Observe. Summer 2013. by Bay Area Discovery Museum

Summer 2013

observe

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 2 Summer Events 3–4 Who We Are 5–6 Programs & Drop-ins 7 Museum Buzz 8 Connections Update 9–10 Calendar 11 Creativity News 12 Programs & Events 13–14 Support & Gratitude

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. Open Mondays this Summer! Through August 26 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Mondays (except when noted) Thursday, July 4, Labor Day, September 2 and September 9 – 23 (annual maintenance)

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. 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: July 3 August 7 September 4

and the Museum e most about my job to bring our lov I s ng thi the of e rk On inspiring. While we wo is that it is constantly advance creative thinking for all d mission — to ignite an children of the Bay Area, we also the children — to life for thinking within the Museum staff… ve ati cre ite ign to ive ative ideas and str coming up with innov and they are constantly range of diverse problems. I want a creative solutions for are with you two of my favorite sh to nt me to take a mo new ideas: d amazing you add our unique an What do you get when s our top-rated bir thday parties? plu Outdoor Learning Lab than Mud” bir thday party! Above ier ess “M a er: sw ing Lab where, The an seum’s Outdoor Learn Lookout Cove is the Mu ve exclusive use of this spot to ha for this party, you can nt sculpting, and leaf art (psst… pla d an y cla dpie kitchen, enjoy activities like mu only available through October). lue are y the as w the highest level of va book one no tly working to provide Play Dates for both tan ns co are we , ple r new Member In another exam that the more desire gave bir th to ou for our visitors. This ld monthly at the Museum. We recognize e. These he nc , rie ren pe get from the ex parents and child seum, the more they parents in their people come to the Mu m staff an opportunity to partner with m’s exhibits and seu seu Mu Mu ide gatherings prov re deeply with the nt, while engaging mo ucators explore topics such as Ar t as a children’s developme ed d an s ilie adventure in gether, fam amazing educators. To dios or Obser vation & Nature through an ucators to take ed Stu handy tips from our Language in our Ar t ion, you will get some Lookout Cove. In addit . to check out with you to try at home to keep up, so be sure rd ha es tim me so is ve, it With a staff this creati r calendar for our latest prog ramming. ou d an e sit on ns sig the seum. ing you around the Mu I look forward to see Regards,

CEO & Executive Di

rector

summer of fun

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

CREATE WITH

NATURE Saturday, July 27 1 – 3 p.m.

Make temporary creations from stones, leaves, shells, pods, branches, flowers, and other wonders of nature. Environmental artist Zach Pine provides gentle facilitation and invites a spirit of playful creativity and discovery. Children and adults alike have a blast while appreciating and connecting with nature in a new way.

Sidewalk Chalk Day

Saturday, August 17 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Help bring the traveling art exhibit, Framed: Step into Art , outdoors. Fill Festival Plaza with your original sidewalk chalk art. Buckets of chalk will be waiting for your artistic expressions. Work solo or join a group and let your creativity soar. TM

A NEW CAFE OPENING THIS SUMMER

Drumroll, peas… We’re excited to announce that we will be planting a Bean Sprouts soon! Bean Sprouts is a hip & healthy café with a child-size ordering counter and food for kids, grown-ups and even babies! The playful menu offers plentiful choices, even for families with picky eaters, allergies and other dietary challenges. Bean Sprouts was recognized as a Top 100 Mover and Shaker in the restaurant industry the past two years for its family-friendly concept. Visit beansprouts.com or “like” Bean Sprouts on Facebook for more information. DURING CONSTRUCTION WE WILL HAVE FREE PHILZ COFFEE 9 – 10 A.M. IN THE ENTRY PAVILLION AND THE SLIDER SHACK FOOD TRUCK OPEN FOR LUNCH.

Free with admission

drum circles with

who we are

In the Tot Spot Garden, we planted 600 native plants generously donated by the Headlands Nursery.

