Leslie,
The Guelph Civic Museum in Ontario is currently developing a small
children's discovery room, which will open sometime in the fall, I believe.
I am not sure of the email address, but the curator's name is Val Harrison.
I am sorry that I can't provide you with any first hand information, as I
have not yet been involved with the development of children's discovery
rooms.  However, this is something that I will potentially be involved with
next year, and I would love to get a copy of the results of your query. Good
luck.
Cheers,

Heather MacDonald
The Canadian Canoe Museum
[log in to unmask]
www.canoemuseum.net

>From: Leslie Brown <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: HANDS-ON Children's Discovery Rooms
>Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 10:58:21 -0400
>
>Greetings Museum-L People-
>
>We need your help!
>
>The subject of hands-on children’s discovery rooms has
>come up often on Museum-L.  I am interested in gathering
>information concerning these ventures.  Below you will
>find a * short * questionnaire that can be responded to,
>  either to me or as a post to Museum-L.  The questions
>deal with general issues, but below you can find a
>description of my specific project.  I know by the
>popularity of this subject that this will prove to
>be useful information for many.
>
>If would like to see the results of this (besides
>seeing it on Museum-L and the archives), I would be
>happy to send you a copy.
>
>1.) Realistically, what was the time frame for the
>whole project—from initial idea to implementation?
>
>2.) Was you room funded by your museum?  An Outside
>Source?  A Grant?  An individual?
>
>3.) What was the general cost range of the whole project?
>
>4.) Did you seek the help of (or did you use) an outside
>designer?   If so, what were the advantages or disadvantages
>of outside assistance?
>
>5.) Do you have any specific recommendations from your
>experience concerning security and/or stocking of supplies?
>For example, do you have a staff member or volunteer present
>at all times?
>
>6.) I have seen many discovery rooms that use one work (or
>item) as jumping off points to address larger issues.  (For
>example: using a piece in your collection, such as an Andy
>Warhol, to explain what POP art is.)  If this is how you
>have structured your room, how, specifically, do you direct
>children to the actual object?
>
>7.) Is your room “High tech” or “Low tech” and what are
>the benefits of each?
>
>8.) Did you have an activity that looked fabulous on
>paper, but was not successful in reality?  In retrospect,
>what would you have done differently?
>
>Thank you so much for your time and expertise.
>
>Cheekwood is located in Nashville, TN and is both a museum
>and a botanical garden.  We have a relatively small room in
>which we would like to create 4-5 “stations” centered around
>a painting from our collection, a decorative art, an outdoor
>sculpture, and a garden.  We would also like to have a “make-it
>take-it” table for children to do art projects.
>
>Leslie Brown
>Assistant Curator of Education
>Cheekwood Museum of Art
>1200 Forrest Park Drive
>Nashville, TN 37205
>www.cheekwood.org
>[log in to unmask]
>615.356.3519
>
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