Dover’s First Fiber Art Installation Slated for September 6

(Dover NH – August 29, 2012) – Starting on September 6, Dover residents and visitors will encounter more colorful surroundings in the city’s downtown Henry Law Park. Lampposts throughout the upper park will be wrapped in original knitted works as part of Dover’s first-ever Fiber Art Installation, presented by local fiber artists with support from the Dover Arts Commission and the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. This outdoor exhibition will remain in place through October 15 for all to enjoy.

“We are excited for the debut of this unique public art project,” said Jane Hamor, chair of the Dover Arts Commission. “We live in a very creative community and want to support local artists in their endeavors to use original art to transform parks and other public spaces in our city. The Fiber Art Installation is the first of what we hope to be many exhibitions of public art in Dover in years to come.”

City resident Malone Cloitre is the artist and curator of the new Fiber Art Installation. “I have been knitting for 18 years and find it to be a very creative medium,” explained Cloitre. “It is a timeless art form and Dover has a long history with textile production. It has been great to work with the Arts Commission and Children’s Museum to make this dream a reality.”

To bring the exhibit to life, Cloitre recruited several local knitters including Kelly Tronzo, Viki Guy, Amanda Reed, Caroline Lamoureux, and Laura Baxter. Working with donated yarn, they volunteered their time and created knitted works of their choosing, in addition to Cloitre’s creations. “We definitely wanted each piece to be its own individual work of art,” noted Cloitre.

Knitter Jean Hearn also got involved to create a sculptural textile piece that will be displayed inside the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. “We are thrilled to be part of this project,” said Justine Roberts, Executive Director of the Museum. “We hope it will pave the way for more artists to present their work in Dover and put the spotlight on our city as an arts destination.”

An opening reception for the Fiber Art Installation will be held on Friday, September 7 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm in the lobby of the Children’s Museum of NH at 6 Washington Street. The public is invited to view the exhibit, meet the artists and Arts Commission members, and enjoy refreshments.

For more information on the Fiber Art Installation, please visit www.facebook.com/DoverNHArtsCommission or www.childrens-museum.org.

For more information on creating a public art project in Dover, please contact the Arts Commission at City Hall.

Human Resource Partners President Elected to Children’s Museum of NH Board: Delise West begins volunteer Board service for popular nonprofit

Delise West, President of Human Resource Partners (HRP), was recently elected to the Board of Directors at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire.  She joins other new and existing Board members in supporting and advancing the work of the nonprofit museum located in Dover.

On her new role, West noted: “As a business owner, resident of Dover and a Children’s Museum visitor, I’ve seen the positive impact the Children’s Museum has had not only on childhood learning and development, but the local and state-wide community overall. Because of this I want to take an active role in helping them not only expand on the outstanding work they are already doing but also support their future growth.”

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire offers dynamic, custom-designed exhibits to inspire family learning and creativity. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators to develop relevant programming and provide access for all. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families.

Human Resource Partners with offices in Concord and Dover, removes the questions and doubts about HR compliance and improves employee productivity for medium-sized business through their customized HR outsourcing model.

Children’s Museum of NH hosts Monarch Butterfly Workshop August 22-23

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire will be hosting the first-ever Monarch butterfly workshop for educators on August 22 and 23 at the Museum’s Dover location.

The two-day “Teaching and Learning With Monarch Butterflies” workshop will offer both field and classroom experiences to train educators on how to teach essential skills in literacy, math, science, geography and more using Monarch butterflies raised in the classroom. Teachers will complete the workshop with all the materials they need to introduce this exciting learning opportunity in their classrooms. The workshop is also open to naturalists, master gardeners and others who want to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Monarch Teacher Network (MTN) began in August 2001 when eighteen New Jersey teachers were trained at the first “Teaching and Learning With Monarch Butterflies” workshop. That workshop was held at the EIRC facility in southern New Jersey, near Philadelphia. MTN has grown each year since, training teachers and others to bring monarchs into their lives, schools and communities. Workshops are normally conducted in June, July or August. Since 2001, MTN has trained over 4,500 people, holding workshops in 17 states and 5 provinces.