Observation and Nature Kelly Morton, Drop-in Program Coordinator

Summer is here! The quilts of spring wildflowers are beginning to fade and a nourishing belt of summer fog rolls in across the bay. Lookout Cove is dotted with purples, yellows and oranges, and Peekaboo Palace is alive with a cloak of green leaves. The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a seamless playscape surrounded each day with the ever-changing magic of the natural world. In nature we have ample material and space to learn how to learn. Yet learning how to learn is different than a love for learning. They must live hand in hand, as our life necessitates constant learning as we grow and evolve. As a museum educator I believe that the fusion of these concepts lies in wonder. One afternoon in Lookout Cove I waited for families to join me for a program about making magic wands. A small girl

approached and I told her that the only thing I brought with me was tape. She tilted her head and looked at me in a quizzical manner, “That’s it?” I asked what kinds of things she knew about wands. She responded very matter-of-factly that they are long and thin so that you can hold on and have things at the top that are magical. She bent down and held a stick level to her eyes. Something long and thin to hold onto, I noticed. “I wonder if there are magical things to put on top?” With that one question she turned and disappeared into Lookout Cove. She returned five minutes later, triumphant to open her hand and revealed a collection of flowers, each a different color and shape; “rainbow magic,” she proclaimed. In this moment a simple question and the openness to wonder became the spark for investigation. Wonder becomes the root of joy and the impetus

“Wondering and finding out means intense involvement in both doing and caring about phenomena in the world.”

3 SUMMER 2013

– Bess-Gene Holt from Science With Young Children, 1989

for play that allows us to establish learning as a constant means of living as opposed to a system that exists solely in the classroom. At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, we create learning environments where children are inspired to explore, investigate, question, and make connections. These learning environments are filled with loose parts that can be manipulated and combined in infinite ways. Here, making connections is paramount to early childhood development. When there is no right or wrong way to play or engage in the process of learning, children are encouraged to explore their self-awareness and internal motivation in pursuit of knowledge. These open-ended, child-directed learning environments are pivotal to our educational philosophy and our belief that the process of learning through play is an entryway into a life-long love of learning. We offer many ways to engage with the natural world every day at the Museum through both self-guided and facilitated interactions with our outdoor exhibit elements. In Lookout Cove, children forge deep connections to the natural world by spending time outside and being open to the inspiration that can be found in nature. The low boom of the foghorn might www.BayKidsMuseum.org

become a pirate signal as you play on the Bonnie Boat and the sharp screech of a red tailed hawk overhead may precipitate a moment of pause and wonder to its origin. We also provide the opportunity to become immersed in the scientific process and inquiry-based learning through facilitated explorations. When families come to our Make Potions program in Patterson Grove, we encourage children to look closely and become more aware of the unique details and possibilities around them. Children are innately scientists, constantly experimenting and processing their experiences to build knowledge and understanding of the patterns of our world. They are the purest form of investigators, navigators, and interpreters of meaning in our natural world. As educators we model ways that children can use all of their senses to gather information about the objects they find and ask questions to highlight their discoveries. How does that feel in your hand? Does it remind you of anything you have ever seen before? By drawing attention to concrete observations based on sensory experiences, adults can support children in constructing knowledge of the world around them and adding it to the knowledge of their past experiences. As an adult in a child’s life you can encourage and facilitate this important development. Seek out activities that encourage prolonged time outdoors. Inspire wonder and investigation by exploring alongside with you children. Ask open-ended questions, and use investigative language to create narratives about the world around us. In our Connections program at the Museum, we practice these skills year round with teachers and families in our community. See our Connections update on page 8 for practical tips for you and your family to use as you explore both at and away from the Museum. I believe that our environment is the most dynamic teacher we could ask for, ever present, ever changing. In nature we have constant opportunity for creative thinking and inspiration on our path as life-long learners. Exploring the environment forges deep connections and familiarity with our natural world and the fascinating ecology we are a part of. We invite you to explore our outside world with us this summer.

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

WHY NATURE IS A MUST-HAVE FOR CHILDREN THIS SUMMER Research shows that experiences in nature positively impact every area of child development -- physical, psychological, intellectual, social and emotional. At our latest evening grown-up lecture, parenting and family expert Suz Lipman shared tips on how parents can incorporate more nature into their summer schedules:

OPEN-ENDED NATURE ADVENTURES Go for a hike, visit a park or pick a new bike path in order to explore and discover. Ask open-ended questions to encourage your children to make observations and think creatively. What do you see? Why do you think…? Tell me more.

