Exciting Programs and Events this Fall!

Do your children want to create some art, explore the wonders of science, exercise your body, learn a new language, or act out your favorite character? Bring them to the museum for one of our many weekly Drop-In programs at the Virginia Discovery Museum. Check out our website or our bi-monthly newsletter to view the times and dates of all of these exciting programs.

Starting this week, the museum brings back seasonal favorite Drop-In programs, which require no registration and feature new educational projects each week for the kids – hearing exciting stories, creating art, and exploring the depths of science and nature.

On Tuesdays, we have “Tuesday Travelers” at 10:30am. This delightful program takes children ages 3 & up on an adventure to a new country each week. Kids will fill their passports with stamps as they journey around the world learning about different languages, music, art, dance, and geography. Later in the afternoon, kids can stretch their imaginations creating rhymes, haikus, and sonnets in “Poetry Club”, which is every Tuesday at 4pm. Established for kids ages 5 & up, this program encourages kids to discover their unique voice and learn the basics of writing poetry.

Longtime favorite, “Toddler Time,” comes back on Wednesdays at 10:30am. This program, which is for children ages 6 & under, presents the little ones with the opportunities to create a work of art while learning how to act in a classroom setting. Each week will bring a new fun activity and craft – allowing visitors to go home with a new masterpiece for their walls and refrigerators back home. On Thursdays, kids ages 4 & up can join our “Science Club” at 4pm to learn about chemistry, biology, zoology, and physics through hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and projects. This exciting program will also bring a special guest you won’t want to miss to the museum every second Thursday of each month.

Speaking of special guests, on September 8^th and October 6^th at 10:30am, visitors to the museum will be treated to a special story time lead by a featured guest. The mornings will include a story along with a fun activity. Help you kids get excited about books by bringing them to these special story times where there will also be free book giveaways.

Along with our exciting Drop-In Programs, the Virginia Discovery Museum also has several special pre-register programs and events happening this fall. On Monday, October 10^th from 9am-12pm, the museum is hosting a Teacher Workday Program for kids ages 4-8. Themed “Hometown History,” this drop-off program will explore the heritage of Virginia with a focus on the museum’s very own Showalter log cabin. Kids will spend time playing in the Virginia Frontier area and learn about what life was like for the Showalters. They will make crafts relating to Virginia history, dress up in costumes, play games that the Showalters might have played, and enjoy a frontier-themed snack. Register soon for this fun educational program, which is $30 for members and $35 for non-members.

On October 28^th, the museum will be hosting our annual Halloween Party from 6-7:30pm. Register now and come dressed in your best costume! This event, for children ages 2-7 with an adult, is $6 for members and $8 for non-members (prices are person). For one night only, the VDM staff will transform the museum into a kooky not-so-ahunted house for little ones and their accompanying adults to enjoy. Kids will enjoy fun Halloween games and snacks as they watch a wacky witch brew up eerie concoctions. They can visit the creepy bat cave, decorate their own Halloween cookies. Don’t miss out on the best night of the year!

Register for these special programs soon as space is limited and don’t forget about Date Nights on First Fridays from 5:30-8:00pm. Enjoy a night on the town while your kids revel in an evening of activities, dinner, and lots of free time to play in the museum.

The fall season aims to be a busy one for the Virginia Discovery Museum, but we hope it will also be a success. We are eager to see the kids participate in the weekly programs and we welcome any feedback from our visitors. Please contact us anytime for information and questions. We wish everyone a happy fall and hope to see you for the programs. Stay tuned for updates on the new exhibit renovations in the Front Gallery and for NASA’s Driven to Explore on September 27^th and 28^th.

NASA's Driven to Explore

Mobile Exhibit Coming to the Downtown Mall
Tuesday, September 27 &
Wednesday, September 28
All ages with adult
Free with admission to museum

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn about space exploration right here on the Downtown Mall! For two days in September, the Virginia Discovery Museum will host NASA’s Driven to Explore, a mobile, multi-media exhibit that immerses visitors in the story of NASA. Visitors will learn how and why we explore space, discover the challenges of human space exploration, and learn how NASA’s technology is used to improve life on Earth. The exhibit includes audio and visual technology to connect visitors with the space program. It highlights the research that will ensure safe and sustainable future missions and the vehicles and systems used to expand space exploration.