Monarch Teacher Network is made up of veteran teachers (teaching children of varied ages and abilities), non-traditional educators, master gardeners, naturalists, park workers, or anyone who has a passion for the monarch butterfly story and teaching. They share information and resources with each other and can apply for fellowships to visit the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico or California.

As part of the New Hampshire workshop, each participant will receive hands-on instruction, rearing cages, books, posters, DVDs and other materials. They will learn strategies for butterfly gardens and “Monarch Parades,” as well as inquiry-based activities for science, language arts, math, geography, drama, social studies, history and more.

The cost of the workshop is $99 with a limited number of scholarships available. To register, participants should visitwww.monarchteachernetwork.org or call856-582-7000 X110.

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of custom-created exhibits for hands-on family learning. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators to develop relevant programming and provide access for all. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families.

For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Children’s Museum Free Family Night on May 4

On Friday, May 4, the Children’s Museum of NH will be open for special evening hours at no charge. All families are invited to explore the museum together from 5:30 – 8 pm.

Free Family Nights are held on the first Friday night of each month during the school year. The next Free Family Night will be held on June 1 and that will be the last free night until the fall.

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a widerange of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum specializes in creating family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Children's Museum offers Environmental Arts Camp

Kids who are curious about art and nature have a great opportunity to learn more about both subjects during New Hampshire’s April school vacation week.

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is offering an Environmental Arts Camp for kids ages 7-10 from Tuesday, April 24 – Thursday, April 26. This half-day camp will meet from 9:30 am – noon at the Children’s Museum on all three days.

Environmental Arts Camp activities and experiences will be led by Museum educators, guest artists and local scientists. Highlights will include drawing with a scientific illustrator, exploring the world of insects with an entomologist, and learning about local wildlife and their habitats.

Registration for Environmental Arts Camp is now open. The fee is $80 for Children’s Museum members and $90 for non-members. Camp class size is limited to 12 children. To register, please call Lauren Foxall at the Children’s Museum of NH at 603-742-2002 during weekday business hours. More information on all Children’s Museum programs can be found at www.childrens-museum.org.

Nathan Walker presents "Scrap Sculpture" Workshop at Children's Museum of NH

Artist Nathan Walker, center, poses in front of his Giant Blue Crab sculpture with young visitors at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire.

Fans of the Giant Blue Crab outside the Children’s Museum of NH have a unique opportunity to learn about sculpture from the crab’s creator. On Saturday, April 14 from 10:30 am - noon, Seacoast-based artist Nathan Walker is offering an adult-child workshop to make Bug Bottle Bot sculptures from a variety of scrap materials.

Working together as a team, each adult-and-child pair will start by making a sketch of an idea for an insect they’d like to create. Nathan will guide participants in constructing their ‘scrap insect’ using a bottle, can or jug for the body and adding other materials to finish it off. Due to the nature of the materials and techniques that will be used, this workshop is recommended for children ages 7 and up with adult supervisions. Pre-registration for this workshop is required.

The cost for this workshop is $25 per adult/child pair for museum members and $35 per adult/child pair for non-members. All materials are included. Registration is required by calling the Children’s Museum at 603-742-2002 or families may register at the museum’s front desk. Class size is limited to 12 adult-child pairs.

Born in New England, Nathan Walker had a passion for art from an early age. He studied sculpture at the University of New Hampshire, pursued animation with the Associates of Art in Los Angeles, discovered environmental art in Australia, and finished his degree in illustration at Montserrat College of Art. He currently works as a freelance illustrator and visiting artist, with projects that extend from children’s books and murals to graphic design and sculpture. More information on his work can be found at www.nathanwalker.net.

