SCHOOL SPIRIT NIGHTS FUNDRAISER
January 28 - April 25, 2010
The Midland Center for the Arts is offering a fundraising opportunity to area elementary schools on Thursday evenings during the WaterWorks: Soak Up the Science! exhibition.

As a community partner, we hope to encourage family museum visitation and promote some school spirit while raising funds for area schools. On your school’s chosen night, one dollar will be donated to your school for each regular museum admission ticket purchased by a patron with a School Spirit flyer denoting your school’s name.

An additional cash prize will be given to the school with the most participation at the end of the exhibition.

If you would like more information or your school would like to participate, please contact our Education Department at 989-631-5930 x1227 or by email at museumtours@mcfta.org.

SCHOOL TOURS
NEW! Schedule WaterWorks tours online here

Please read our Procedures for Scheduling and Planning School Tours (41 kb) packet. If you have additional questions, please contact our Education Department at museumtours@mcfta.org. Two weeks notice may be required to qualify for any special tour rates.

For ease of scheduling, please complete our Tour Planning Worksheet (24 kb) prior to attempting to make reservations.

Online Reservations To check our calendar of available dates and times, visit our online tour reservations. Once you complete your online request, you will be contacted for additional details.

Current Rates for School Tours (effective June 1, 2009):
$3 per student; classroom teachers are FREE; $3 per adult chaperone. 
*These rates apply to public and private schools only. Homeschoolers, scout groups and others, please see our FAQ sheet section for rates. Rates subject to change.

Pre-registration is required for all school tours. Two weeks notice may be required to qualify for any special tour rates. If you have additional questions, or to inquire about available times and dates for your tour, please contact our Education Department at museumtours@mcfta.org.

Required Minimum Number of Chaperones - by age group:
Preschool-4th grade     1 for every 5 students
5th-9th grade               1 for every 10 students
10th-12th grade           1 for every 15 students

Curator of Education reserves the right to increase the minimum number of chaperones for a group; each group will be evaluated on a case by case basis (e.g. special needs groups, juvenile detention groups etc.)

Group Tours PDF Downloadable FAQs or Fact Sheets
• Schools/Scouts (94k)	• Homeschool (97k)	• College/University (83k)
• Adult/Family (82k)	• Informal (82k)

*SCHOOL FIELD TRIP GRANTS Available!*
School Field Trip Transportation Grant Applications are now available!

To be considered for a transportation grant to visit the WaterWorks exhibit between January and April 2010, please complete the application and return to the Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art Curator of Education, Debbie Anderson by fax (989-631-7890), email (museumtours@mcfta.org) or mail to:


Application for Transportation Grants

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EDUCATORS OPEN HOUSE
FREE Event in September for Educators
Our Educator Open House brings together local organizations with resources for teachers. These resources include tour opportunities, outreach programs for the classroom, packaged lessons for teacher use, and discount and grant programs to name a few. Door prizes, refreshments and giveaways available.

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HOMESCHOOL EVENTS
Homeschool families not belonging to a group are encourage to attend our Museum Homeschool Days scheduled during the year. These opportunities will provide students an opportunity to experience our Museums with others and parents an opportunity to network with each other. For more information please contact our Education Department at andersond@mcfta.org.


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VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM
• Picture Parent Program: A long-standing success story designed and executed by over 100 active volunteers who take art history and appreciation to the classrooms of Midland schools.

• Project Art Museum: Introduces elementary students to a half-day arts experience that includes a gallery tour, hands-on studio art, performing arts and science. Funded in part by the Maxwell K. Pribil Memorial Fund.

• Visual Arts Outreach: This program sends artists in all disciplines to under served schools for demonstrations, presentations, hands-on art activities and career guidance.

For further details, current pricing, or to schedule any of the Alden B. Dow Museum Visual Arts Outreach programs, email Debbie Anderson or call 989-631-5930 ext. 1225.

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SCIENCE OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Science Outreach Programs are educational, fun and entertaining. They can usually be tailored to the specific needs of your event. These programs may be available if you would like to add them to a museum tour for a small fee.

For detailed information about all of our Science Outreach Programs, please click here or click on one of the programs listed below.

- Magic of Electricity
- Chef Cool - Cooking with Cold
- STUFFEE
- Spectrum Light Box
- Suitcase Science

Coming Soon! A program on Atoms using a Cloud Chamber…check back for updates.
- StarLab (currently not available) We are looking for a presenter for this program.

For further details, current pricing, or to schedule any of the Alden B. Dow Museum Outreach programs, email Debbie Anderson or call 989-631-5930 ext. 1227.

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FAMILY DISCOVERY DAYS
Generously sponsored by Arbury Insurance Agency
These family-oriented programs are designed to spread excitement about science and art by creating opportunities for exploration through entertainment and hands-on discovery. These programs will occur a minimum of five times per year (generally geared for the school year). Many times these programs will coincide with specific gallery exhibits or current events. Admission varies by program.

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SUPER SCIENCE DAY
Saturday, March 20, 2010
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Join our friends from the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum for a SOAKING good time as you participate in up to 20 hands-on science experiment/demo stations.  Many activities will focus on water as a theme. All ages welcome!  

(Our Summer Camp Kick-off Event will be happening in the brick lobby on this day too! Don't miss this free event!)

Tickets: $3 per person / Combo ticket with admission: $9 adult, $6 child

Buy tickets online!

March 20 - 12 pm

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CHEF COOL
Saturday, April 10, 2010 - One show only!
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Experience the freeze! Celebrate the end of winter as "Chef Cool" demonstrates physical properties of chemicals in solid, liquid, and gaseous states. He shows the sometimes strange effects extreme cold has on everyday objects using liquid nitrogen and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide.) Recommended for ages five and up. 

Tickets: $8 public, $5 members

Buy tickets online!

April 10 - 1 pm

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EARTH DAY EXPO
Saturday, April 24, 2010
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Come to our FREE Earth Day event co-sponsored by the American Chemical Society - Midland Section. This year's theme is PLANTS. Thematic activities and information for all ages.

FREE admission

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SCOUT PROGRAMS
Activities for all divisions can be custom tailored to better benefit each age group. Call with your ideas. Included are self-guided tours, scavenger hunts and badge activities. During special exhibitions (past examples: Egypt, A T Rex Named Sue, Grossology, etc.) the museum may offer a specialty patch with the tour. For more information, contact Deb Anderson or call 989-631-5930 ext. 1227.

 

GIRL SCOUTS - WACKY WATERWORKS OVERNIGHT
Begins @ 7:00 pm, Friday, March 5, 2010
Ends @ 8:00 am, Saturday, March 6, 2010

Spend the night in the Museum, complete a badge (to be determined), while you scope out the museum’s newest exhibit, WaterWorks: Soak Up the Science.

The fees include: museum admission, souvenir patch, hands-on science and art workshops, snacks and a light breakfast. (A movie will be shown also if time permits)

**Souvenir patch not included with adult chaperone fee, but they are available for purchase.

Registration is taken through MCFTA Ticket Office, 989.631.8250  or 800.523.7649

Registration opens January 4, 2010.
Registration deadline January 29, 2010.

A lottery will be used to fill available spots from all registrations received by the deadline, with any remaining spaces filled on a first-come first-served basis.

Tickets: $27 per Girl Scout; $9 per adult leader

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