Wonder. Spring 2013. by Bay Area Discovery Museum

Spring 2013

wonder Bay Area Discovery Museum

letter from the director

Our Mission: To ignite and advance creative thinking for all children. 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito, CA 94965 www.BayKidsMuseum.org Please note: Dates, times and prices are subject to change. Please check out our Web site for the most up-to-date listings.

In this Issue 3–5 Who We Are 6 Museum Buzz 7–8 Calendar 9–10 Support and Gratitude 11–12 Programs & Classes 13 Special Events 14 Performances 15 Exhibition Update 16 Connections Update 17–18 Center for Childhood Creativity Ages The Museum serves children 6 months to 8 years old, their families, educators and caregivers. Admission Admission: $11 Infants under 6 months: free Members: free Phone Number Main Line: (415) 339-3900 Fax: (415) 339-3901

Museum Hours Tuesday − Sunday: 9 a.m. − 5 p.m. Closed Mondays (except when noted), Sunday, March 31 (Easter) and Friday, May 3 – Saturday May 4 re-opening at noon. (Playdate preparations) Open Mondays this Summer! June 10 – August 26 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

our annual Creativity were able to join us for I hope many of you , M.D., M.S. Ed., urg turing Kenneth Ginsb fea ek. , on che lun rum Fo ing way to end the we ruary 8. What an inspir creativity and y pla F.A.A.P. on Friday, Feb h wit k lin resiliency and its done at the Museum Dr. Ginsburg spoke on important work being the of us foc o the perfect – exactly the als s wa It y. ildhood Creativit ite and our Center for Ch ign and advance g our new mission: To backdrop for unveilin rds capture the wo few all children. These creative thinking for the impact we will of our work today and essence and importance tions have on future genera ts, like the Bay Area s at Forum, nonprofi As I said in my remark pact, defined as the Im t. pac im st to have Discover y Museum, exi is why I took this r, one thing on anothe of on ssi pre im or effect of the Museum and the believe in the power job 18 months ago. I the lives of children meaningfully impact and y vel siti po Museum to y Creativit -served children to the Center for Childhood er it’s bringing under eth ing onsite Wh ich d. enr on ing bey vid and in our community ly science learning, pro ear for int Po or r rs yea nte ew Hu seum each from places like Bayvi ilies that visit the Mu rs 300,000 children & fam ough third-grade teache thr l oo sch pre programming for the for ent pm elo dev nal sio profes delivering innovative e. are making a differenc by our though the CCC, we ected of and needed re mo and more is exp , ter t fosters fas tha e and enc ter eri fas by providing an exp te In a world that moves ido ant the critical ers all off – e Museum problem solving children to succeed. Th n, imaginar y play and tio nta and me eri ms exp ble pro and n , solve risk-taking, exploratio ded to think creatively eloping the skills nee building blocks for dev l adults. tters and because ultimately be successfu this work because it ma to d tte mi com ply and dee as excited and inspired I am both excited by aningful way. If you are me a in y iet soc ys: with your time and m in a number of wa it impacts children seu Mu the rt alty by po sup you can ing our events, your loy by our work as I am, par ticipation by attend ion r nat you do r m, seu you Mu m, seu the by volunteering at your kids to the Mu for us with presence by bringing n r sio you pas r er, mb you g me a rin as joining advocacy by sha nual Fund, and your by supporting our An gues. your friends and collea you at the Museum. ing see to rd I look forwa Regards,

CEO & Executive Di

rector

Open Mondays This Summer! June 10 – August 26

Directions From the North/East Bay: Take the Alexander Ave. exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. Follow the signs to the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Fort Baker.

T H A N K Y O U, WELLS FARGO!

From San Francisco: Take Alexander Ave. exit. Follow the signs to the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Fort Baker.

Free First Wednesdays sponsored by:

Free First Wednesdays: April 3 May 1 June 5

Wells Fargo and the Bay Area Discovery Museum are happy to announce a shared partnership to support the Art Studios, the Museum’s maps, Chinese New Year, Playdate, Creativity Forum and Goblin Jamboree. Thank you, Wells Fargo, for continuing our partnership and we hope to make a fun and creative work of art with you in the Wells Fargo Art Studios soon.

Buy tickets online now! 6:30 p.m.

A grown-up playdate featuring cocktails, small bites, live auction, raffle & amazing spectacles to delight the senses. All proceeds support our mission to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children. Tickets available now! For more information, please email Zuzy Martin Lynch at zmartinlynch@badm.org or visit www.BayKidsMuseum.org/playdate

who we are

Over 100 yucky pancakes served in the Yucky Pancake Café.

Not-A-School Creative Enrichment Heather Posner, Public Programs Manager

Each day after the children go home and the classroom has been cleaned, Not-A-School teachers reflect on the details from our busy morning and then e-mail an update to the parents about what our learning community has been working on. It’s important for us to do this every day because this process of reflection and communication supports children’s learning and allows parents and families to be connected to the creative process of our classroom. Not-A-School is a laboratory where teachers study young children’s creative thinking and we rely on our own creativity to scaffold the children towards every possibility. In our classroom, playing in the exhibitions, or on adventures around Fort Baker, we practice the most distilled version of the Museum’s open-ended, child-directed approach to learning.