DISCOVER NATURE IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD Fill and hang a bird feeder or plant a butterfly-friendly flower. Talk about all the creatures who visit. Go to www.pollinator.org or your local nursery to find out about best plants for your region.

EXPLORE NATURE AT THE MUSEUM Take an adventure walk on Lookout Trail. Look for different colors, shapes, birds, butterflies and bugs among the native trees, plants and flowers. Suz Lipman is the Social Media Director for the Children & Nature Network and the author of Fed Up with Frenzy: Slow Parenting in a Fast-Moving World. “Get Ready for Summer: The Importance of Reconnecting Children with Nature” was co-presented by ScholarShare Speaks. A full webcast is available at www.BayKidsMuseum.com/suzlipman. Stay tuned for our next lecture series event in the fall.

programs & drop-ins

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., Various outdoor locations 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

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

NATURE WALKS WITH RANGER LUCY The Bay Area Discovery Museum has its very own park ranger, Lucy Scott. The Museum is located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is administered by the National Park Service. Ranger Lucy works both at the Muir Woods National Monument and in the Marin Headlands and leads nature walks at the Museum when her schedule permits. These walks are a little bit nature exploration and a little bit scavenger hunt. Armed with a checklist and pictures of different plants and animals, she leads visitors on a nature expedition. Often, the children vie to be the one who gets to check off the things that the group has found. Ranger Lucy encourages visitors to look closely and ask questions. Ranger Lucy says, “Being a park ranger in Marin is the best job in the whole world.” She was the first person in many years to see a Northern Spotted Owl in Muir Woods. They are very endangered and this discovery caused a lot of excitement, especially when it was discovered that there was a pair of owls. Look for the time and dates for Ranger Lucy’s Nature Walks this fall on the Museum’s website.

“Being a park ranger in Marin is the best job in the whole world.” – Ranger Lucy

D O N AT E T O DAY

5 SUMMER 2013

These free programs are made possible by donations to our Annual Fund. Donate today by contacting Lauren Cooper at (415) 339-3954 or online at BayKidsMuseum.org/donate

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

programs & drop-ins

family classes update Have you heard the about our creativity igniting Family Classes for children and their caregivers? Taught by expert facilitators 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. Stay tuned for more sessions of visitor favorites Get Ready To Get Messy, and variations on our classic themes starting in September 2013.

Programs Join us this summer for our drop-in workshops and pop-up summer programs! Drop-in programs are open-ended, makeup-as-you-go play opportunities around a theme as a way for our visitors and staff to engage with our exhibit spaces and inquirybased educational philosophy. Check our onsite chalkboard each morning for specific location and more in-depth program theme. *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.

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

Toddler Circle Time, Tot Spot

Mondays – 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, Various outdoor locations

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 Spotlight on the Arts program.

Storytime

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

Wave Workshop

Mondays – Fridays, 11 a.m. Saturdays – Sundays, 3 p.m. Sponsored by

Lookout Cove

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

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

Outdoor Learning Lab Experience, Outdoor Learning Lab

Saturdays, 2 – 4 p.m. Beginning in September, 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. Move, twist, fly, and jump as we explore our coordination and gross motor skills.

Lookout Cove Adventures, Lookout Cove Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. Explore the unique qualities of individual exhibition elements in Lookout Cove such as Peekaboo Palace, Patterson Grove basalt rocks, and the observation deck on the Lookout Trail and the wonders of the natural world.

Framed: Step into Art ™ Outdoor Painting, Lookout Cove Thursdays & Fridays, 3:30 p.m. Celebrate summer “en plein air” and come paint outside with us. Pick up a paintbrush and get inspired by the natural surroundings of Lookout Cove as we frame the outdoors and step into nature.

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 Building Challenge at Imagination Playground 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.

Group Visits Register today! Through a self-guided tour, your group will have the opportunity explore, discover, immerse, imagine and connect with the natural and cultural wonders of the Bay Area as they play in our hands-on exhibitions.

Self-guided Visits Summer Visits: Monday – Friday Fall Visits: Tuesday – Friday 9:15 – 11:15 a.m. or 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. The group admission fee is $7 per child and additional chaperones (One free chaperone admitted for every five children)

Plus a $10 registration fee.

Register online at www.BayKidsMuseum.org/groupvisits If you have any additional questions, please contact Vanessa Macias, Group Visits Coordinator, at (415) 339-3963.