As part of this unique exploration experience, visitors will have an out-of-this-world opportunity to touch a 3 billion-year-old moon rock brought back aboard Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the Moon in 1972. The moon rock is one of only eight lunar samples in the world available for the public to touch.

The Driven to Explore mobile exhibit includes a large inflatable tent that will be stationed near the Virginia Discovery Museum on the East End of the Downtown Mall. The exhibit appeals to visitors of all ages. Entrance to the exhibit is free with admission or membership to VDM. Visit with your family or school group and learn about space exploration from the experts at NASA. Mark your calendars!

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Concert!

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds will perform on August 20 at the ntelos Wireless Pavilion. This concert also presents a unique opportunity to support the Virginia Discovery Museum as proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charities or community organizations chosen by concert attendees through JustGive.org.

Tickets for the show go on sale to the general public at 10 am on August 5 at www.theinteloswirelesspavilion.com. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to charities and community organizations selected by ticket purchasers at www.justgive.org/charlottesville.

Come check out out this amazing concert and choose the Virginia Discovery Museum as your community organization to support!

Come check out

Kid*Vention
Saturday, August 6
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
at Charlottesville High School
All Ages with Adult
Free!

Kid*Vention is the Museum's free science-based, family-oriented, fun-filled festival. This year, kids and their families can take a trip down the Rivann River and learn what we-re doing to protect it, enjoy a planetarium show and fun astronomy activities, make their own mini wind turbines and watch them spin, see sunspots though a solar telec scope, play in a giant tub of oobleck, test the strength of some tiny materials, and much more. You will see plenty of hands-on activities, crafts, and games.
Sponosored by the WVPT, the City of Charlottesville, and Lite Rock Z95.1.

Don't forget to register for this exciting summer camp!

Magic & Memories Summer Camp
June 20 – 23, 9am-12pm
Ages 4-7
Members: $115, Non-Members $140

VDM is busy gearing up for our first summer camp of the year. Check it out!

Explore the unique adventures and illustrations from Caldecott Medal-winning books new and old! Learn about different art techniques and create some magic and memories of your own! Come fly with frogs on a magical escape into the night, be transformed from a mouse to a tiger, find out what happened to the girl who loved wild horses, and break out of the zoo with some of your wild friends to visit their favorite sick zookeeper. We’ll celebrate these and other works of literature and art with games, puzzles, crafts, and more! Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara or Maggie to register, or email us at vdmprograms@vadm.org or gallerymanager@vadm.org!

New Art Exhibition at the Virginia Discovery Museum - Our Photographer for the Discovery Dash

"Love and Life"

A Collection of Photography at the Virginia Discovery Museum

May 5 - June 13, 2011

Amy Benoit is an on-location, natural & studio light lifestyle photographer in Charlottesville, VA and the surrounding areas. Her favorite subjects are expecting mamas, the tiniest of babies, and children of all ages. Photography has long been a passion for her and she strives to capture the beauty of love and life in her images.

Amy lives in Charlottesville with her boyfriend of 10+ years, their one year old son, and two dogs. Check out her website at www.sweet-pea-photo.com.

See Amy at work at the Virginia Discovery Museum’s
21st Annual Discovery Dash on May 28th.

Come Celebrate Mother's Day with our Special Mother's Day Programs

Date Night Drop-Off - Mother's Day Edition
Friday, May 6th, 5:30-8pm
Ages 3-8
$20 Members / $25 Non-Members (sibling discount $5)
Drop off the kids and have a special Mother's Day evening out this Friday with our Date Night Drop-Off Program! Kids will be treated to special Mother's Day activities and crafts this week! This pre-registration drop-off program includes a craft, games, cheese pizza and carrot sticks, fruit juice, and lots of free time to play in the Museum! There is a cancellation fee of $10 after 12pm on the day before registered program and no refund for same-day cancellation. Space is limited, so sign up today. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Maggie or Sara to register, or email us at gallerymanager@vadm.org or vdmprograms@vadm.org!