Because we have the luxury of building relationships with children and families over the course of 30 weeks, we can co-construct our curriculum around the children’s interests, passions and development, including making “yucky pancakes.” Our teaching is grounded in the work of John Dewey and constructivist theory. In one of my favorite books about his work, Experimenting with the World: John Dewey and the Early Childhood Classroom, Harriet Cuffaro quotes a central premise of Dewey’s writings, “the object and reward of learning is continued capacity for growth” [Dewey, 1916, p.105] (2012, p.73). In Not-A-School, our goal is always to create fertile ground for the children’s ideas to blossom. The purpose of our curriculum is not to adhere to a checklist of developmental milestones that may be seen as separate, but

to nurture the possibilities for many types of learning to occur simultaneously. Through project work, children build social skills, understand the importance of collaboration, try new things and use their imagination to think of ideas that no one ever has before. We draw inspiration from the reflective practice of the teachers in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and others who are inspired by their work worldwide. Teachers take hundreds of pictures of children’s work, and write notes about their play in order to guide decision-making around curriculum in collaboration with children. Parents often tell us that they are surprised by how many details we can recall about each child; these details are what our work here is all about. Meeting the children as partners in learning on the journey to understand what it is that each child needs

“ I just wanted to say THANKS for doing the cooking station and taking the ‘yucky pancake’ concept even further! [My daughter] was so psyched about it. And we did it at home this morning, too. I just love that you were able to roll with what the kids are interested in and then make up activities to further those interests. We are big fans of Not-A-School. Thanks again for all your energy and efforts every single day!”

3 SPRING 2013

– Not-A-School Parent

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

From: April Gaston To: NAS Parents date Subject: Not-A-School Up

Two friends taking orders at the “Yucky Pancake Café ”

and how we can support their growth is what fuels innovation in our classroom. Without these details we would not be able to live our mantra of “open-ended, child-directed.” Earlier in the year the children told us they wanted to do a project about “mixing.” Over time we have offered them an array of materials with which to experiment with, resulting in beautiful art works, mysterious potions, and now the “Yucky Pancake Café.” Working in this way allows children to not only build their concrete knowledge, “What happens when I mix baking soda and vinegar?” but also their social emotional development as they work together to create baked goods, explore purposeful writing as they create menus, and spend many www.BayKidsMuseum.org

minutes in the “flow” state, which, according to creativity expert Mihaly Czikszentmihalyi, is critical to building creative thinking skills. As this project unfolds, there are infinite ways we can extend their learning. Perhaps we’ll take a tour of a real restaurant kitchen, or bring a chef to our classroom and the ingredients to make “not-so-yucky pancakes,” maybe we’ll turn our dramatic play area into a proper café with dishes and napkins – there is so much potential for the children’s imagination to guide our work together. The most important piece of facilitating this process with children is to be open to possibility. In order to do this, teachers need to maintain an attitude of openness and be present in the moment.

continued...

Hello Friends! at Not-A-School. Today was a fantastic day amazing and so n The weather has bee ty to get uni ort opp the today we got h the chilwit it oy outside and really enj friends the all , oom ssr cla dren. In the er! eth tog were so busy playing been really Mira and Leithian have pancakes” cky “yu g kin focused on ma y come The . eks we few t pas for the they are e tim ry eve a back to this ide n talking eve re we ek we t las and here , Danielle So s. ipe rec and about menus g up a tin set had the brilliant idea of le. We tab one at n tio sta whole cooking ner s tai con ls, put out all kinds of bow s filled tle bot irt squ h wit and tools along We ar. sug with oil, tubs of flour and rotary whisks have these really fun, old ely and they lat that the kids really love up some mix to m the were able to use friends the All ! really amazing creations re we We ch. mu so y ivit loved this act ry eve nt poi one so happy to see that at le. tab the at ing mix s single child wa see how each It was so interesting to differently ials ter ma friend used the share the to and how they were able . ials ter tools and ma up adventure After snack, we packed bags etc.) rs, eze twe s, lar ocu kits (bin We e! hik our and headed out for ed up end and und aro d ure advent a little hill making it to the top of the way to all see ld cou you where Angel and az atr San Francisco, Alc k to the bac y wa our de ma We Island. s time wa it n the ch classroom for lun e! to go hom so much What a great day! We had re so we and fun on our adventure the friends impressed with how far to have py made it! We are so hap grateful lly rea are and e you all her h you! wit nts to share these mome All the best, April

who we are

Not-A-School is the first licensed preschool in a museum in California.

We practice using very intentional language with children; our default answer to most things is not, “No.” When children ask a question, we often say, “That is a great question. What do you think?” Early Childhood Curriculum scholars Mindy Blaise and Sheila Ryan highlight the work of Lenz Taguchi and explain, “This kind of pedagogy requires teachers to shift their understanding of learning from a linear to a rhizomatic process that is multi-dimensional” (2012, p.88). We know that children have ideas, lots of them. Our job as their guides in the process of discovery is to explore the pathways of what they already know and scaffold them towards the incorporation of new knowledge. It doesn’t matter if what they think is right or wrong: the only way for them to grow is to acquire the truth through their own experience. I often use this example: Imagine if a child had only seen a jellyfish in an aquarium. They might not think that jellyfish exist in any other context because they haven’t gathered enough data to know otherwise. When we ask children, “What do you think? Have you ever seen anything like this before?” we’re tapping into their prior knowledge so we know where to start building. What we do in Not-A-School is offer children ample opportunities to collect data about their universe, synthesize experiences and information, make friends, build confidence and enjoy this time in their life when anything is possible – when there is no limit to their ability to think creatively. It is magical to witness their transformation as they grow with us each week. They begin to adopt our language calling each other “friend,” or saying, “I wonder what would happen if…” and “That is so interesting!” We are so lucky to have such rich territory for exploration – whether it is bobcat hunts, beach visits or yucky pancakes, we learn as much from spending time with children as they do in the process of discovering. Blaise, Mindy and Ryan, Sharon. “Curriculum in Early Childhood Education: Re-examined, Rediscovered, Renewed.” File, N., Mueller and J. Wisneski, D. (Eds). Using Critical Theory to Trouble Curriculum. Routledge: New York and London. 2012. pp 80 – 92. Cuffaro, Harriet K. Experimenting with the World: John Dewey and the Early Childhood Classroom. Teachers College Press: New York. 1995. pp 60-63. Csikszentmihalyi, Mihalyi. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Harper and Row: New York. 1990.

5 SPRING 2013

Friends making yucky pancakes.

