Canadian Children's Museum

Programs

A proud supporter of Canadian Children's Museum programming

For Canadian Children's Museum event information, pick up Passport to Adventure on-site, call us at (819) 776-8281 or visit http://www.civilization.ca/visit/cmcprograme.aspx.

Kids Celebrate!

With a change of season and the arrival of cooler weather, family activities shift into high gear and move indoors. The Canadian Children's Museum marks the change in season with the presentation of some familiar events and programs, including our much-anticipated Hallowe'en festivities, and Day of the Dead and Festival of Lights activities and workshops. Kids in the Kitchen is back, providing an opportunity in October and November for our youngest visitors to test their culinary skills from the countries of Germany and Italy and, also in November, Passport to Japan highlights some wonderful traditions with the help of our friends from the Japanese community. Throughout the next three months, a variety of fun things to make, build and create will be offered in the Kids Clothing Company and Studio.

As the first phase of construction work and changes to our exhibition spaces is completed, our popular theatre re-opens with some new twists and interactive materials that will engage and delight. Watch for some entertaining antics with special guests over the December holiday period. Stay tuned as well for a much bigger Kaleidoscope Gallery opening in early February with a brand-new special exhibition created by the CCM called Top Secret: Mission Toy — a fun and exciting exhibition for all toy experts who think that they are ready to show their credentials!

I hope that you will join us this season and next for some new and familiar experiences at the Canadian Children's Museum.

Kim McDougall
Director, Programs and Canadian Children's Museum

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

The Canadian Children's Museum welcomed its seven-millionth visitor on June 7, 2006. Congratulations to Liam Hans, age 5, of Almonte, Ontario. A crowd of young Museum visitors joined in the countdown, and cheered as Liam was crowned with balloons and presented with a commemorative medal and a gift box containing seven special souvenirs of the Museum.

Volunteers — We Couldn't Do It Without You!

At the Canadian Children's Museum, we have a loyal and hardworking group of volunteers who care for exhibitions, participate in the delivery of programs, travel throughout the region to help us maintain our outreach activities, and quietly work behind the scenes on special projects. Their contribution and commitment adds valuable assistance to staff and enriches the Children's Museum visitor experience. Thanks to all our volunteers. We couldn't do it without you!

In summer 2005, 65 young volunteers contributed 3,000 hours over the summer, and many continued to volunteer on weekends or during school breaks.

Call (819) 776-8287 to register for volunteer training.

Just for You and Your Preschooler

On Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., we offer a series of adventures for preschool visitors and their accompanying adults, designed to help young children explore our exhibits. Suitable for ages 5 and under.
For information, see the Calendar of events.

Art Works!

Jumpstart your imagination and stretch your creative thinking skills in our drop-in workshops at the Studio. Themes change monthly and are designed to foster creativity. These programs may be pre-empted by special events.

Check at our Travel Bureau to see what's on when you visit!

Play with Nature - create a drawing.

Play with Pattern - create a print.

Play with Colour - create a sculpture.

Hours

September 5 to October 9, Seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

October 10 to April 30, Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Canadian Children's Museum will be closed from January 8 to 12 to fix up, spruce up and clean up our exhibits.

Free Times:

• At all times for members and volunteers (except IMAX)
• Thursdays after 4:00 p.m.
• Heritage Day (February)
• Museums Day (May)
• Canada Day (July 1)
• Remembrance Day (November 11)

Tip for Parents

Want to avoid the crowds? A Saturday morning excursion to the Museum allows you to visit at a more leisurely pace. You can spend more time in your favourite exhibitions!

Tips for First-Time Visitors to the CCM

We asked visitors what their favourite exhibits are; here are four that they suggest a first-time visitor shouldn't miss. Drum roll please!

On the Nile
See a camel, explore a pyramid, and write your name in hieroglyphics. There's even a secret passage for you to find!

The Port
There is tons to do: you can move cargo from the boat to the dock using a crane, play a video game where you have to dock a ship in an international port, call the Shipping Company, or swab the deck.

Kids Café
There are lots of props you can use to pretend that you are the chef in a restaurant, as you learn about foods from different cultures.

Bonjour, Hello, Konichiwa!
Learn about Japan, make an origami crane, and try on a kimono.

Family Membership

FAMILIES! Did you know that Museum members always get in FREE?
Become a member today and enjoy:

• unlimited free admission,
• exhibition previews,
• special events, and
• discounts on IMAX^® tickets.

To find out more about the many other benefits and discounts, please call (819) 776-7100 or 1-800-555-5621; or e-mail membership@civilization.ca.

The Gift of Giving!

If you cannot send your own child to one of our programs, but would be interested in sponsoring a child from your community, please call (819) 776-8281.

Publications and Products

Current publications, all produced in Canada's two official languages, include a quarterly Calendar of Events, a Parent's Guide, Educator's Guide, and a variety of fact sheets. Products are made up for exhibits, programs, outreach and the Children's Boutique. They include passports and Adventure Pacs.

Teachers and early childhood educators!
Ask about our brochure on services for school groups, and give your students the world! For more information, please call (819) 776-7014 or 1-800-555-5621.

Outreach

The Children's Museum develops a variety of products to reach out to young Canadians across the country as well as abroad.

Services

Party! Party! Party!
Looking for a place to hold your next party? The Canadian Children's Museum is available for rent. It is the perfect location for parties, especially for children ages 4 and over.

Overnight Adventures
Bring the gang for a sleepover at the Canadian Children's Museum. Groups of 20 or more children from 7 to 12 years of age will love this unique experience – a perfect trip for Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, school groups and teams. "This has been one of the most interactive sleepovers we've been to as a group in years.". More information

AT&T Canada Adventure Pacs
These fun-filled, activity-packed kits are great for families to use during their visit to the Museum. A generous gift from AT&T Canada has gone towards the development of this product. Visit our Embassy to ask about how you can get one of these exciting pacs during your next visit. Rental fee: $5 per kit.

For more information, call (819) 776-8281 or enquire at the Embassy!

Partnerships

The Children's Museum forges partnerships with organizations and companies in the development of a variety of projects, including exhibits, products and programs.

Staff and volunteers

The Children's Museum employs forty staff for interpretation, exhibitions, programs and collections. A total of approximately one hundred volunteers, francophone and anglophone, serve as exhibition interpreters, workshop leaders and behind-the-scenes help. Fifty volunteer training programs are offered annually.

Professional Development Opportunities

The Museum offers regular placements for students enrolled in post-secondary courses for credit or further study in the fields of education and museology. Throughout the year, it also holds early-childhood education conferences and professional development days.

Youth Advisory Committee

Fourteen children, aged 8 to 14, advise staff on programs and exhibition development. They serve on the committee for two years and meet three to four times annually.

Affiliations

Member of the Association of Children's Museums; member of the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative, a joint venture of eight youth museums involved in the development of travelling exhibitions.