Children’s Museum of NH hosts Kids’ Clothing and Gear Consignment Sale

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is hosting a major Consignment Sale of children’s clothing and gear on March 31 and April 1, 2012. This sale will offer gently used, good quality children’s clothes, baby clothes and gear, footwear, costumes, toys, nursery furniture and décor, sports equipment, books, music, and videos at outstanding prices. Maternity wear will also be available. People who consign items will earn 60% of the revenue from their sold items. The remaining net proceeds will benefit the Children’s Museum of NH and its vital education and outreach programs.

The sale will be open to the public at the Museum’s 6 Washington Street location on Saturday, March 31 from 12 noon – 7 pm and on Sunday, September 11 from 12 noon – 5 pm. Sunday will be a half-price sale on many items. There will also be a private pre-sale event on Saturday morning from 9 am - noon for people who consign 25 items or more, or who register to volunteer at the sale.

“We got such a great response to our first consignment sale last fall, we decided to make it a semi-annual event,” said Justine Roberts, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. “We love it because consignment sales not only help families recoup some of the money they’ve spent on kids’ clothes and accessories, but they also help other families in the community, promote recycling and provide support for our museum, which serves the entire region.”

The Children’s Museum’s consignment sale makes use of technology to streamline the process of consigning items, scheduling volunteers and automating sales. “People interested in consigning can go to our website and click through to a page where they can log in all the items they want to sell,” Roberts explained. “When all of their items are entered, the program will print out a page of bar-coded tags that can be cut out and attached to each item before being dropped off for the sale. Clothing will all be organized by size to make shopping easier, and the tags clearly state the brand and price of each item. We use hand-held bar-code scanners for easy check-out, then consignors can log in and see which of their items sold and how much money they have earned. Volunteers can also sign up right at our website.”

At the conclusion of the sale, consignors may pick up their unsold items or sign-off to have the Children’s Museum donate unsold items to local charities.

For more information about the Consignment Sale, please click on the Consignment Sale link on the museum’s homepage at www.childrens-museum.org.

Exploring Our Way Autism Program at Children’s Museum

On Sunday, February 12 from 10 am – noon, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire will welcome families with children on the autism spectrum as part of Exploring Our Way, the Children’s Museum of NH’s Autism Partnership Program.

Exploring Our Way is usually held on the second Sunday of each month from 10 am – noon at the Children’s Museum of NH. At each Exploring Our Way session, families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are invited to visit the museum at no cost. A different regional expert will be on hand at each session to answer questions and provide resources to families,

Upcoming Exploring Our Way programs will be held on:

Tuesday, April 24, 5:30 – 7:30 pm (special evening session)

Sunday, May 13, 10 am - noon

Sunday, June 10, 10 am - noon

Paula Rais, Director of Community Engagement for the Children’s Museum of NH, stated that the program has been very well received. “Since we began, we have been averaging nearly 100 people at each monthly session,” she said. “Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. We are delighted to be able to provide a community setting where the whole family feels comfortable and has fun together.”

Exploring Our Way takes place when the Children’s Museum is closed to the public and offers families a chance to explore the museum together, with support as needed from museum staff, trained volunteers, and special materials that include mapping tools and social stories. No reservations are necessary, and families are welcome to stay and play after the museum opens to the public at noon.

The program began in March 2010 with inaugural funding from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust. For more information, please contact program coordinator Paula Rais at paula@childrens-museum.org

Mini Iron Chef Challenge at Children's Museum of NH

Sisters Kealey and Ainsley Gray of Portsmouth practice up for the Mini Iron Chef Challenge at the Children's Museum of NH on Sunday, March 18.

One of the best ways to get kids interested in trying new foods is to involve them in preparing meals, so the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire and Hannaford Supermarkets have cooked up an event to inspire kitchen creativity and promote family teamwork.

The FoodWorks Mini Iron Chef Competition will be held on Sunday, March 18 at the Children’s Museum of NH in Dover. This fun cook-off will feature pairs of children in the role of chefs and adults in the role of sous chefs. Each pair will work together to turn a box of healthy ingredients – plus a mystery item to be revealed at the start of the session – into tasty creations.