Not-A-School Enrollment Now accepting applications for Fall 2013! Monday, September 23, 2013 – Friday, May 30, 2014 Two, three, four or five days per week. Limited one-day per week enrollments on Wednesday only. Our Not-A-School program offers children the unique experience of spending time here at the Museum every week. Taught by long-time Museum Educators Heather Posner, Danielle Pitchford and April Gaston, our educational philosophy allows children the freedom to make discoveries, explore and use their imagination. Together, teachers and children co-create the curriculum based soundly on our open-ended, child-directed approach. Each day children spend time in our private classroom as well as outdoors or in our exhibit halls with a maximum of 12 children. This innovative program is now licensed as a childcare center by the State of California, and features a staff of fully qualified teachers. To learn more about the program, sign up for the newsletter and to apply online, visit www.baykidsmuseum.org/notaschool.

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

museum buzz

Our Mission: To ignite and advance creative thinking for all childrern.

Membership News

Supporting Member Benefit

Monthly Member Playdate

On the third Sunday of each month, join us for a Monthly Member Playdate to enjoy creative play with other member families! Playdates will take place in Idea Spot during Art Lab, an art workshop that gives children and parents the opportunity to experiment with different materials and techniques as they relate to the Artist of the Month’s work. Each month will focus on a new theme and different artist. Stay after the program to explore the Museum on your own or with new acquaintances. New Member Welcome and Orientation

We invite all members for a 30-minute Museum orientation at the beginning of every Monthly Member Playdate to welcome new families and to provide insider tips on how parents can use the Museum to foster their child’s development.

Step up your membership to the Supporting Level today and receive additional benefits, including discounts on summer camps and Not-A-School and recieve invitations to exclusive VIP events. Call (415) 339-3954 to upgrade your membership to the Supporting Level and take advantage of these exclusive opportunities.

First Member Playdate

Sunday, April 21, 2013 Time: 3:30 – 5 p.m. No registration required Meet at the Theatre entrance, Entry Pavilion

Imagination Playground Host Event The Bay Area Discovery Museum is pleased to partner with Imagination Playground and will offer a Host Event for principals, educators and parents on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20. Since 2011, the gigantic blue foam blocks have provided a wonderful learning environment to foster spatial and interpersonal intelligences, gross motor skills, problem solving and experimentation, among other non-cognitive skills like tenacity, adaptation and planning — all vital tools to support children’s development as creative thinkers.

Staff Picks S pri ng 2013

members save

10%

This spring we are all about Eeboo and Klutz crafts, activity kits, doodle stamps and new titles from Chronicle, Barefoot and Usborne. Wrap your gifts at our gift wrapping station and attach a card from Everyday Love Art, GRQP or 3 Fish Studios.

Visit us after you play! discovery store hours Tuesday – Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (415) 339-3939 Visit the store anytime. No Museum admission required.

Spring Tea Party

Egg Hunt

Green Toys: Tea Set $27.99 Eeboo: Paper Chains $10.99 & Fancy Scissors $5.00 Green Toys: Chef Set $19.99 & Stacking Cups $10.99

GeoCentral: Baby Dino Eggs Excavation Kit & Tortoise Eggs Hatch-em Kit $2.99 – $7.50 Realistic excavation kits for “discovering” egg fossils. The nature science take on an Easter egg hunt.

Story Time

Ducks, Lambs, Chicks & Bunnies!

Barefoot Books: Fairy Tales $19.99 (from our Once Upon a Time exhibit)

Water Play

Green Toys: Seaplanes, Tugboats & Submarines $16.99 – $20.00

Folkmanis Puppets: $19.99 – $29.99 Lots of new baby puppets for spring.

Magical Horses Klutz: Magical Horses $19.99 Dress-up horse paper dolls!

Your purchase supports the Museum

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime Art Lab Member Playdate

Storytime Art Lab

Easter Museum Closed

sun

Museum Closed

7 Spring Break Camp

March 31

mon

2013

Spring Events

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Miss Kitty $

Nano Days – Science Café Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Miss Kitty $

tue

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Outdoor Learning Class $ Miss Kitty $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Miss Kitty $

Nano Days – Science Café Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Miss Kitty $

Toddler Circle Time

May 1

Toddler Circle Time Storytime

Saturday, April 27 • 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

thur

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Outdoor Learning Class $

Imagination Playground Host Event Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Outdoor Learning Class $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites

Nano Days Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites

fri

Playdate Urban Circus Spectacular $

a.m. & 1 p. Festival Pl m. aza

Banana S lu String Ba g nd 11

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab Music Together $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Music Together $

Nano Days Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab Music Together $

wed

April

Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab

Earth Day Celebration Banana Slug String Band Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab Outdoor Learning Class $

Imagination Playground Host Event Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab The Raytones $ Outdoor Learning Class $

Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab Octopretzel $

Nano Days Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab Pam Donkin $

sat

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime Art Lab Member Playdate

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime Art Lab Member Playdate

Storytime Art Lab Once Upon a Time... Closes

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime

Summer Camps

Storytime

Summer Camps

Storytime

Summer Camps

Museum Closed

Summer Camps

Memorial Day Museum Closed

Museum Closed

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Miss Kitty $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Miss Kitty $

June

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Music Together $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab Music Together $

Last Day of Not-A-School Toddler Circle Time Storytime Framed: Step into Art Activites

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab

28 Toddler Circle Time Storytime Framed: Step into Art Activites

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Framed: Step into Art Activites

6 Toddler Circle Time Storytime Framed: Step into Art Activites Miss Kitty $

Open on Mondays this summer, June 10 – August 26

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab Music Together $

more days to play!

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Move!

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Move! Miss Kitty $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Framed: Step into Art Activites Miss Kitty $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites

Outdoor Learning Class $ Museum Closed

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Miss Kitty $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Fairy Tale Activites Miss Kitty $

Fairy Tale Activites Outdoor Learning Class $ Miss Kitty $

Discovery Camps! June 3 – August 23

May 3, 6:30 p.m. • Buy event tickets and raf fle tickets online now!