Little Chefs - Happy Mother's Day!

May 7 - Little Bites (Snacks & Appetizers)

May 14 - Delectable Desserts (Nut-Free Day)

May 21 - Kids' Favorites

10am-11:30am

Ages 4-8 with adult

Price per class: $10 Members / $13 Non-Members
Bring your little ones and create tasty snacks and delicious meals together! Your kids will learn about kitchen safety and build their cooking skills in a fun, safe environment. Space is limited, so sign up today. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara or Maggie to register, or email us at vdmprograms@vadm.org or gallerymanager@vadm.org!

Spring Flowers! - Flower Arranging Class

Saturday, May 7, 2:30-3:30

Ages 4-8 with adult

$15 Members / $18 Non-Members
A treat right before Mother's Day! Bring your little ones and make a beautiful flower arrangement together. Learn the ins and outs offlower arranging and create something special for Mom this year. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara or Maggie to register, or emailus at vdmprograms@vadm.org or gallerymanager@vadm.org!

Alternative Energy Day!

Alternative Energy Day
Saturday, April 23rd
All Ages with Adult
Free with Admission or Membership

Celebrate Earth Day with VDM at our Alternative Energy Day co-sponsored by JMU's Virginia Center for Wind Energy. It'll be a fun-filled day for the whole family to enjoy. Check out hands-on demos from local environmental organizations and learn more about the newest breakthroughs in solar and wind energy technology! Come for a reading of Wind the World Over by author Irene Boland at 10:30am and then travel around the world to learn about wind energy. We'll have stations on model wind turbines, making pinwheels, a wind riddle, making wind pennants, and understanding scale by measung tall objects. Please contact Sara at 977-1025 x 9 or vdmprograms@vadm.org with any questions.

Race for Autism - a Triple Crown Event

UVa Marching Band Extravaganza!

Come see the new exhibit at the Virginia Discovery Museum!

Join us for Tuesday Travelers!

Great news for young explorers: Tuesday Travelers, a favorite of visitors and staff alike, returns to VDM beginning Tuesday, March 29! This fun and educational program is great for ages 4 & up and is free with admission. Each Tuesday at 11:00, we’ll learn about the language, music, art, dance, geography and cuisine of a different country. We’ll also do a fun activity or make a craft. Come every week and fill up your Tuesday Travelers Passport with stamps!

What: Tuesday Travelers drop-in program, free with admission

When: Tuesdays at 11:00

Who: Young explorers and their accompanying adults

Where: The journey begins at VDM!

Kids in the Kitchen

VDM will be hosting a table at the Junior League of Charlottesville'sKids in the Kitchen!

We've got tons of fun planned, so stop by ourtable to create healthy food crafts.

The Junior League of Charlottesville's Kids in the Kitchen event willtake place on March 19, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the AlbemarleHigh School cafeteria.

Join us for a day of cooking, hands-on activities, fitnessdemonstrations and health education as part of our internationalchildhood obesity and nutrition education initiative.Sponsored by the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI),the event will incorporate Pilates for kids, smoothie-making and manymore fun and inspirational activities for kids. Event sponsorsinclude ACAC, UVA Health Systems and Blue Ridge Eco Shop. Allchildren and parents are invited to attend free of charge.

http://www.jlcville.org/?nd=kids_in_the_kitchen)

Festival of the Book

VDM has tons of FotB fun for your family!

The Cat in the Hat
Tuesday, March 15 - Sunday, March 20
Wednesday, March 16 at 3:30 is a special program with Bly Brown

For all ages with adult

WVPT is bringing the fabulous Cat in the Hat to Hooville for a visit during the Virginia Festival of the Book. Starting Tuesday, March 15 and continuing all week long, the Virginia Discovery Museum will feature Cat in the Hat activities and crafts! The highlight of the week is sure to be a fun storytime with Bly Brown, followed by some crafts, on Wednesday, March 16th at 3:30pm. The Cat in the Hat will also visit the Downtown Mall on Saturday, March 19th, at 9:30 am. Children and parents will merrily parade with the Cat in the Hat to the Paramount Theater where, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, on the giant screen, two episodes of the new PBS series, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, will be shown. Come out and be a part of the fun!