New! Enriched Visits Register now for the 2013/2014 school year! Enriched Visits, led by Museum Education Specialists, are three hours in length and offer an in-depth, project-based learning experience containing unique and sensoryrich programming focused on developing creative thinking in children. All Enriched Visits are led by Museum Education Specialists and align with Common Core Standards and Preschool Learning Foundations. Call our Group Visits Coordinator for more information regarding registration and availability at (415) 339-3963.

All programs are subject to change and cancellation. Please check our onsite program chalkboard for updates. 2013 SUMMER 6

museum buzz

Our Mission: to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children.

Membership News Introducing: Monthly Member Playdates

Go on an adventure with our Museum staff each month in our new monthly member program. Each month we will meet at a different location for a fun, family-friendly activity and give parents a behind-the-scenes look at how our educational philosophy is put to work. Upcoming Member Playdates: WEDNESDAY, JULY 24

Spatial Intelligence: Playtime in Imagination Playground THURSDAY, AUGUST 8

Collaborative Play: Exploration in Bay Hall

Framed: Step into Art™ Open now through September 8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Step into famous paintings and experience art like never before in our newest traveling exhibit, Framed: Step into Art™. Enter a world where paintings leap off the canvas and become a large interactive environment for children and families to explore.

Sensory Integration: Messy Play Contact Lauren Cooper, Membership Manager, with any questions at (415) 339-3954 or lcooper@badm.org

Supporting Member Benefit 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.

Generous support of this exhibition is provided by the Richard and Elizabeth Fullerton Family Foundation. Framed: Step into Art™ was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum. Media Sponsorship by KQED.

Photo Contest Enter to win a one-year Family Membership by entering our #FrameTheOutdoors Instagram contest. 1. Follow @BayAreaDiscoveryMuseum on Instagram 2. Post a picture of you and your family framing the outdoors (onsite or around the world) 3. Include “#FrameTheOutdoors” in your caption Contest ends September 1, 2013. Full contest details at BayKidsMuseum.org/Frametheoutdoors.

Take a seat, enjoy the view! What better way to spend summer than enjoying the Museum’s natural surroundings and stunning views? Through our FUND-A-BENCH program, friends and families can create a lasting dedication or memorial by placing a public bench in a favorite Museum spot. Each bench is unique and tells a different story through a specially engraved bronze plaque. Some benches have views of the Golden Gate Bridge! For more information, please contact Lea Wood, Major Gifts Officer, at lwood@badm.org or (415) 339-3952.

7 SUMMER 2013

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

connections update

Becoming Naturalists with Connections families Heather Miller, Connections Manager

It has been another amazing year learning and playing with the Connections preschool classrooms. Summer of 2013 marks the end of our 5th year of this innovative community partnership program. This school year our 35 Connections preschools explored the theme “Becoming Naturalists.” Over the course of in-classroom outreach and five annual field trips, parents, teachers and children partnered with Museum Educators to practice science inquiry and explore the local natural environment. The “Becoming Naturalists” curriculum theme provided a focus for a series of three enriched field trip programs, teacher-initiated activities in partner classrooms, and parent-child explorations both at the Museum and at home. Here are some tips for parents we discovered during our year of exploring nature with young children.

SLOW DOWN IN NATURE Go outside. Your local park, Lookout Cove, or the soccer field after practice will do. You don’t have to plan a trip to Yosemite to slow down in nature.

Easy ways to help adults slow down 1. T urn off your phone. You can’t connect to nature when you are busy connecting to somewhere else. 2. S et down the camera for a little while. You can’t truly connect with a child when you are separated from her by a lens.

2. B ring an observation instrument. Tape two cardboard tubes together to make “binoculars.” Offering your child a simple object to manipulate can, like the Deer Ears gesture, help him focus his attention. 3. C ollect beautiful natural stuff. This is about discovering the most beautiful stick, or the most unusual leaf. Bring a very small paper bag to keep things simple. If it doesn’t fit or it’s too heavy, don’t collect it. If your children can’t carry the bag by themselves anymore, stop collecting. You might wish

3. R emember all of your senses. Hug your children or hold their hands, close your eyes together and be still. What do you hear? Breathe deep. What do you smell? Stretch your bodies out and get ready to wander. What might you touch, jump over, climb on, or lay down on top of?

to set additional guidelines on this activity, like “let’s collect loose natural stuff, not living plants or animals” or “after we explore the items in our bag, we’ll put them back where we got them and then go home.”

