext. 207 for more information.
2:00 pm: So You Want to Speak Spanish? Si! Join Danielle each Wednesday for a fun, half hour lesson in Spanish language and culture for all ages!
In addition, our papermaking exhibit will be open from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm!
(photo source: estabrook.ci.lexington.ma.us)

Theater Thursdays

11:00 am and 1:00 pm: Theater Thursday program with Emily! This is a program for all ages- sing, dress-up, make instruments, decorate puppets! It's different every week!

2:00 pm: Facepainting
In addition, our papermaking exhibit will be open from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm!
(photo source: monet.k12.ca.us)

Fabulous Fridays

11:00 am and 1:00 pm: Think and Play Series for preschool children with Ashley! Join us for a story and a fun, interactive activity or game! This week, July 17th, Ashley will be reading Frederick by Leo Lionni, the story of an offbeat mouse preparing for winter his way. After the read-aloud, we will decorate (and devour) mouse pancakes fit for Frederick himself!
2:00 pm: Irish Stepdancing with Ali! Learn a new step each week!
In addition, our papermaking exhibit will be open from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm!

Silly Saturdays

Our papermaking exhibit will be open (times may vary).
Plus be prepared for a wild card silly activity!

Surprise Sundays

Our Papermaking exhibit will be open from 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm.
Each Sunday there will be a surprise activity in the mix !
(photo source: istockphoto.com)

Come join in the fun!!!

Summer is Here!

And so with the summer feeling more official (school got out in most places this week!), the museum has become a bustling and lively place both during the week and on the weekends. We seem to be THE place to be on a cloudy summer's day!

This coming week's preschool Think and Play Series, Friday, July 3rd at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, will be featuring Stella Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay. A hilarious and adorable story about a sister and her younger brother, you will surely be chuckling as Stella plays to brother Sam's fear of the unknown on his first trip to the seaside. Join us following the read-aloud to craft your own fish puppet to participate in a fun game of Red Fish, Green Fish! This program is free with paid admission!


*Please take note that we will be closed in observance of Independence Day, Saturday, July 4th!* (picture source: thingstodoinvallarta.com)

Summer Shenanigans!

To celebrate the summer months at the museum, our staff has put together a special roster of programming and events. The current Think and Play preschool programming will remain, but we have added some fun weekly activities sure to please a variety of ages. This is still in the planning stages, so stay tuned to our blog for updates, changes, etc.

Here is a sneak peek at the upcoming schedule:
Wednesday's Workshop Experience: School aged children, hands-on science experiments, set to begin July 22nd *Additional fee applies
Theater Thursdays: All ages, fun activities in our theater (dance party, dress up, sing-along, etc.), set to begin July 2nd
Think and Play Fridays: Preschool aged children, read-alouds, crafts, cooking, games

For more information on any of these programs, please don't hesitate to call our Education Coordinator, Dayna Abrazinski at 536-KIDS.


The first of our upcoming summer events is Batter Up with Wally! A Red Sox Family Fun Fest at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round on Sunday, June 28th from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. This event is free, and our very own Dayna Abrazinski will be facepainting. So please stop by and say hello! This event features Wally the Green Monster, the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox from 11:30 am until 2:00 pm. Also featured will be Curious George, Super Why, Sparky, Ed Popielarczyk (balloon sculpturist), and yummy food! Visitors with Red Sox gear will receive a ride on the Merry-Go-Round for half price!

This event is sponsored by WGBY, Holyoke Fire Department, and Holyoke Parks & Recreation Department. Call 538-9838 for more information.



Finally, don't forget our preschool Think and Play Series for next Friday, June 26th! Come and spark your imagination! Zuzu's Wishing Cake by Linda Michelin and D.B. Johnson is the story of a young girl with fantastic creativity. Join us for a craft where we will work magic and, as per Zuzu's example, make something out of "nothing!" This program takes place at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm in the Discovery Depot and is free with paid admission.

Introducing...

Continuing our staff spotlight series, we would like to introduce Ashley Barton. She is our Programs and Operations Assistant. She runs the weekly preschool Think and Play Series, and often works her love of cooking into the curriculum (think homemade goodies at her once-a-month food related Think and Play!). In addition, she facilitates the birthday parties on weekends, designed and maintains this blog, and is on call for all sorts of other odd jobs. Schedule a birthday party or bring your little one to Think and Play one Friday and say hello!



Speaking of Think and Play Series, next week (Friday, June 19th) we will feature My Dad by Anthony Browne for our preschool read-aloud in honor of upcoming Father's Day. This hilarious and heartwarming story will serve as a fabulous backdrop for our art project: interactive pop-up cards to give to all of our amazing dads on their special day! Join us at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm in the Discovery Depot. This program is free with paid admission!

Upcoming Programs

Saturday, June 13th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm the Children's Museum at Holyoke will be hosting the last of the Second Saturday Series until this fall. Birds of Prey features "wildlife rehabilitator and former state wildlife biologist, Tom Ricardi, who will give an up-close look and tell the life story of his hawks, falcons, owls, and bald eagles." Please join us! Program is free with paid admission and will take place in the Discovery Depot! (Quote and picture borrowed from http://sheldonbarnes.com)


Don't forget about our weekly preschool programming! The Think and Play Series continues on with a read-aloud of Fancy Nany by Jane O'Connor on June 12th. This book has become a national icon! Join us for a posh get-together (fancy attire encouraged)! Directly following the story, we will hold a stylish tea party filled with delightful delectables and an art project of royal proportions! This program, held in the Discovery Depot, runs at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm and is free with paid admission.