Storytime Art Lab Music Together $

Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab

sp on so

i rs t Free Fsdays e n Wed red by:

Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab Framed: Step into Art Opens

Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab Donor Circle Springtime Adventure

Storytime Outdoor Learning Lab Crosspulse Duo $

Outdoor Learning Class $ Museum Opens at Noon

we rely on your support

Love the Museum? Join a Donor Circle today! As a nonprofit organization, the Museum relies on charitable donations to support our nationally acclaimed programs and exhibitions. Gifts to our Grandparent and Donor Circle help us nurture creative thinking in all Bay Area children. Grandparent and Donor Circle members receive Supporting Memberships and special benefits including invitations to complimentary programs led by our talented educators and exclusive events like these:

council corner Alexandra Singer, Discovery Council Member Our family is new to the Bay Area, having just moved to San Francisco from the East Coast six months ago. Before the move, we talked to people about what it was like to raise a family in San Francisco. The Bay Area Discovery Museum came highly recommended as a destination for families with young children. When we visited, I was impressed by the hands-on exhibits and special programs. And it’s really great that the entire family can participate in learning together. I find the work the Museum is doing in the community, with local schools visiting each day, and programming that is open and accessible to everyone, really inspiring. I am so glad to have joined the Discovery Council, giving me more opportunities to volunteer my time and energy to the Museum. My family and I look forward to years of fun ahead! – Alexandra Interested in connecting with other moms? Enjoy giving back to the community? Want to support creative thinking in all Bay Area children?

Join Alexandra and become a part of the Museum’s Discovery Council. Discovery Council members act as Museum ambassadors, strategic partners and supporters, helping us organize three fun events each year. If you would like to learn more, please contact Lea Wood, Council Liaison, lwood@badm.org or (415) 339-3952.

Donor Circle Springtime Adventure Save the date for our fourth annual Donor Circle spring event. We invite Grandparent and Donor Circle members to join us on Saturday, May 18 at 10:30am in our Outdoor Learning Lab for a special springtime adventure. Museum staff will guide the way as we explore our special exhibit area, play with mud, meet worms and celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Adults and children have an opportunity to collaborate on a sculpture using clay and other natural materials, which you can take home and enjoy. To RSVP, contact Lea Wood at (415) 339-3952 or lwood@badm.org

Speaker Series Event The Museum, the Center for Childhood Creativity and ScholarShare Speaks are happy to announce the success of our first co-presented speaker series event, held on Thursday, March 14. We would like to thank Nadine Burke Harris, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.A.P., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco for delivering an engaging lecture: “The Buzz on Brains and Babies” at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The lecture was preceded by an exclusive Grandparent and Donor Circle reception with Dr. Burke Harris. During the reception, our supporters enjoyed a unique opportunity to connect with Dr. Burke Harris and learn more about her trailblazing approach to addressing adverse childhood experiences as a risk factor for adult disease in urban children. Watch for our next speaker event coming in fall 2013! To learn more about ScholarShare Speaks, visit www.ScholarShareSpeaks.com.

Interested in these exclusive events?

Join our Grandparent or Donor Circle today: (415) 339-3952 or lwood@badm.org.

2013 SPRING 9

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

we rely on your support

members give back As we kick off our spring Annual Fund campaign, we want to give a special thank you to the many member families who have deepened their investment in the Museum this year by giving to the Annual Fund. Donations to the Annual Fund help further our mission to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children by funding essential program and exhibit expenses.

Half the Museum’s annual operating budget is made up of contributions by generous donors like you. When you support the Museum’s Annual Fund, you help us offer high-quality creative learning opportunities to all Bay Area children.

why i give We spoke with dedicated member and Annual Fund donor, Lana Porcello, to learn more about her favorite things about the Museum and why she chooses to support our Annual Fund. Museum: Why did you decide to become a member at the Bay Area Discovery Museum? Lana: We originally became members when my daughter, Leithian, was around a year old. After our first visit, we knew we would be returning often. Now as a “big kid” at age 4, Leithian is as inspired by the exhibits as she was during her crawling phase. Each time she comes to the Museum armed with a new skill, an undiscovered corner seems to pop to her attention as the favorite activity, which both complements and challenges her in her current phase of growth. Museum: What is your favorite thing about the Museum? Your daughter’s? Lana: As a family, we each have our go-to spots. Leithian heads straight for anything to do with mixing, splashing or climbing; I am partial to the view at the top of the tree-stump staircase; and Papa always finds himself guiding us toward Peek-a-boo Palace for hide-and-seek. But, we always end our visits in the Art Studios—our favorite place to wind down and get into a good craft before heading home.

$50 5 new books for our toddler Storytime

$100 new puppets for dramatic play in Wave Workshop

$250

Museum: Why did you want to give to the Annual Fund this year? Lana: As both frequent visitors to the Museum and participants in the Not-a-School program, we are immensely grateful for the resources the Museum provides for our family. Its philosophical root in the value and necessity of child-directed, imaginative play is present not only in the types of activities offered there, but in the very architecture of the outdoor landscape, and the consistently engaged presence of the staff. At some point in every visit to the Museum, I find myself looking out toward the Golden Gate Bridge and thinking, “Wow… What I would have given to play in a spot like this as a child” and “how lucky we are that this is here for our child today.”

15 new trains for Bay Hall

$500

Museum: Why should other members give to the Annual Fund? Lana: In joining education and experience, reason and play, creativity and choice, the Museum represents an innovation in supporting developing minds by helping children build confidence in their ability to both shape and respond to the wonders around them. By contributing to the Annual Fund, we as parents can send the message that this is the positive direction we want to see for our children’s education and growth, while simultaneously saying “thank you” for this unique asset in our community.

Donate Today!