Extending your slow time in nature 1. W hen you get home, break out the paper, pencils and markers. Draw what you noticed on your slow time outside. You may wish to pose a question and draw a picture in response. “What did it sound like on our walk?” 2. I f you brought your beautiful natural stuff inside, invite your child to explore the items further. Use a muffin tin or egg carton as a place to organize the collection. How many different ways can you sort the items you found? 3. D o it all over again. Take a walk through the field outside the Discovery Museum gates before you go home on your next visit. Imagine if this became a part of your routine. How might slowing down in nature ease the difficult goodbyes when it’s time to go home for dinner?

Easy ways to help children slow down 1. L isten with “Deer Ears.” Cup your hands and hook them behind your ears. By using your hands to make your ears bigger, like those of a deer, you heighten your sensitivity to sounds. Offering your child this gesture can help her focus on the act of listening.

To learn more about the importance of family learning in nature turn to our feature article “Observation and Nature” on page 3. We wish you a slow summer discovering nature with your family.

Thank You

Fullerton Family Foundation

The Connections program is fully supported through generous donations from foundations, corporations and individuals. We gratefully acknowledge recent support from:

Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation

Gap Foundation Kreitzberg Family Foundation James Family Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation Mimi & Peter Haas Fund San Francisco Foundation Thomas J. Long Foundation

Join us in supporting Connections! One of our most generous foundation funders has offered a 2013 challenge of up to $50,000 to be used to double the value of donations made to the Connections program. New or increased gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations are all eligible to be matched. Please contact Brandy Vause at bvause@badm.org or (415) 339-3956 if you wish to help. 2013 SUMMER 8

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime

Storytime Art Lab

Sponsored by:

ONE GRANDPARENT & ONE GRANDCHILD WILL RECEIVE FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION

C E L E B R AT E G R A N D PA R E N T S DAY !

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Art Lab

September

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Move! Lookout Cove Adventures

Museum closed for annual maintenance.

Labor Day Museum Closed

Storytime

18 Summer Camp

Storytime

11 Summer Camp

Storytime Art Lab Framed: Step into Art Closes Grandparents Day

Storytime Art Lab #FrameTheOutdoors Photo Contest Ends

Storytime Art Lab

Storytime

Storytime Art Lab

4 Summer Camp

Free with admission

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Outdoor Painting

creativity news

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

What do teachers do in the summer? THI S I S A QUE ST ION MANY PARENT S A SK T H E IR T E AC H E R S A S THE Y PA R T WAYS AT T H E END OF T H E S CH O O L Y E A R . M A N Y TE ACHE RS DO H EAD FOR T H E P ROV E R BIA L BE AC H , W HI LE OTHE RS GET INVOLVED IN CAMP S ( IN C LUD IN G S O M E O F OUR COUNS ELORS AT T H E MU SEUM ) , A N D M A N Y M O R E TA K E THE O PPORT U NIT Y TO ADVANCE T H E IR OWN LE A R N IN G OV ER THE SUM MER. In fact, summer is a very busy time in education – professional development opportunities abound for all teachers as they prepare for the coming academic year. The Museum created the Center for Childhood Creativity to extend our mission beyond the physical site. One of the ways we do this is by being a resource to teachers so we can advocate for creative thinking in entire classrooms. Last year, the Center combined the Museum’s onsite expertise in hands-on, experiential learning with all the incredible advances in academia and brain science to create interactive workshops that advance creativity in the classroom. We piloted a series of workshops last summer and this past school year, and positive results have led to high demand for our

professional development programs. This summer we will train over 500 teachers, including all the preschool teachers in the San Francisco Unified School District as well as many K – fifth grade teachers in Marin County.

this summer we

will train over

500 teachers Our workshops range in topics from “Creating an Inquiry-based Classroom” to “The Building Blocks of Creative Thinking” and “The Gamification of Math.” At the heart of each workshop is the notion of putting the child in the center of the learning process. Given the rich neurological development that occurs in early childhood, engaging the child’s whole brain in learning is vital. A new buzz term in the education sector is “21st Century Learning Skills.” These include Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking and Creativity. Amazingly, these are the same skills we have cultivated on site among our visitors since the Museum was founded in the late 1980’s.