“We are in our second year of partnering with Hannaford to present a variety of events focused on healthy eating,” explained Jane Bard, Director of Education at the Children’s Museum of NH. “We’re excited to be hosting this parent-child cooking challenge as a fun way to get kids working with healthy ingredients and using their own creative ideas, with some help from a parent or other adult. Dishes will be tasted by a panel of judges and participants will be recognized for their originality and flavor combinations.”

The Mini Iron Chef Challenge is planned for children ages 4-10 working with adult partners. Once they register, participants will receive the list of ingredients that will be provided by Hannaford at the event. At-home trial runs with these ingredients are encouraged so team members are familiar with these foods.

Two sessions of cook-offs will held on March 18: one session from 12:30 – 1:30 pm and a second session from 2-3 pm. The fee per team is $10 for museum members and $15 for non-members. Registration is required. Teams can register at the front desk or by calling the museum at 603-742-2002.

February Songwriting Workshop for Kids

For kids who love music and creative writing, the Children’s Museum of NH is offering a special opportunity to build on both skills. During New Hampshire’s school vacation week, the Museum is hosting a 3-day workshop called Songwriting and the Creative Process, led by New Hampshire musician Rick Lang. The workshop will be held February 28 – March 1 from 10 – 11:30 am each day for students ages 8-10.

Songwriting and the Creative Process will cover the basic elements of songwriting, melody and rhythm, and how to organize and record song ideas. Participants will be introduced to traditional American music and will work collaboratively to write a song about a river, using the Museum’s Cochecosystem exhibit and the river that flows right behind the Museum as inspiration. The workshop will culminate in the creation of a group song that is put to music. Each student will receive the song in electronic form and the Museum will also share the song with visitors and school groups.

Rick Lang is a New Hampshire songwriter and musician who has recorded several bluegrass albums and performed in concerts around New England. More than 50 of his songs have been recorded by nationally-known bluegrass bands. He is also a member of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s songwriting committee. More information about Rick Lang can be found at www.haleyannamusic.com.

The cost of the Songwriting Workshop is $40 for Children’s Museum members and $45 for non-members. The class is limited to 12 students and registration is now open. To register, please call the Museum at (603) 742-2002, or for more information, please visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Children's Museum announces MINI Cooper Car Raffle Fundraiser

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is revving up its fundraising efforts by raffling off a MINI Cooper Convertible to one lucky winner. The Museum’s 2012 MINI Cooper Car Raffle is a brand new initiative to raise vital operating funds for Museum’s award-winning programs. Only 600 tickets will be sold at $100 each and the winner will take possession of a 2012 pepper white MINI Cooper Convertible from event sponsor MINI of Bedford.

“People may not be aware of what a huge resource we are to the community on both local and statewide levels,” said Justine Roberts, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of NH. “We serve over 93,000 people a year and nearly half of those visitors are welcomed at no cost or reduced admission. We have free programs for families with children on the autism spectrum, for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s, and for all Title 1 schools in New Hampshire. We also open our doors to arts, education, cultural management and science professionals as a meeting place and to encourage networking and collaborations. We are launching this new fundraiser so we can continue finding ways to make a difference for New Hampshire’s families.”

The 2012 MINI Cooper Convertible awarded through the raffle is valued at $29,000. The model is pepper white with black bonnet stripes, and is equipped with a6-speed automatic transmission, cold weather package (heated seats, heated power folding mirrors, and heated washer jets), Bluetooth with iPod adapter, power folding convertible top, 121 HP 1.6 liter engine, air conditioning, MINI Boost Stereo, 1-year free Sirius subscription, CD player, power one-touch windows, and power door locks.

The winning ticket will be drawn at the Museum’s Cheers to Children event on the evening of March 23, 2012. This event will feature signature dishes from great local restaurants, a variety of wine generously donated by New Hampshire liquor distributors, and live music. Tickets for Cheers to Children are available at $50 per person, or there is an option to buy the Ultimate Ticket: one car raffle ticket and two tickets to Cheers toChildren for just $175, a $25 savings.