3 weeks of art supplies in Studio 5 & 10

$1,000 week-long summer camp scholarships for 3 children

Use the attached envelope to send a donation that will fund the costs of our creative programs and exhibits or donate online. $50 covers the cost of 5 new books for our Storytime programming $100 p urchases new puppets for dramatic play experiences in our recently redesigned Wave Workshop $250 purchases 15 new trains for Bay Hall $500 buys three weeks of art supplies in Art Studios 5 & 10 $1000 p rovides scholarships for 3 underserved children to enjoy a week of Summer Discovery Camp www.BayKidsMuseum.org

2012 SPRING 10

your contribution makes a difference www.BayKidsMuseum.org/annualfund lcooper@badm.org (415) 339-3954

programs and classes

Drop-in Programs Join us for our spring drop-in workshops and pop-up programs! Drop-in programs are open-ended, make-up-as-you-go play opportunities around a theme as a way for our visitors and staff to engage with our exhibit spaces and inquiry-based educational philosophy.

family classes

Outdoor Learning Class:

Have you heard the buzz about our Family Classes for toddlers and their caregivers? Come on down and experience our Outdoor Learning Family Class this April. Explore the outdoors and all the various wonders of our natural surroundings through play and exploration! Each class will be located in a different area of Fort Baker: at the Museum in our Outdoor Learning Lab, at the beach and on the Parade Ground across the street. Taught by our Public Programs team in small groups of about 12 children, these classes highlight our open-ended, child-directed educational philosophy and offer adults a chance to meet other caregivers and learn fun activities to try at home. To register and learn more, visit BayKidsMuseum.org/familyclasses.

Class schedule: 1st class: Outdoor Learning Lab 2nd class: Coast Guard Beach 3rd class: Parade Ground

Storytime

Explore new worlds and go on amazing adventures through our interactive storytimes.

Wave Workshop

Tuesdays – Fridays, 11 a.m. Saturdays – Sundays, 3 p.m.

Sponsored by

Check our onsite chalkboard each morning for specific location and more in-depth program theme.

Lookout Cove

*Please note: All drop-in opportunities start on time and vary in length from 5 to 45 minutes based on the age range and number of participants each day.

Outdoor Learning Lab Experience, Outdoor Learning Lab

Drop-in Workshops Exploring themes and materials in our unique exhibit spaces.

Toddler Circle Time, Tot Spot

Tuesdays – Fridays, 9:30 a.m. Toddler Circle Time is an opportunity for our youngest visitors to practice language, movement and making new friends.

Art Lab, Idea Spot

Wednesdays & Sundays, 3:30 p.m. Art Lab is a process-oriented workshop especially designed to give children and their caregivers the opportunity to experiment with different materials and techniques as they relate to the professional artist’s work we are featuring in our Artist of the Month program.

11 SPRING 2013

Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. Thursdays, 3 p.m.

Saturdays, 2 – 4 p.m. Bring your rain boots and sunglasses as we engage in all-weather play in our outdoor classroom.

Move!, various locations

Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Beginning in June, move, twist, fly, and jump as we explore our coordination and gross motor skills.

Three sessions to choose from: Thursdays, 10 – 11 a.m. April 18, 25 & May 2 Fridays, 10 – 11 a.m. April 19, 26 & May 3* * Please note the Museum will be closed to the public on May 3.

Saturdays, 11 a.m. – noon April 20, 27 & May 4*

* Please note the Museum will be closed to the public until noon on May 4.

Children ages 2 – 4 with caregivers Members $50; General: $75

(Includes Museum admission for one adult and one child)

Each additional child 50% off

Traveling Exhibit Collaboration Once Upon a Time…Exploring the World of Fairy Tales Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., Thursdays & Fridays, 3:30 p.m. In April and May, have fun in the land of make-believe and imagination. Don’t miss the storytelling and fairytale activities in conjunction with one of our favorite traveling exhibits. Framed: Step into Art ™ Thursdays & Fridays, 3:30 p.m. Beginning in June, celebrate different concepts of art with us, as we welcome this new exhibit.

Pop-up Programs Pop-up programs are spontaneous, 5 to 15 minute imaginative play opportunities with our Discovery Guides in a specific exhibit that may include:

Make-believe in Bay Hall or Wave Workshop Shipwreck Treasure Hunt Predator Prey Tag Hooping Obstacle Course Check our daily programs chalkboard on Satterlee Way each day for pop-up play opportunities with our Discovery Guides around the Museum. All programs are subject to change and cancellation. Please check our onsite program chalkboard for updates.

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

programs and classes Music Together ® Tambourine Collection Music Together is an internationally recognized approach to early childhood music development. Tuition includes a beautifully illustrated songbook and two-CD set, along with a parent education guide. Classes last 45 minutes. 10-week Spring 2013 Session of early childhood music Wednesdays, April 3 – June 5 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30* a.m. Ages infant – 4.5 years with caregiver *11:30 class is a babies-only class for infants 8 months and younger.

New Music Together® Class for Babies Every child’s development benefits from early exposure to music and movement. Because the early months are so important, the Museum and Music Together are offering a special “Babies Class” this spring. This one-semester introduction to Music Together for babies eight months and younger will be offered at 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday as an introductory semester. This class cannot be repeated. The music activities and materials are specially designed for parents who want to learn as much as possible about music development in babies. Meet other parents of newborns and learn some fascinating music activities you can recreate at home.

Bangin’ Twangin’ & Dancin’ with Miss Kitty A Bay Area musical treasure, Miss Kitty plays the tunes her pint-sized audience requests. Favorite topics include fire trucks, ballerinas and pirates. This interactive sing-and-dance-along lasts 30 minutes. www.misskittysings.net Tuesdays & Thursdays April 2 – June 6 10 & 11 a.m. Ages 6 months to 5 years Members $6; General $7 Adults free with child. Drop in, no registration required.

