The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is introducing two new monthly programs for young children to increase access and encourage exploration of the West Virginia State Museum. “Museum Mondays” will take place on the first Monday of every month and “Second Saturdays” will repeat the activities on the second Saturday of the month. The programs are geared for children in preschool through kindergarten, but kids of all ages are invited to attend.
There will be a different theme every month and the program will continue throughout the year. October will focus on pioneers and frontier life. Activities include activity sheets, “Make and Take” art, story time, artifact exploration and special programming with visits from historical characters in West Virginia history. The program will begin at 9 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m.
On Monday, Oct. 5, the museum will open at 9 a.m., and kids can enjoy participating in a scavenger hunt while following the Eye Spy Activity Sheet. At 10 a.m., they can create a coonskin cap, make pioneer passports and examine frontier tools on the hands-on history cart. At 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., they will gather to hear the children’s story Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant, which is based on the Native American tradition of naming the moons of each month. Activities will wrap up with A Step Back in Time with Daniel Boone featuring a reenactor in period clothing talking, interacting and answering questions at the top of the hour beginning at 2 p.m. with the final presentation at 4 p.m.
“Second Saturday” will be Oct. 10 and provides children and families another chance to enjoy the same “Museum Monday” activities from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday adds a Museum Walk ‘n Talk program with the theme Pioneer Days at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. while the visit with Daniel Boone will take place from 1 - 4 p.m.
November’s theme will be Civil War, and will take place on Monday, Nov. 2, and Saturday, Nov. 14. In December, the focus will be on West Virginia Geology and will take place on Monday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 12.
It is recommended that children under the age of 13 be accompanied by an adult.
For more information about “Museum Mondays” and “Second Saturdays”, contact museum guest services, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 111.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
- 30 -
