Fun, Family-Friendly Lineup Scheduled at Illinois State Museum in February

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Visitors to the Illinois State Museum can enjoy personal collections of some of the area’s junior collectors, learn more about the heritage and traditions of various world cultures, or youth can spend the night under a giant oak tree during the month of February at the Illinois State Museum. The Museum has a variety of fun, family-friendly activities available this month; below are just a few examples:

Junior Collector’s Day – Sat., Feb. 3rd

The Illinois State Museum will host its 9th annual Junior Collector’s Day on Sat., Feb. 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Children ages 8 to 15 will display their personal collections, including items such as antique dolls and furniture, Barbies, superheroes, coins, baseball cards, snow globes, the American eagle, cats, and much more. This event is free and open to the public. *Note: Collectors will be available to answer questions. The buying and selling of objects is not permitted and appraisals will not be made.

“Celebrate Cultural Diversity!” – Sat., Feb. 10th

On Sat., Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., join the Illinois State Museum for the 2nd annual “Celebrate Cultural Diversity!” event. The Museum will be filled with special exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on crafts, and live performances. Visitors will learn about many unique world cultures of people who live in Illinois today.

Cultural organizations with displays will include: The Trutter Museum, a multi-cultural museum at Lincoln Land Community College, the Islamic Society of Greater Springfield, and a chapter of Image, Inc. with an exhibit on Peru. Also included will be displays about India and China.

Performances will include:
11:15 a.m. – Martial arts demonstration by Grandmaster Perry’s School of Tae Kwon Do.

Noon – African Storyteller Rojanne Abilogu.

1 p.m. – “The Ambassador of Salsa,” Julio Baranzuela, will present salsa and merengue dances with audience participation.

2:30 p.m. – Scottish and Irish dances by the St. Andrew’s Society Celtic Dancers.

Families can also celebrate Chinese New Year in the Museum’s hands-on children’s gallery, “A Place for Discovery,” with crafts for kids, Chinese character writing, and a Tai Chi demonstration.

Multi-cultural dolls, including Native American dolls from the Illinois State Museum collections, will be on display to inspire children as they create their own costumed paper dolls. Children can also see weaving from around the world, and try weaving with instruction provided by the Prairie Weavers Guild. In addition, as a special treat, visitors will have a chance to win a door prize.

This free multicultural event is sponsored by Bank of Springfield.

“Art on the Wild Side” overnight camp-in – Sat., Feb 17th – Sun., Feb. 18th

Come spend a night at the Illinois State Museum! Children ages 8 to 11 are invited to come to the Museum for a special after-hours wild art adventure, “Art on the Wild Side,” beginning at 7 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 17th and ending 8 a.m. Sun., Feb. 18th.

Participants will learn how nature is a work of art by creating artistic memories in a personal nature sketchbook; making their own photogram; using natural materials in the printmaking process; and discovering that nutshells and blueberries can be so much more. The campers will enjoy an evening pizza snack, sleep under a giant oak tree, and finish with a light breakfast.

The camp-in will be led by Assistant Curator of Education Jennifer Kuehner and Megan DiRienzo, Monticello Intern in Museum Education.

Fee for the camp-in is $23.00 for Illinois State Museum Society members and $30.00 for nonmembers. If two or more children from the same family attend, the fee per child is $20.00 for members and $27.00 for non-members. Advance registration is required by February 14, 2007.

For more information on the above programs, please contact Jennifer Kuehner at
217-782-5993. TDD 217-785-0211.

The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S. Spring St. (the corner of Spring and Edwards Streets) in Springfield and is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Parking is available nearby and the building is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

###