Tickets for the MINI Cooper Car Raffle and Cheers for Children event may be purchased at www.childrens-museum.org, at the Museum’s front desk during regular business hours, or by calling the Museum at 603-742-2002.

Purchasers of car raffle tickets must be 18 years or older, possess a valid driver’s license and provide proof of insurance. The winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes resulting from the award of this prize. A maximum of 600 tickets will be sold. If less than 300 tickets are sold, the raffle prize will be 50% of proceeds. If 300 or more tickets are sold, the prize will be the 2012 pepper white MINI Cooper Convertible. The prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash.

Children's Museum Hosts New Family Valentine's Dance

Families are invited to share the love in February by attending the first-ever Very, Very Valentine’s Dance at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. The dance will take place at the Museum in Dover on Friday, February 10 from 6 – 8:30 pm. The cost is $10 per person for museum members and $15 per person for non-members.

Parents and grandparents can dance with their little sweethearts beneath a disco ball above the dance floor, and everyone can learn to “dance like a star” with help from Portsmouth Ballroom instructors who will present a demonstration and short lesson at 7 pm.

Each family can pose inside a giant heart-shaped frame for a complimentary 4” x 6” taken by Pixie Studios of Dover.

Guests can get creative by making fragrant tissue paper corsages and boutonnieres, and decorating their own cookies.

There will also be platters of colorful fresh fruit generously provided Fiddlehead Farms Marketplace and bubbly fruit punch for everyone to enjoy.

The night will conclude with Hershey Kisses for all and a Valentine party favor for each young guest.

“We love to find new ways to bring families together, so planning this mid-winter event has been a lot of fun,” said Jane Bard, Education Director for the Museum. “This will be a chance for everyone to get dressed up and have a festive night out together at a very reasonable cost. We know that adults will enjoy the evening as much as the kids, and we welcome grandparents, aunt and uncles or any significant adults in a child's life to celebrate Valentine's Day with us.”

Meet a Mouse for Milk & Cookies at the Children's Museum

Visitors to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire on Saturday, January 21 are in for a special treat.

The museum’s popular Books Alive program, underwritten by Irving Oil, will be hosting a visit from the cute costumed mouse from the book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” from 10 am – 2 pm. Since the mouse’s adventure starts with a cookie, the museum has teamed up with Stonyfield Farm and Late July Organics to serve milk and cookies to all during the mouse’s visit, along with samples of other healthy dairy snacks.

At the Books Alive event, museum staff will be reading “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by author Laura Numeroff out loud throughout the day. The friendly mouse will be popping in and out to greet children, exchange a hug or high-five, and pose for photos. There will be a variety of mouse-inspired literacy, math and creative activities for children in the museum’s large classroom, and refreshments will be served in the small classroom.

Adding to the family fun, children’s entertainer Steve Blunt will be performing family concerts at 11 am and 1 pm. Steve is a New Hampshire singer/storyteller whose fun, upbeat performances delight audiences at schools, libraries, and concert venues throughout New England. He began writing kid-friendly songs in the 1990’s while raising a young daughter and working as a middle school English teacher. Steve’s CDs “Hang On, Henry!” and “Outta School!” are Parents’ Choice “Approved” Award Winners. More information on Steve is available at: www.steveblunt.com

All Books Alive activities are included with regular paid admission to the museum: $9 for adults and children over the age of 1 and $8 for seniors. Museum admission is free for Children’s Museum of NH members and children under 1 year old.

About the Children’s Museum of NH

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located in the center of Dover and offers two floors of hands-on, interactive exhibits for families to enjoy together. Visitors can explore a wide range of interests, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the Silver LEED-certified museum works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events. For more information, please visit www.childrens-museum.org

Children's Museum Gallery 6 presents What Is Home? Exhibit

This fanciful painting by Fleur Palau, titled Meeting At Home, is one of many works featured in the “What is Home?” exhibit at Gallery 6 in the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire January 11 – March 4, 2012.


