Public Programs and Events

PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Adult and Family Workshops
After School Explorers Club
Family Fun Days
Fun Lab!
In the Community
Lunchtime Lectures
Milton's Marvels
Reading Art Book Club
Summer Discovery Camps
Wee Wednesdays
Whizbang Workshops

Experience extraordinary science shows in the Cavern of Time located in Earth City. Milton's Marvels of Science gives visitors an opportunity to see LIVE science demonstrations! These demos cover a variety of topics ranging from physics and chemistry to earth science and biology.

All activities are included in gallery admission which is FREE for Museum members or just $6.50 for adults and $5 for children.

Schedule of Science Demos
Shows Wednesday - Sunday at 1, 2 & 3 pm in Earth City’s Cavern of Time

May: Earthquakes Explored - One of nature’s most destructive forces, earthquakes are actually shockwaves in the earth’s crust! Join us to learn how these shockwaves form and how scientists study and measure these quakes with our model seismograph!

June: Let’s Get Cooking!– Food truly is science, as you will see when we take a fun-filled look at the food pyramid, read food labels and even guess spices by smell! We’ll also learn some bizarre cuisine eaten around the world!

July: Science of the Sea – Surf’s up! It’s an ocean of fun as we dive into summer and discuss sand, wave action and that wacky salt water…

August: Dinosaur Discoveries! – Become a paleontologist for a day as we explore the life and times of those amazing beasts from the pre-historic past - dinosaurs!

Join us in the classrooms on the second Saturday of each month from 12 – 4 pm for a series of fun-filled, hands-on art and science experiences. This all-new program will feature a wide variety of topics ranging from animals to jewelry! All activities are included in gallery admission which is FREE for Museum members or just $6.50 for adults and $5 for children.

May 10: Abstract Self-Portraits – Create your own mini-masterpieces as you design a work in your own image.

June 14: Mini Zoo – It’s our ever-popular animal meet and greet with new creatures and more fun!

After School Explorers Club

Step out of the classroom and into a world of fun with our After School Explorers Club. Designed for students in grades 2 through 6, workshops take place on Thursdays and include a science demonstration, hands on experiments and activities for just $15/session; only $12 for Museum members. Payment is due at the time of registration. Pre-registration is required. Call (304) 561–3529 for more information!

After School Explorers Club is sponsored by Heiner’s Bakery.

Discover new educational opportunities for adults at the Clay Center! Call (304) 561-3517 for more information to register today!

Introduction to Felt Making with Kate McComas
Saturday, May 10, 10 am – 5 pm
Fee: $20 for Clay Center members; $30 for non-members
Space Limited – so call now!
The oldest known fabric making technique, felt is made directly from wool. Go from fleece to fabric using only soapy water, pressure and agitation. This low tech process uses minimal equipment. This beginning class will explore traditional and contemporary felt making techniques. Students will complete a scarf, table runner or set of coasters.

About the instructor: Local textile maker, Kate McComas, has studied felt making with numerous artists including felt hat maker, Jean Hicks of Seattle, Washington. Kate has taught felting workshops at Marshall University, MountainMade Studios, Tamarack and for Martha Stewart’s staff.

Watercolors with Betty Warner SOLD OUT; WAITING LIST AVAILABLE
Saturday, May 31, 1 – 5 pm
Fee: $25 for Clay Center members; $35 for non-members
Space Limited – so call now!
Join Charleston watercolor artist Betty Warner for an afternoon of creative expression. This workshop is perfect for the watercolor beginner or those with some knowledge of the medium. Some supplies will be needed. A supply list will be sent at time of registration.

About the instructor: Local artist Betty Warner has won numerous awards and has works in several collections throughout the region. Warner has also presented workshops at Sunrise Museum and the College of Wooster as well as in her private studio. Her work has been featured in the National Museum of American Art and in several solos shows.

Art & Science of Wine I SOLD OUT; WAITING LIST AVAILABLE
Tuesdays & Thursdays, June 3, 5, 10, 12, 17 & 19
6 – 8 pm each session
Fee: $100 for Clay Center members; $125 for non-members (Fee covers all 6 workshop sessions)
Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Certified Wine Professional Sam Uppala will conduct this 6 class session, exploring classic varietals - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon - and concepts concerning grape varietals, wine styles, viticultural and vinification methods, and food and wine pairing. A systematic tasting process will be used to evaluate the wines and illustrate the concepts. A challenging course intended to be a great deal of fun for beginner or experienced wine lover. Registration is required by May 17. Space is limited so make your reservation today by calling 561-3517.

Whizbang Workshops usually sell out, so be sure to call soon!

Natural Disasters! (Grades K – 5)
Saturday, May 17
Discover amazing facts in this hands-on workshop exploring tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes!

Get in on hot fun in the summertime with our Summer Discovery Camps! Each camp provides a fun-filled, hands-on educational experience for children - and a perfect way to pass the summer days. Each camp runs from 10 am - noon. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Please call (304) 561-3517 to register today.

This program is sponsored by Heiner’s Bakery.

Physics Phun! (Grades K - 3; $45 for members; $55 for non-members)
Tuesday - Friday, July 8 - 11
It's all physical as you explore Newton's Laws of motion, magnetism, energy, light and so much more with fun and exciting experiments each day! Activities will take place in the classrooms, outside and even in the science galleries.

Film Making 101 (Grades 2 - 6; $55 for members; $65 for non-members)
Monday - Friday, July 14 - 18
Lights! Camera! Action! Explore the world of movie making with this fun, interactive workshop. Students will write, direct, costume and star in an original production. Week concludes with a Hollywood-style premiere. Students will also receive a DVD copy of the movie created during the week.

