Change and enhance the Children's Discovery Museum (CDM) School Service Program (SSP) with additional program staffing and new interactive exhibits
The Children's Discovery Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota aims to strengthen its highly successful School Service Program by retaining a Program development coordinator, changing core interactive exhibits and creating new curriculum for pre-school and K - 5 students in ten northern Minnesota counties.
$950,000 each year is for arts and cultural heritage grants to children's museums.Of this amount, $500,000 each year is for the Minnesota Children's Museum, including the Minnesota Children's Museum in Rochester; $150,000 each year is for the Duluth Children's Museum; $150,000 each year is for the Grand Rapids Children's Museum; and $150,000 each year is for the Southern Minnesota Children's Museum.
1. School teachers perceive new CDM interactive exhibits as well-designed and age-appropriate learning tools.2. School teachers strongly believe these new hand-on exhibits and curriculum help them meet the education goals they have set for their students.3. Average teacher evaluation scores on a series of nine questions remain high.4. Attendance/enrollment in the SSP, by walk guests and Museum members.5. The number of schools re-enrolling that have not participated for five years or more.6. The number of schools that attend one year, and then the next.7. Personal visits made by CDM education team members during teacher staff meetings at area schools.8. E-mails, e-newsletters and other correspondence sent to school superintendents, principals and teachers.
School teachers rated the design & age appropriateness of new interactive exhibits with an average score of 4.69School teachers rated the value of new exhibits as helpful in meeting education goals for their students with an average score of 4.52All teacher evaluation scores were rated with an average score of 4.52 or higherSchool program enrollment grew by 23% - an increase of 622 students, 79 teachers and 110 chaperones for a total of 811 more participants.Walk-in attendance grew by 955 people (7%) during the period September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016 compared to the previous grant cycle of September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015.Three (3) schools enrolled that have not participated for five years or more - Grand Rapids Murphy Elementary, Grand Rapids Southwest Elementary, and Grand Rapids YMCA Camp Wanago. Our local Murphy Elementary School enrolled for the very first time. They brought seven (7) different field trips.Thirty (30) schools re-enrolled their students during the 2015/2016 school year.CDM educators made seven school site visits & e-newsletters sent monthly.e-newsletters sent monthly.
Ray Nikkel, President President - North Compass Financial
Jonathan Miner, Treasurer CEO - The Miner Group
Vickie Rassmussen Wilcox, Secretary Teacher
Jerome Miner - Director & Past President CEO - Cub Foods & Jerry Miner's Realty
Jeffrey Borg - Director Director of Customer Experience - Cliqstudios.com
Corinne Jacobson - Director Owner: Sawmill Inn
Carole Erickson - Director Longtime Community Volunteer
Laura Nikkel - Director Psychologist
Pamela Miner - Director Broker/Commercial Real Estate
Melanie Jacobson - Director Family Marketing