Kaleela Thompson Presents

Oh Where, Oh Where is My Swallowtail?

Friday, March 18th

4:00-4:30pm

For all ages with adult

Young author Kaleela Thompson visits VDM to share her new book. Come and enjoy a short presentation on butterflies while you hear Kaleela's story!

Mara Rockliff's The Busiest Street in Town
Saturday, March 19th
1:00-2:00pm

Recommended for ages 5-8, but all ages welcome with adult

Children's author Mara Rockliff comes to VDM to share a new book with us! Her picture book called The Busiest Street in Town is perfect for the Downtown Mall, as it's all about turning a street full of traffic into a place where neighbors meet and children play. She will do an interactive storytime with props, followed by a fun craft activity for the kids.

Owls and snakes and possums…oh, my!
Saturday, March 19th
2:00-3:00pm

For all ages with adult

Get “wild” with WHTJ PBS and the Virginia Discovery Museum as they play host to some of Virginia’s feathered and furry friends as part of the Virginia Festival of the Book, an annual event produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The Wildlife Center of Virginia will be on hand to explain our role in wildlife conservation and environmental protection. The enlightening program includes up-close encounters with live, non-releasable wild animals, who have been given a new lease on life thanks to the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Center. The first 200 children receive a free wildlife-themed book.

The Cat in the Hat

Tuesday, March 15 - Sunday, March 20
Wednesday, March 16 at 3:30 is a special program with Bly Brown

WVPT is bringing the fabulous Cat in the Hat to Hooville for a visit during the Virginia Festival of the Book. Starting Tuesday, March 15 and continuing all week long, the Virginia Discovery Museum will feature Cat in the Hat activities and crafts! The highlight of the week is sure to be a fun storytime with Bly Brown, followed by some crafts, on Wednesday, March 16th at 3:30pm. The Cat in the Hat will also visit the Downtown Mall on Saturday, March 19th, at 9:30 am. Children and parents will merrily parade with the Cat in the Hat to the Paramount Theater where, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, on the giant screen, two episodes of the new PBS series, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, will be shown. Come out and be a part of the fun!

COME JOIN IN SOME HEALTHY FAMILY FUN THIS SPRING!

The Kid's Triple Crown is a series of three races just for kids. To qualify for a prestigious Triple Crown medal, runners must cross the finish line for a minimum of one event at each of the three individual Triple Crown races. Sportsmanship rules apply at all of the events. The awards ceremony will be held in June, so get ready!

Run for Autism
Hosted by the Virginia Institute of Autism • Saturday, April 16th • Charlottesville High School Register at http://www.viaschool.org/

Family Fitness Fair
Hosted by the Charlottesville Day School • Sunday, May 1st • Panorama Farms
Register at http://www.charlottesvilledayaschool.org/

Discovery Dash
Hosted by the Virginia Discovery Museum • Saturday, May 28th • Monticello High School
Register at http://www.vadm.org/


For more information please visit www.raggedmountainrunning.com.

New Summer Camps at the Virginia Discovery Museum!

Be sure to register for these camps soon as they fill up fast! Also, be aware of the dates for these camps as we will two weeks without camps in July.

Magic & Memories: Caldecott Medal Winners
-Ages 4-7, June 20th -23rd
Explore the unique adventures and illustrations from Caldecott Medal winners new and old! Come fly with frogs on a magical escape into the night, be transformed from a mouse to a tiger, find out what happened to the girl who loved wild horses, and break out of the zoo with some of your wild friends to visit their favorite sick zookeeper. We’ll celebrate these works of art with games, puzzles, crafts, and more!