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Members $235 first child General $265 first child Additional sibling: $160 Includes Museum admission. Pre-registration required. Class size is limited. Register online at BayKidsMuseum.org/musictogether Music Together art & logo design © 1992-2012 Music Together LLC. Music Together is a registered trademark. Music Together Marin is licensed by Music Together LLC. For more locations: www.musictogether.com - (800) 728-2692

Make New Friends at the Museum Looking to connect with other families who also value creative thinking? Stop by one of our regularly scheduled daily drop-in workshops at the Museum for an opportunity to informally chat with and meet other like-minded families. Free with Museum admission. Baby Circle Time

2nd & 4th Tuesdays 9:30 a.m., Tot Spot Meet other parents of newborns with a special storytime designed for babies under 12 months old. Homeschoolers Art Lab

3rd Wednesdays 3:30 p.m., Idea Spot Connect with other homeschooling families as you explore novel art materials – and leave the clean-up to us. LGBT Families

4th Thursdays 3:30 p.m., Lookout Cove Meet LGBT parents and their children during our traveling exhibit-inspired program. Daddy & Me Storytime

1st & 3rd Fridays 3:30 p.m., Lookout Cove Calling all stay-at-home, working-fromhome, Fridays-off Dads! Bring your little ones to our traveling exhibit-inspired program.

2013 SPRING 12

special events

April 2 – 6 NanoDays at the Bay Area Discovery Museum is part of a nationwide festival of educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering. NanoDays is organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) and takes place nationally from March 30 – April 7, 2013. This community-based event is the largest public outreach effort in nanoscale informal science education and involves science museums, research centers, and universities from Puerto Rico to Alaska.

Pop-up activity Table Tuesday, April 2 − Saturday, April 6 10 a.m. − 2:30 p.m. Stop by our NanoDays activity table that will be popping up around the Museum. Be on the lookout for this one-stop shop to help you understand the world of nanoscale science.

Science Cafés

Risks, Benefits and Who Decides?

Teen and adults Discovery Theatre Register online at www.BayKidsMuseum.org/sciencecafe. These events are complimentary.

Thursday, April 4 7 − 8:30 p.m. In this workshop, working in small groups, participants will have the opportunity to raise questions about the societal and environmental implications of nanotechnology to a panel of experts.

What is nanotechnology all about? And why should I care? Tuesday, April 2 7 − 8:30 p.m. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing research and development in medicine, computing, new materials, food, energy and other areas. Participate in the lecture by Tobias Beetz, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Stanford Nano Shared Facilities and learn the basics to understand what is nano.

Panelists

Frank Kusiak, Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network Community Coordinator for California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. Maria Wang, Associate Director of the NSF-funded Center for Probing the Nanoscale (CPN) at Stanford University. Tina Stanford, science education researcher in the Center for Technology and Learning at SRI International in Menlo Park.

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION Saturday, April 27 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Join us on Earth Day to celebrate the natural beauty of our environment. Every day, the Museum seeks to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards by encouraging children to treasure our unique place by the Bay. Stop by Festival Plaza at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for a free performance by the Banana Slug String Band. The Slugs create a lively show with the message to take care of the planet. All day in the Idea Spot, visitors can contribute to a "Singing Tree" mural. From 2 – 4 p.m., visitors can join a guided Beach Exploration that will celebrate our neighboring Horseshoe Cove. An Earth Day-themed story time in Wave Workshop will highlight the environment.

Bana n Strin a Slug g Ban 11 d a.m. Festi & 1 p.m. val P laza

performances A Hop, Skip and a Jump! Pam Donkin

Saturday, April 6 Join award-winning, singer & songwriter Pam Donkin as she leads an interactive music show for children of all ages. Drawn by Pam's irresistibly warm, friendly voice and charismatic performance style, families will sing along, create new lyrics and dance to upbeat original and traditional songs. Give a listen at www.pamdonkin.com.

Dance Party The Raytones

Celebrate Spring Octopretzel

Saturday, April 13 Octopretzel’s show is as exuberant as their whimsical name. The band creates engaging music that inspires curiosity, wonder and appreciation for the magical world we live in. Their blend of four-part harmony and skilled musicianship guarantees a danceable, singable and super fun experience that will appeal to the entire family. Read more at www.Octopretzel.com.

Finding the Rhythm Around Us Crosspulse Duo

Saturday, May 11 Explore the rhythmic possibilities in the world around us. From bells and banjos to body music, boxes and balls, the Crosspulse Duo makes music out of anything and everything. Bending and blending traditional and contemporary music and dance, Keith Terry and Evie Ladin bring together diverse influences with delightful humor and skill that both entertain and educate young audiences. Sample their sounds at www.crosspulse.com. www.BayKidsMuseum.org

Saturday, April 20 The Raytones combine a mix of pop, funk, and rock & roll with playful lyrics about such things as wearing your favorite PJs and hula hoops. Ray the Rhino, the Raytones mascot, will be on hand to show you some cool dance moves. Check them out at www.raytones.com.

“ The kids were all so engaged! Happy! Energetic! Excited! Busy! Creative!” – Third-Grade Teacher

group visits Have you heard?

We have launched our NEW Enriched Visit field trips this year! These visits are three hours in length and offer an in-depth project-based learning experience containing unique and sensory-rich programming focused on developing creative thinking for children. All Enriched Visits are led by Museum Education Specialists and align with Common Core Standards and Preschool Learning Foundations. Topics include: Building & Demolition, Fairytale Storytelling Workshop and Beach Exploration. Register Today!

All shows Saturdays at 11 a.m. Discovery Theatre Ages 6 months & up Members $5; General $15

Tuesdays – Fridays Preschool – Grade 2 10 – 60 children Adult to child ratio of 1:5

Enriched Visits

(includes Museum admission)

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The group admission fee is $9 per child plus a $10 registration fee. Register by phone by calling our Group Visits Coordinator at (415) 339-3963. Self-guided Visits

9:15 – 11:15 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. The group admission fee is $7 per child plus a $10 registration fee. Register online at www.BayKidsMuseum. org/ groupvisits If you have additional questions, please contact our Group Visits Coordinator at (415) 339-3963.

exhibition update

Discovery Hall: Once Upon a Time… Exploring the World of Fairy Tales The final six weeks – the story ends on May 12!