11 SUMMER 2013

Hosting the Center trainings at the Museum provides an opportunity for teachers to observe children in openended, inquiry-based learning throughout our site. It also allows us to demonstrate the importance of and tools for linking learning to play. So often we as parents and educators get caught up in academic metrics and outcomes, hoping to fill these little minds with knowledge. But to be true to our mission – to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children – the Center focuses on the process of learning in these early ages. That will in fact get us the best outcome – young children who are good at learning, who love learning and who are eager to go to school each day. Our professional development workshops focus on giving teachers tools and strategies to teach in this way. We are inherently creative as a species, and early childhood is a rich time for developing our creative thinking potential. As creative thinkers we are better problem solvers, innovators and learners. Reaching students early by empowering hundreds of teachers each summer will have lasting benefits for all. In just this one summer ahead, we will influence the education of over 10,000 students. And that feels like accomplishing our mission!

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

programs & events

Not-A-School

Creative Enrichment "We came to Not-A-School (NAS) because we needed something different, an open learning environment that would give Olivia opportunities to really experiment, use her imagination, get messy, make mistakes, and play. At NAS, everything is learned through experience. What I didn’t realize two years ago was how big of an impact this program would have on Olivia and our family. NAS has supported Olivia through the many physical and social emotional challenges of early child development. Teachers embrace every child, personality, idea and learning opportunity. My joyful, kind, sensitive daughter has grown into a more confident and wonderfully unique individual. In the process, NAS has reminded me how to see the world through a child's eye. Through our participation I’ve become a better teacher, learner and parent and for that I’m forever grateful." – ALEXANDRA BRITT, NOT-A-SCHOOL PARENT Applications for the 2014 – 15 school year will be accepted beginning on November 1. Please join our mailing list to register for informational tours. www.baykidsmuseum.org/notaschool.

Springing into Summer Our Grandparents Circle, Donor Circle and Not-A-School families sprang into summer on May 18 during our “Springtime Adventure.” Families had a great time in our Outdoor Learning Lab, getting their hands dirty in our mud pie kitchen and making “natural” sculptures out of clay, sticks and flowers. Interested in events like these? Join a Grandparent or Donor Circle today by contacting Lea Wood at (415) 339-3952 or lwood@badm.org

G ra n d p a ren ts ! Grandparents Day Sunday, September 8 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ONE GRANDPARENT & ONE GRANDCHILD WILL RECEIVE FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION Join the Museum and ScholarShare College Savings Plan for a special celebration of National Grandparents Day. Enjoy a special Storytime and programming in the Art Studios throughout the day. Celebrate the grandparents in your family with us on Grandparents Day. For more information, visit BayKidsMuseum.org/grandparentsday Sponsored by:

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

2013 SUMMER 12

we rely on your support

An Extra Spectacular Thank You! Playdate 2013: Urban Circus Spectacular was a resounding success. From the circus acts and fortune telling to the lounge-style seating under the Big Top, it truly was a unique and magical event. Thanks to everyone who donned their “Jean, Jewels and Jimmy Choos,” and enjoyed after-hours fun at the Museum, and generously participated in our auction, raffle, and raise the paddle. Your support directly funds our ability to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children.

A special thank you to our Playdate corporate sponsors: CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS

Visit us after you play!

Anonymous PATRON SPONSORS

members save

10%

Life on Earth The perfect game to play after a family nature hike. Ages 5+ $10.99

In the Pond Follow the adventures of a wriggly tadpole as it grows up. $9.99

Super Sunprint Kit

Encourage interest in nature and photography using only the sun, water and imagination. $16.99

Wells Fargo ScholarShare College Savings Plan NetSuite Dodge & Cox Ernst & Young Anonymous IN-KIND DONORS* Barbara Butler Artist-Builder, Inc. Brasada Ranch Broll Mountain Vineyards Carmel Valley Ranch Cavallo Point Chloe Warner at Redmond Aldrich Design Classic Party Rentals Dacor Eric Schumacher Photography Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Fox Marble Gregangelo and Velocity Circus Imagination Playground Joshua Ets-Hokin Photography Oracle Paula LeDuc Fine Catering Peter Olivetti Photography Sutro Architects Tiffany & Co.