South American Adventure
-Ages 4-7, June 27th – June 30th
Learn about the language, cuisine, art, and wildlife of South America! Dance the tango, climb the Andes and sail down the Amazon during this action-packed mini-camp.

Incredible Insects
- Ages 4-7, July 11th – July 14th
Can you dance like a bee or leap like a grasshopper? Find out what makes our tiniest neighbors so special in this camp! We’ll learn how to fly, build, and transform just like the insects we see every day, and we’ll celebrate the weird and fun world right beneath our feet.

Dinosaur Discovery
-Ages 4-7, July 18th – July 21st
Gather your tools and get ready for the big dig! Learn about the T-Rex, Pterodactyl and many more. Find out how fossils give us clues about the world of the dinosaurs.

Ocean Life
-Ages 4-7, August 1st – August 4th
Come explore the ocean and all of its wonderful creatures! Try out awesome activities, crafts, and fun facts as we learn about the ocean and animals like sharks, octopi, and more. Grab your ocean gear and get ready to have fun!

Making Music
-Ages 4-7, August 8th – August 11th
Tune in to this mini-camp to learn about blues, jazz, rock and more. See demonstrations of musical instruments and then make and play some instruments of your own!

Food Fight!
-Ages 4-7, August 15th – August 18th
Grab a pie and get ready to get messy in the kitchen for this summer camp. Make your own recipe box and stock it with all the fun recipes we learn. Discover the science behind your favorite foods and make your own slimy, sticky, greasy and grimy experiments.

*All camps run Monday thru Thursday 9am-12pm
*Camp prices for members are $115/week, and non-members are $140/week

*Cancellation Policy: One week's notice is required for a full refund of all fees minus a $5 Processing Fee. If notification is less than a week before the start of the program, VDM will transfer the fee amount to another Museum purchase of your choice. The VDM reserves the right to cancel programs with insufficient enrollment and will fully refund fees from those programs.

A New Art Exhibit in the Program Room Art Gallery

"Creatures"
By Paul Loukides

An original art
exhibition at the
Virginia Discovery
Museum.
March 1 - April 11, 2011

It’s my belief that too many artists have forgotten the relationship of art to play. If, as many have observed, play is the work that children do, then we should recognize that art is the play that adults do.
This series of prints began with wanting to create six prints of creatures for a new granddaughter. I had no idea what the creatures would look like, but I knew they shouldn’t be simply cute and cuddly (no kittens or bunnies or puppies) and they shouldn’t be too frightening or menacing (no aliens, satanic figures or grotesques); somewhere between those extremes, imaginary creatures waited. As it turned out, there were more than six. Once I had done the first six, the creatures demanded to be expressed in clay; once I started making clay creatures new creatures appeared, the new creatures insisted on their own woodblock prints. Somewhere along the line, one of the creatures became a painting (since gone to a good home) and I accepted the idea that I would be doing creature prints/sculptures/paintings until they were no longer play.
- Paul Loukides

Fun Spring Events You Won't Want to Miss!!!

Be sure to check all of them out!

The Cat in the Hat
Tuesday, March 15 - Sunday, March 20
Wednesday, March 16 at 3:30 is a special program with Bly Brown

WVPT is bringing the fabulous Cat in the Hat to Hooville for a visit during the Virginia Festival of the Book. Starting Tuesday, March 15 and continuing all week long, the Virginia Discovery Museum will feature Cat in the Hat activities and crafts! The highlight of the week is sure to be a fun storytime with Bly Brown, followed by some crafts, on Wednesday, March 16th at 3:30pm. The Cat in the Hat will also visit the Downtown Mall on Saturday, March 19th, at 9:30 am. Children and parents will merrily parade with the Cat in the Hat to the Paramount Theater where, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, on the giant screen, two episodes of the new PBS series, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, will be shown. Come out and be a part of the fun!

Mara Rockliff's The Busiest Street in Town
Saturday, March 19th
1:00-2:00pm

Children's author Mara Rockliff comes to VDM to share a new book with us! Her picture book called The Busiest Street in Town is perfect for the Downtown Mall, as it's all about turning a street full of traffic into a place where neighbors meet and children play. She will do an interactive storytime with props, followed by a fun craft activity for the kids.