Enter the magic portal into a storybook world at the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s current hands-on exhibit Once Upon a Time…Exploring the World of Fairy Tales. Embark on an adventure through the larger-than-life pages of seven favorite fairy tales told around the globe. While you explore the seasons with Thumbelina, climb up Jack’s beanstalk and sit in Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage, be sure to check out the carefully crafted, special menu of drop-in programs, fairy tale storytime and the adult workshop created by the talented Museum education staff. Once Upon a Time…Exploring the World of Fairy Tales is the first nationally touring exhibit devoted exclusively to fairy tales and the breadth of their cultural significance. Each fairy tale is brought to life with its own large-scale environment and interactive components. Visitors enter the exhibit via a magical portal into a fabulous storybook kingdom where they can learn the meaning and history of tales they've known all their lives – and others that may be new to them.

Media Sponsorship by

Once Upon A Time…Exploring the World of Fairy Tales is a collaborative effort of the St. Louis Public Library and The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum and is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

15 SPRING 2013

Discovery Hall: Framed: Step into Art™ May 25, 2013 − September 8, 2013

Enter the framework of famous paintings and experience art like never before in Framed: Step into Art™. This exhibit transports visitors to a world where paintings leap off the canvas and create impressive environments for visitors to explore. As visitors move through the exhibit, they are challenged to ride a

giant chicken attached to a wagon, set up camp in the Canadian Rockies and prepare dinner for a group of hungry farmers. The exhibit environments are accompanied by information about each artist and provide conversational prompts that employ Visual Thinking Strategies. Framed: Step into Art™ provides opportunities for children and adults to spend time with art, encourages visitors to make a connection with art, and supports the National Standards for Art Education. Join us for our special programming related to the exhibition every Thursday and Friday at 3:30 p.m. Check our on-sight chalkboard each morning for specific location and details. Framed: Step into Art™ was created by the Minnesota Children's Museum.

Generous support of this exhibition is provided by the Richard and Elizabeth Fullerton Family Foundation.

Art Studio 5: Artist of the Month Back in December, we began our Artist of the Month program with Pablo Picasso. Three months later we are in full swing and gearing up for another great round of knockout artists. Utilizing our project tables in Art Studio 5 and our Art Lab drop-in program, we have been able to delve deeper into the processes, materials, techniques and concepts related to these impactful artists. Each week, we rotate the activities to continue providing diverse programming that stimulates creativity and encourages visitors to explore and make connections. Come check us out in April for our next artist who truly embraces his inner child!

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

connections update H: Can you tell me about Yesenia and Jose? V: That’s an amazing story… When I think about it sometimes I cry. Jose was having trouble adjusting to the classroom. I listened to Yesenia. Gave her ideas and advice. I tried to do it not just for her, but for Jose. Jose is a brilliant child that needs his parents to be okay. And the only way that Jose was going to be okay was if they were happy and if they were there for him. So… it’s been wonderful to see how they started and how they are now. H: Yesenia, tell me about Jose’s teacher Veronica. Yesenia Moran: Veronica is really special to me. We’re still friends. She was always really helpful even if it didn’t have to do with school. She taught me a lot… she was like… a parenting tutor. (Yesenia laughs.) She has a really big heart, and I have nothing bad to say about her. She’s great! H: How did you first become involved at Jose’s preschool?

Yesenia Moran, Jose and Veronica Monroy

A network of support Heather Miller, Connections Manager

Through long-term partnerships with local subsidized preschools, the Connections program offers an opportunity for parents, teachers and Museum staff to form meaningful relationships as we come together to support young children. The bonds between important adults in these children’s lives are one of the joyful outcomes of this unique community outreach program that often remains invisible. What follows is a story about friendship and mentorship. Veronica Monroy is one of hundreds of talented educators in our partnership network, yet she stands out from the rest. A Head Start teacher for over 20 years, Veronica is not just a teacher of young children. It’s true, children love her; but the real power in Veronica’s work extends beyond that to the care and education she offers families. I met Yesenia Moran for the first time when her son Jose was a student in Veronica’s class at George Miller III Head Start in Richmond, CA. Over the course of two years we played together many times during Connections field trips, but I didn’t learn about her involvement as a parent leader until she volunteered to translate from English to Spanish for me at a PTA meeting one evening at school. This winter, Veronica and Yesenia were kind enough to let me interview them.

Y: I started volunteering in the classroom doing cooking projects and helping out with reading. I always wanted to go on the field trips with Jose. Because he was my first child, I enjoyed doing everything all over – like being a kid again. It was important to me for my son to see that I was interested in what he was learning at school. H: What advice would you offer parents of preschoolers? Y: Go to your kid’s class and participate… donate as much time as you can. Be there and enjoy it because it goes by quick and it will be gone. I remember when he first started [Head Start], he was such a little baby and when he got out of there he was like a little man! H: Do you have any tips for parents when they come to the Museum? Y: Let your kids go where they want to go and do what they want to do. Join and play with them. Get together with other groups to play with kids outside your family. Explore everything.

In Spring of 2012, Yesenia and Jose’s dad, Jose Rubio, asked me for advice as they built a wind exhibit for Veronica’s classroom based on one we used in Connections programs. They continue to visit Veronica at George Miller III Head Start where Big Jose is a leader in the Male Involvement Project for Contra Costa Community Services Bureau. Today, Little Jose is in kindergarten at Rosa Parks Elementary in Berkeley, CA. Yesenia and her family are active Museum members. Little Jose’s favorite place to play is with the trains (and also the boat!) in Bay Hall. Today, I consider Veronica to be my teacher too. Each time I visit her classroom or watch her in action at the Museum, I learn how to improve my own work with children and families. Her deep dedication to nurturing both parents and children inspires me. I am grateful that she continues to share that gift as a part of our Museum community.

