Monday, February 20, 2012

Why I love my job!

My job title is Assistant Director of Education at the Spurlock Museum, University of Illinois. What that means on any given day is up for grabs. Some days are total tedium....but not very many. Some days are nothing but meetings....but I find the exchange of ideas among creative people totally fascinating. And some days, like today, are why I really love my job...

I just walked around my house gathering puppets and stuffed animals that could be used as puppets for a middle school storytelling/puppet workshop in the Museum on Wednesday. It's gonna take two HUGE trash bags to carry them into the Museum tomorrow for beginning set-up. (And I'm only bringing about 2/3 of them! No, I don't have kids. There's no room with all the stuffed animals...lol) THEN I get to gather all the puppets and stuffed animals from my office. I'll spend the next couple of hours putting together a list of stories that can go with the puppets and a simple worksheet that will help the students through the process of deciding which stories can be best told with puppets and how. At the end, we'll put on some shows. Over the weekend, I wondered how I was going to fill 90 minutes. Today, I'm wondering why we only planned for 90 minutes. And THAT is why I love my job!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

March with the Penguins


Would you like to see the igloo finished? Come visit the Orpheum during March with the Penguins on March 3&4 from 1-5pm.

In the Antarctic, every March, the Emperor penguin begins its quest to find a mate, start a family, and find enough food to survive a perilous journey. Take part in this remarkable adventure as we transform the Orpheum Theatre into the Antarctic. Join a rookery and choose a spot to setup your community, find a lifelong mate, search for food, and incubate an egg. Understand what the penguins encounter on their journey under the harshest conditions on earth, all to find true love and start a family. Will you be able to survive and keep your chick alive? Waddle and slide your way through this family adventure, complete with an Antarctic Scientific Research Station. Participants are encouraged to watch National Geographic’s March of the Penguins before the event. Tickets available online or at the door

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Spring Youth Programs at the Anita Purves Nature Center


 


For prices and registration call the Phillips Center (217) 367-1544 or visit http://www.urbanaparks.org/
 

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Orpheum Children's Science Museum's Toddler Tuesday

Come join the fun with activities for toddlers that provides an opportunity to work on developing language, cognitive, and social skills with fun activities based on art, music, games, and other sensory activities. Little ones and their special grown up will enjoy a different topic each week. Free with admission, no registration required. 10:30am-11:30am