Earth Moon and Stars (Grades K - 5; $45 for members; $55 for non-members)
Tuesday - Friday, July 22 - 25
From the Earth to the Moon, this workshop will take students on a journey they won't forget! Whether dealing with rocks, fossils and animals on Earth or craters and space travel to the Moon - and beyond, students will explore a wide variety of earth and space science activities and experiments.

Art Grab Bag (Grades K - 5; $45 for members; $55 for non-members)
Tuesday - Friday, July 29 - August 1
Join the Clay Center for a week-long art adventure! Students will explore sculpture, drawing, painting and other art forms during the week and finish the week with an art exhibition for all to enjoy!

Second Saturdays at Capitol Market
Join the Clay Center at the Capitol Market on the second Saturday of each month between 10 am and 12 noon for a fun-filled art or science activity! Second Saturdays are a great chance to have fun with the whole family and see all that Capitol Market has to offer. Activities are ongoing and free to the general public.

Bring the Museum to You!
If your school or organization wants a fun on–site activity for your next event, check out our outreach programs. We can tailor a program to fit any audience and budget! Call (304) 561-3508 to find out how to bring the excitement to you!

Join us for this monthly lecture series featuring community presenters and a wide variety of topics. Programs usually last 40 - 45 minutes.

An amazing natural spectacle is currently taking place all over West Virginia as nearly 100 different species of birds come here from great
distances to raise their young. Join us for a special program focusing on migratory birds you can see here in West Virginia and the incredible stories of their journeys.

Join us for our fun-filled special event days throughout the year. Each day is full of family entertainment with themed science and art activities taking place throughout the day in addition to our three floors of art and science exhibits. All special family event day activities, unless otherwise noted, are included in the price of gallery admission which is FREE for members or just $6.50 for adults and $5 for children.

Dino Day!
Saturday, August 16, 2008, 11 am – 4 pm
A family favorite returns as we celebrate all that makes dinosaurs the cool creatures they were! Visit the Clay Center to take part in a dino dig, visit the "boneyard," walk in the footsteps of a dinosaur, make your own fossils, see dino-themed science demos on fossils and prehistoric life and hear dinosaur stories at our special story times!

Free Dino Prizes for Everyone!

And, don’t miss our all-new giant screen adventure, Dinosaurs Alive! beginning July 5. Show times are Wednesday through Saturday at 12, 1, 3 & 4 pm and Sunday at 1, 3 & 4 pm.

Join us for Wee Wednesdays, a special day every week when your preschooler can enjoy story time and related art activities designed with their interests and abilities in mind. Wee Wednesdays take place every Wednesday at 11 am and 1 pm and is included in Museum gallery admission which is FREE for members or just $6.50 for adults and $5 for children.

Wee Wednesdays are sponsored by Heiner’s Bakery and Don E. Skaff, D.D.S., Inc. - Pediatric Dentistry.

Join us for stories and crafts based on these great books:

Spring/Summer 2008 Schedule:

May 7
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
Craft- Coloring Clifford

May 14 and 21
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (members’ choice book)
Craft- Caterpillar pictures

May 28
Where Do Balloons Go by Jamie Lee Curtis
Craft- Paper and yarn balloons

June 4 and 11
The Baby Bee Bee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie
Craft- Bird masks

June 18 and 25
Four Seasons Make a Year by Anne Rockwell
Craft- Weather bookmarks

July 2 and 9
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
Craft- Button overcoats

July 16 and 23
Dogs in Space: The Great Space Doghouse by Nancy Coffelt
Craft- Origami dogs

July 30 and August 6
The Z was Zapped by Chris Van Allsburg
Craft- Z coloring pages

August 13
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Craft- Construction paper ladybugs

August 20
Special PBS Kids guest character SUPER WHY!
Storytimes at 11 am, noon, and 1 pm in lower level classrooms.
Support provided by West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

August 27
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Craft- Pasta rain clouds

Do you love books and art? If so, join us for our new book club that focuses on the exciting world of art. In the first week there will be an art lecture, two weeks later a discussion about the book and the third week allows for an inside view of our permanent collection. $12 for members, $15 for non-members. Registration required, call (304) 561-3517. Fee includes all three sessions per month, but does not include book.

Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera
Thursday, June 5, 19 & 26, 1:30-3 pm
Delve into the life of artist Frida Kahlo as we journey with her from childhood to adulthood and meet the interesting people who touched her life along the way. Learn the adversities she overcame, how they shaped her art and helped to make her an important artist of the twentieth century.

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland
Thursday, August 7, 21 & 28, 1:30-3 pm
Join us as we follow Impressionist painter, Auguste Renoir through his first conception, to his last brushstroke of the painting Luncheon of the Boating Party. Meet the people represented in the painting and experience France and art in the time of the French Impressionists.

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
Thursday, October 2, 16 & 23, 1:30-3 pm
Nicholas des Innocents is commissioned to design a cycle of tapestries in 15th century France. The women he meets during the creative process, particularly Claude, his patron’s daughter, inspire the young, rakish artist in his choice of subject and the end result is the famous Lady and the Unicorn cycle.

The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland
Thursday, December 4, 11 & 18, 1:30-3 pm
Canadian artist, Emily Carr, defied societal conventions and the wishes of her father to forge her own artistic destiny. Venture with Emily from the coast of British Columbia and the indigenous people she depicted to the Salon d’Automne in Paris as she insures her place among the great modern artists.