Heather Miller: Veronica, tell me about your classroom and your work with parents. Veronica Monroy: The families, the children, the cultures and everything that happens here it’s really beautiful. I love being in this classroom. Knowing the kids are low-income, me being Latino and knowing how our backgrounds are, I want to bring some new experiences for parents. I want to be able to encourage them to really be part of their kids’ life and learning. At first (parents) don’t know how to do it, but then they realize that that’s how it should be. That’s when I feel like what I’m doing is working. I care so much for these kids. They respect us and love us. That I can be a big part of their life, I have to do my best. When parents participate, it involves a lot of learning, especially socially. The children are excited, happy, proud… and that stays forever. H: Why is that social learning important to the children in this community? V: When the children grow up they’ll be able to solve their own problems, feel free to express how they feel and what they need in life. I try to understand where parents are coming from and know that I am here to be a role model. www.BayKidsMuseum.org

2013 SPRING 16

creativity news

The CCC is an initiative of the Bay Area Discovery Museum.

Partnership with University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Laboratory for Educational Neuroscience The amount of knowledge and understanding of children’s neurological and psychological development has grown exponentially in the past decade due to advances in research methodologies and non-invasive technologies.

C hild D e v elopment studies & R esearch The Center for Childhood Creativity just began work on a new partnership with University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Psychology under the leadership of acclaimed author and Professor of Psychology, Alison Gopnik, Ph.D. A CCC advisory board member, Gopnik, is an internationally recognized leader in the study of children’s learning and development and the author of over 100 journal articles and several books. Researchers from her team are working onsite at the Museum to study child development around cause and effect and inductive learning, which relies upon the ability to extract abstract knowledge from limited evidence. As a building block of creative thinking, very little is understood about how this capacity develops in young minds. A museum with young children like ours offers researchers the perfect opportunity to interact with visitors and collect data through brief, opt-in, game-based studies. We look forward to sharing the results of this exciting work and upcoming partnership.

17 SPRING 2013

The foundation of our work at the Center for Childhood Creativity (CCC) is to curate and disseminate research on creativity, learning and brain science and we are committed to bringing that research to those who influence young children on a daily basis – both teachers and parents. The CCC is uniquely positioned to play this role by combining the expertise we have gained here onsite at the Bay Area Discovery Museum – where we interact with hundreds of thousands of young visitors annually – with credible academic research. What is terrific about our location is the number of esteemed academic institutions right in our backyard. We recently announced that the CCC and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Laboratory for Educational Neuroscience have formed a new partnership to collaborate on solutions for the growing national decline in creative thinking. Led by the CCC’s relationship with Fumiko Hoeft, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and Director of Laboratory for Educational Neuroscience (LENS) at UCSF, and a CCC advisory board member, the two institutions have created a partnership to advance thought-leadership on creativity in children. “The time is ripe to pursue neuroscientific research on childhood creativity, with the availability of new technology suitable for young children and increasing awareness of the importance of the topic,” Hoeft said. “This partnership will allow us to take advantage of both the Museum and the CCC’s expertise and resources, while pursuing our efforts to increase public awareness of the importance of understanding how

children’s brains develop. We are extraordinarily excited about the opportunity.” Together, the CCC and UCSF will advocate for developing creative thinking in early childhood. The CCC will rely on UCSF for neuroscience research that supports the neurological development of creative thinking and will disseminate this information to parents, educators, policymakers and thought-leaders. There are many potential shared areas of collaboration including: a joint fellowship at the CCC and UCSF focused on creativity research, exhibit creation onsite at the Bay Area Discovery Museum; research participation opportunities; a mobile app for parents to use at the Museum that explains the neuroscience behind creativity development; and potential collaboration on new research projects. Elizabeth Rieke, Executive Director and CEO of the CCC, reflects on this new partnership: “This is a terrific opportunity to learn from the many incredible research-based academic institutions in the Bay Area. These research partnerships allow us to have access to leading insights that will inform not only the experiences we create for children onsite at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, but also to inform and validate the work that we take to schools and parents through the Center for Childhood Creativity. We look forward to sharing the results of these collaborations and more through our blog and our speaker series.” Our mission: To ignite and advance creative thinking for all children.

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

creativity news

June 3 – August 23 Camp registration is under way and spaces are still available. Don’t miss out on our exciting themes designed to nurture creativity through every discipline including Art Attack, On the Bay, Fort Building, and Big Discoveries— our exclusive camp just for 3-year-olds. Additionally, kids can play all day in our new and improved afternoon program, Summer Camp Sampler! Special discounts available when you register for multiple weeks. Learn more at www.BaykidsMuseum.org/camps. Elizabeth Rieke, Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg and Karyn Flynn

Creativity Forum 2013 On February 8, we welcomed 600 guests to our sold-out Creativity Forum 2013 featuring Kenneth Ginsburg, M.D., M.S. Ed., F.A.A.P., who discussed the importance of creativity and resiliency in preparing our children to thrive in an unpredictable world. This year’s Forum was made possible through the hard work of event co-chairs Linda Chong, Nellie Levchin, Ann Bailey White and Brooke Kruger, Museum staff and many volunteers. In its 9th year, Forum continues to foster important conversations and open discussion among local educators, business leaders and parents who are able to engage with nationally renowned thought-leaders, such as Dr. Ginsburg. To join the conversation, we invite you to listen to Dr. Ginsburg’s entire lecture, now available via podcast on our website at BayKidsMuseum.org/forum. We welcome you to share your thoughts in the comments section, or on Facebook and Twitter. Funds raised at Forum support the Bay Area Discovery Museum's educational programs and exhibitions, as well as outreach to communities where the need for creative development is most acute. A special thank you to Leigh and Bill Matthes for sponsoring our speaker. Special thanks to our corporate supporters: Imaginer Level:

Maker level: Advent Software, Inc. Adobe Foundation Anonymous Coverity Dodge & Cox

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Ernst & Young McKinsey & Company TPG Wells Fargo

NON-PROFIT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OAKLAND, CA PERMIT NO 259

Fort Baker 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito, CA 94965 www.BayKidsMuseum.org

Check out our new

themed Bonanza birthday party!

Young superheroes and heroines can put their creativity to work while making their own costumes and showing off great feats of strength. Our superhero lair is sure to amaze all your guests! Call (415) 339-3931 today for availability and booking information. Check out all our party options at BayKidsMuseum.org /birthdays.