What is home? Is “home” defined by an internal feeling or by external conditions? What is the difference between a place you happen to live and aplace you think of as home? Is it based on history or relationships? How doother creatures define their homes?

Gallery 6 at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is presenting artistic responses to these questions and more in its “What Is Home?” exhibit, open from January 10 through March 4, 2012. The show will feature the work of artists from diverse backgrounds – young, old, immigrants, amateurs, professionals – working in a variety of media, as well as poetry from Mimi White’s Poet Laureate project. Each artist offers a different insight into the concept of “home,” creating an opportunity for museum visitors to react and reflect on their own ideas of “home.”

Participating artists in the “What Is Home?” exhibit include Ann Cattall, Cori Caputo, Arthur Copeland, Mary Rose Cullens, Dean Diggins, Marina Forbes, Nora Happny, Sarah Haskell, Nina Herlihy, Ethel Hills, Theresa LaBreque, Magi Leland, K. Lee Mock, Fleur Palau, ShawnPelech, Hannah Phelps, Eva Powers, Sue Pretty, Doug Prince, Runjuan, Susan Savory, Montana Sky, Ron St. Jean and Andrea Williams.

The “What Is Home?” exhibit can be viewed in Gallery 6 during regular business hours at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday noon – 5 pm. No admission fee is required to view the gallery only. Regular admission applies for families who wish to also explore the rest of the museum.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located in the center of Dover and offers two floors of hands-on, interactive exhibits for children from newborn to age 12. Visitors can explore a wide range of interests, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the Silver LEED-certified museum specializes in creating memorable family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events. For more information, please visit www.childrens-museum.org

Children’s Museum of NH Hosts Daytime New Year’s Bash for Families

IMAGE CAPTION: Families prepare for the mid-day “countdown to midnight” at the Children’s Museum of NH’s annual Family New Year’s Eve Celebration.

(Dover, NH – October 3, 2011) – Children and their families are invited to ring in 2012 a little early at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s annual daytime Family New Year’s Eve Celebration on Saturday, December 31.

This festive event runs from 10 am – 3 pm and includes three special “countdowns to midnight” held at 11 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm. At each countdown, a glittering ball drops 30 feet from the ceiling as everyone counts down the last ten seconds of the year. Noisemakers and confetti create an atmosphere like Times Square, and ginger ale is served to all for the first toast of the New Year. Visitors are also invited to make their own sparkly party hats and write their wishes for the new year on mini flying blimps that are launched at each countdown.

“The Children’s Museum has been hosting this tradition for more than 20 years, and it remains one of our most popular annual events,” explained Jane Bard, Education Director of the Children’s Museum of NH. “Kids hear about the excitement of what happens at midnight and want to experience it for themselves. We create a fun party atmosphere in the middle of the day so they can feel like they’ve actually celebrated New Year’s Eve. It’s a great way for different generations within a family to ring in the new year together.”

The Children’s Museum of NH is located in Henry Law Park on the Cochecho River in downtown Dover, making it an ideal day-trip destination. There is plenty of parking, the city’s public indoor pool is right next door, and dozens of restaurants and shops are within an easy walk. More information on planning a trip to Dover can be found at www.dovernh.org.

Regular museum admission applies for this special event: price of admission: $9 for adults and children, $8 for seniors age 65+, and free for children under one year old.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum specializes in creating family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Exploring Our Way Autism Program Dates Set for 2011-2012 School Year

(Dover, NH / September 29, 2011) – Exploring Our Way, the Children’s Museum of NH’s Autism Partnership Program, has resumed monthly programming for the 2011-2012 school year, thanks to underwriting from Jane’s Trust.

Through June 2012, Exploring Our Way is held on the second Sunday of each month from 10 am – noon at the Children’s Museum of NH (except for the April 2012). At each Exploring Our Way session, families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are invited to visit the museum at no cost. A different regional expert will be on hand at each session to answer questions and provide resources to families,

At the first session on Sunday, October 9, Laurie Lambert, M. Ed. from the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire will available from 10 am - noon to talk with families. Laurie specializes in promoting and supporting inclusive education. She works with schools and families to provide effective and appropriate supports for students with disabilities in the general education setting.