Owls and snakes and possums…oh, my!
Saturday, March 19th
2:00-3:00pm

Get “wild” with WHTJ PBS and the Virginia Discovery Museum as they play host to some of Virginia’s feathered and furry friends as part of the Virginia Festival of the Book, an annual event produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. The Wildlife Center of Virginia will be on hand to explain our role in wildlife conservation and environmental protection. The enlightening program includes up-close encounters with live, non-releasable wild animals, who have been given a new lease on life thanks to the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Center. The first 200 children receive a free wildlife-themed book.

The Tibetan Way Closing Ceremony
Friday, March 25
3:30-4:30
All ages with adult

Join Tsetan Chonjore for an afternoon of Tibetan music and dancing to celebrate the Closing Ceremony for The Tibetan Way exhibit. He will be bringing many different Tibetan instruments and perform traditional Tibetan dances.

Kid*Vention 2011: Discover Sky & Space has moved to a new date:

Saturday, August 6, 2011 from 9am-3pm, location TBA.

This year’s Kid*Vention is all about taking time to look up and explore what’s above our heads! Learn about birds and bats, planes and rockets, comets and more through hands-on activities, crafts and games. Sponsored by the Virginia Discovery Museum, WVPT, the City of Charlottesville, and Lite Rock Z95.1, this is one event your family won’t want to miss!

Fun New Spring Classes!

Be sure to register today for all of these exciting new classes.

YogaDoodle **Rescheduled**

Wednesdays, Mar. 23 - Apr. 27

3:45-4:45

Ages 5-9

$90 Members/$110 Non-Members

Guest instructor Lynn Campbell will introduce kids to YogaDoodle, a fusion of traditional yoga postures and creative expression. Children learn postures to help experience their physical sense while exploring sight, sound and stillness with their peers. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara to register, or email her at vdmprograms@vadm.org!

Teddy Bear Tea Party
Saturday, March 26
2:30-3:30
Ages 4-8 with adult
$10 Members / $13 Non-Members

Bring your favorite teddy bear (or stuffed animal) and put on your finest clothes for this afternoon tea party! We'll make fancy hats and flowers and then snack on an assortment of fun drinks and finger sandwiches. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara to register, or email her at vdmprograms@vadm.org!

Little Chefs **Rescheduled**

Coming Saturday Mornings this Spring!

April 2, April 9, April 16, May 7, May 14, and May 21

10am-11:30am

Ages 4-8

Per class:$10 for Members and $13 for Non-Members

For all six classes:$55 for Members and $70 for Non-Members

Bring your little ones and create tasty snacks and delicious meals together! Your kids will learn about kitchen safety and build their cooking skills in a fun, safe environment. Space is limited, so sign up today. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara to register, or email her at vdmprograms@vadm.org!

Hollywood Theatre Lab **Rescheduled**

Fridays, Apr. 15 - May 20

3:45 - 4:45

Ages 6-8

$90 members/$110 nonmembers

In this 6-week session, actress and acting instructor Lana Young will teach children how to perform while exploring their imagination in a safe and fun environment. Fun and focused exercises teach children how to listen to their scene partners and build communication skills. They will learn basic stage technique, how to break down scripts and how to find their objective as the character. The goal - teaching life skills through acting - is to build self-esteem and confidence while showing children how to find truth in a character. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara to register, or email her at vdmprograms@vadm.org!

Spring Flowers! - Flower Arranging Class
Saturday, May 7
2:30-3:30
Ages 4-8 with adult
$15 Members / $18 Non-Members

A treat right before Mother's Day! Bring your little ones and make a beautiful flower arrangement together. Learn the ins and outs of flower arranging and create something special for Mom this year. Call 977-1025 x 9 and ask for Sara to register, or email her at vdmprograms@vadm.org!

VDM's Summer Mini-Camps 2011!
Our summer camp schedule will be announced shortly! Stay tuned to our website, http://www.vadm.org/, for more details!