Entertainmen

t by Gregang

elo and Veloc

njay Jain

Heather & Sa

*In-kind donations above $1000

Extra Spectacular Thanks to: The Usborne First Book of Art

Just like our exhibit Framed: Step into Art™, this book uses activities based on actual paintings. $16.99

Visit the store anytime. No Museum admission required.

YOUR PURCHASE SUPPORTS THE MUSEUM

EVENT CHAIRS Laura Alford, Discovery Council Mari-Frances Bentvelzen, Discovery Council Meg Clifford, Discovery Council AUCTION CO-CHAIRS Alexander Fraser, Board of Trustees Adrianne Yamaki, Discovery Council

Mario Dia z (Wells F argo Karyn Flyn n (Museum Foundation), CEO) & Alec Hugh es (Wells F argo)

ity Circus

Council Corner We wish to thank our tireless Discovery Council volunteers for their many contributions to Playdate 2013. We are especially grateful to the Discovery Council Playdate Committee Chairs: Laura Alford, Mari-Frances Bentvelzen and Meg Clifford. Why did you join the Discovery Council? Meg Clifford, Laura: Initially, I chose to volunteer on the Council to support the Laura Alfo rd, & MariMuseum and to meet other like-minded women. After my first year, I found Frances Ben tvelzen myself advocating and promoting all the wonderful programs the Museum has to offer. Seeing the Connections Program in action reminds me of the importance of the Museum in the community.

Mari-Frances: I volunteered on the Council because I wanted to give back to a place that my daughter loved and meet other moms with a passion for volunteering. Meg: I started volunteering with the Discovery Council because I loved the Museum and was looking for an outlet to give back while taking time off work to be a full-time mom. I also wanted to connect with like-minded moms.

Playdate is the Museum’s biggest fundraiser and a lot of work for Committee Chairs who are also busy moms, what motivated you to put on a party for 400 guests, seven circus performers and a psychic? Laura: This year it was great to have Playdate back at the Museum and to see adults enjoy a playful atmosphere themselves! Mari-Frances: These last three years of supporting Playdate as a Council member have been fantastic. It has given me the chance to meet some truly amazing women. My favorite Playdate moment this year would have to be Raise-the-Paddle, which raised $61,700 in funds to support the Museum’s programs; seeing people giving back to such a wonderful place, made all the hard work worth it. Meg: Chairing Playdate has been a wonderful experience as has being on the Council for the last three years where I’ve met amazing women, made lasting friendships and had fun while feeling like I am making a difference. With all of the fundraising events at the Museum, our time and efforts feel like they mean something; we do good and make an impact, which is especially important given we all have young children, hectic schedules and crazy lives.

If you are interested in joining this committed group of women on the Discovery Council, contact Lea Wood at (415) 339-3952 or lwood@badm.org

Photogra Atkinson

Museum. Our sincerest thanks to ScholarShare for its support and we hope to see you at a ScholarShare-sponsored event or program soon. ScholarShare, California’s 529 college savings plan, offers parents a tax-advantaged way to save for their children’s college education. For more information about ScholarShare, visit www.scholarshare.com or call (800) 544-5248.

Stefanie

The ScholarShare College Savings Plan and the Bay Area Discovery Museum are pleased to announce the continuation of its partnership. This year, ScholarShare is sponsoring Free First Wednesdays, Storytime, Grandparents Day, Playdate and our Library Membership Program. Through sponsorship of our events and programs, ScholarShare touches all of our visitors throughout the year and helps us offer the best possible experience at the

phy

Thank You

www.BayKidsMuseum.org

2013 SUMMER 14

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

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

Special for Summer 2013, Our award-winning birthday parties are getting even messier…

with MUD!

“Our friends could not stop talking about how much fun they and their children had at the party.” – Sarah F., May 2013 The “Messier with Mud” party add-on offers exclusive time and nature exploration activities in our fun and unique Outdoor Learning Lab. For full details, please visit BayKidsMuseum.org /birthdays To book your party, please call (415) 339-3931