Upcoming Exploring Our Way program dates for the 2011-2012 school year are:

Sunday, October 9, 10 am - noon

Sunday, November 13, 10 am - noon

Sunday, December 11, 10 am - noon

Sunday, January 8, 10 am - noon

Sunday, February 12, 10 am - noon

Sunday, March 11, 10 am – noon

Tuesday, April 24, 5:30 – 7:30 pm (special evening session)

Sunday, May 13, 10 am - noon

Sunday, June 10, 10 am - noon

Paula Rais, Director of Community Engagement for the Children’s Museum of NH, stated that the program has been very well received. “Since we began, we have been averaging nearly 100 people at each monthly session,” she said. “Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. We are delighted to be able to provide a community setting where the whole family feels comfortable and has fun together.”

Exploring Our Way takes place when the Children’s Museum is closed to the public and offers families a chance to explore the museum together, with support as needed from museum staff, trained volunteers, and special materials that include mapping tools and social stories. No reservations are necessary, and families are welcome to stay and play after the museum opens to the public at noon.

The program began in March 2010 with inaugural funding from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust. For more information, please contact program coordinator Paula Rais at paula@childrens-museum.org

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum specializes in creating family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.

Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

6 Washington Street, Dover NH 03820

603-742-2002

www.childrens-museum.org

Children’s Museum Fall Gallery Exhibit Features Work of David McPhail

Henry Bear, a character created by author/illustrator David McPhail, is just one of the charming children’s book characters featured in a new exhibit of McPhail’s work at the Children’s Museum of NH this fall.

DOVER, NH – Celebrating children’s literature, Gallery 6 at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is presenting an exhibit featuring the whimsical work of New Hampshire author and illustrator David McPhail. This new show, David McPhail: Looking Back … and Beyond, opens September 17 and will be on exhibit until the end of the year.

Recognized as one of the most influential and prolific children’s writers in the country, David McPhail has been a passionate artist since the age of two. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and began illustrating books for children in 1972. Since then, he's created over 75 books, including the celebrated Mole Music, which was a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

This fall, visitors to Gallery 6 will get a glimpse into David’s creative process from his first experiments with simple ideas and drawings, to more refined sketches and preliminary dummy books, culminating in finished artwork that brings David’s animal characters to life. Children and adults will enjoy meeting Henry Bear, Waddles the Raccoon, Emily Duck, Budgie & Boo and the characters from David’s newest book, Abandoned Lighthouse, coming out this fall.

As a special treat, David McPhail will be conducting a mini-workshop as part of the Children’s Museum’s Annual Birthday Celebration on Sunday, September 25 at 1:30 pm. He looks forward to meeting with visitors of all ages to talk about his creative process, doig some drawing with children, and answering questions about being an artist. This mini-workshop is included in paid admission to the museum.

The David McPhail: Looking Back … and Beyond exhibit in Gallery 6 can be viewed during regular business hours at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday noon – 5 pm. No admission fee is required to view the gallery only. Regular admission applies for families who wish to explore the rest of the museum.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum specializes in creating family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org

Children’s Museum of NH plans Patterns & Puzzles Day on August 18

(Dover, NH – August 9, 2011] – How can children build math and problem-solving skills in fun, creative ways? By coming to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire’s Patterns & Puzzles Day on Thursday, August 18 from 10 am – 3 pm. All the day’s special activities are included in the museum’s standard price of admission ($8 for adults and children, $7 for seniors and no charge for museum members).

“When children recognize, compare and create their own patterns, they are laying the foundation for understanding many math concepts,” explained Jane Bard, Education Director at the Children’s Museum of NH. “We are surrounded by patterns in life and in the museum. Having a special day for children and families to explore patterns is a way to develop critical problem-solving skills, and for some, to look at the world in a whole new way.”

Patterns & Puzzles Day will include a variety of activities for children of all ages throughout the Children’s Museum. Children will utilize different senses to explore patterns in architecture, patterns in music, patterns in fabric and patterns in nature. In the museum’s Kaleidoscopic and Pattern Palace exhibits, families can also learn about reflective and symmetrical design, and create take-home artwork using these principles.

The Children’s Museum of NH is located in Henry Law Park on the Cochecho River in downtown Dover, making it an ideal day-trip destination. Free summer concerts are held at the pavilion just outside the museum’s doors, there is a playground and picnic area, and dozens of restaurants and shops are within an easy walk. More information on planning a trip to Dover can be found at www.dovernh.org.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum specializes in creating family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org

Children’s Museum of NH hosts Colossal Construction Day on July 11

IMAGE CAPTION: Building tall towers will be just one of the activities available at Colossal Construction Day at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover on July 11 from 10 am – 3 pm.

(Dover, NH – June 30, 2011) – Can kids build it? Yes they can! The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is hosting a Colossal Construction Day on Monday, July 11 from 10 am – 3 pm, inviting children to put their building skills to the test.

The museum’s staff has planned a super-sized day of design and engineering challenges for all ages to tackle and enjoy. From buildings and bridges to catapults and other imaginative creations, kids are invited to be creative using a wide array of building materials.

The day will really get rolling with the help of Lego Your Mind, an organization that offers fun and enriching programs on simple machines and robotics in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Lego Your Mind will be bringing lots of Lego building elements including axles and wheels of all sizes so kids can free-build their own rolling creations and run them down a ramp to test speed and distance.

All Colossal Construction activities are included in the regular price of admission: $8 for adults and children, $7 for seniors age 65+, and free for children under one year old. During the summer, the museum is open to visitors seven days a week.

The Children’s Museum of NH is located in Henry Law Park on the Cochecho River in downtown Dover, making it an ideal day-trip destination. Several free outdoor concerts are held in the park each week, there is a playground and picnic area, and dozens of restaurants and shops are within an easy walk. More information on planning a trip to Dover can be found at www.dovernh.org.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum specializes in creating family learning experiences and works closely with schools, social service agencies and educators. The museum also hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org

Lincoln Financial Foundation increases support for Museum InReach program at Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

(Dover, NH / June 16 2011) – Lincoln Financial Foundation is providing increased support for the Museum InReach program at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. The foundation’s recent $8,000 education grant will enable students from underserved elementary schools throughout the state to visit the Children’s Museum at no cost during the 2011—2012 school year. Lincoln Foundation was a founding sponsor of this program in 2008, and the upgrade in their support this year will increase the number of students who will be served through Museum InReach.

“The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is grateful to Lincoln Foundation for this fourth year of support for Museum InReach,” said Paula Rais, Outreach Director for the museum. “This program welcomes hundreds of children from under-served communities at no charge. Most of these students would not otherwise be able to visit a museum due to school budget constraints. Thanks to Lincoln Foundation, students from schools across the state will be able to experience the dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities that the Children’s Museum provides.”

Byron Champlin, assistant vice president and program officer for Lincoln Foundation, said that the foundation’s continued support for Museum InReach speaks to the quality of Children’s Museum programming as well as the challenges faced by poor and rural school districts. “Education can come alive at a place like the Children’s Museum, but only if kids have access to it,” he said. “Through Museum InReach, we hope that economic circumstances and distance will cease to be barriers to an enhanced learning experience for children.”

The goal of Museum InReach is to continue to provide access to the Children’s Museum for under-served and low-income children. The program effectively eliminates economic obstacles for the state’s poorest children to experience alternative methods of learning that encourage educational growth and achievement. A visit to the Children’s Museum is an inspiring event for many children because the ability to read or sit still in a classroom is not a prerequisite for success. For many students, Museum InReach will be their first, and perhaps only, visit to a museum.

About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. The museum serves as a critical resource for children, families, schools and social service agencies. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.