Developing and Funding
Informal Learning Programs
Professional Development Workshops
Presented by Informal Science, Inc. of
Washington, DC
Monday, March 30
Cranbrook Institute of Science
Bloomfield Hills, MI
Tuesday, March 31
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, MI
(In Conjunction with the AZA Central Region Meeting at the John Ball Zoo,
Grand Rapids)
Presented by:
Informal Science, Inc.
P.O. Box 42328
Washington, DC 20015
Phone: 202/362-5823
Fax: 202/362-3596
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Overview
This full-day, “hands-on” workshop, presented at two Michigan locations at the
end of March, addresses the conception, planning and funding of informal
education and exhibition projects for zoos, aquariums, gardens, nature
centers, children’s, technology, history and natural history museums, science
centers, community organizations and similar agencies
It helps participants define their project goals and objectives, develop
effective project plans, identify potential funding sources, and present their
projects effectively to prospective funders. These matters are important to
museums, informal learning centers, science centers, nature centers and
related organizations of all disciplines and sizes.
Many museums and similar organizations with creative programming have
excellent ideas, but only a small proportion have received funding from a
national foundation, Federal or State agency, or significant local funder.
Many worth-while projects fail because funding was not sought or because
proposals submitted for funding were not properly developed and presented.
Many dollars for funding such projects are available from private foundations
such as the MacArthur Foundation and the Sloan Foundation, from Federal
agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for
the Humanities, the Department of Education, the National Park Service and the
Environmental Protection Agency, as well as from corporate foundations and
local and community foundations. Ongoing political changes in Washington make
current knowledge of Federal agencies especially important.
The workshop provides an overview of critical issues in project planning and
proposal presentation. Regardless of subject and approach, successful
projects emphasize well-defined educational goals and methods, strong
educational content, solid staff/advisor expertise, and effective project
planning and budgeting. Many funding sources require evidence of substantial
evaluation plans.
Program
The workshop includes open discussion of project ideas and alternatives and a
mock review session involving the evaluation of actual proposals submitted to
private and government funding agencies. Participants receive sample grant
proposals submitted to various agencies and a 75-page project development and
funding manual.
Schedule:
8:30 - 9:00 Registration and coffee
9:00 - 10:30 Planning fundamentals
10:30 - 11:30 Discussion of project ideas
11:30 - 12:30 Funding strategies and priorities
12:30 - 1:00 Lunch (on-site)
1:00 - 2:00 Proposal preparation
2:00 - 3:30 Mock proposal review (group activity)
3:30-4:15 Proposal discussion
4:15-4:30 Wrap-up
Participants
The workshop is intended for executive directors, program directors, education
directors, exhibit directors, content specialists, and senior management.
Staff are encouraged to attend as a team.
Location and Registration
The workshop will be held on two consecutive days at different Michigan
locations. The Monday, March 30, workshop will be held at Cranbrook Institute
of Science, Bloomfield Hills, MI; the March 31 workshop will be held at the
Public Museum of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI. Detailed arrival and
location information will be included in the materials package.
Registration is $135 per person, $120 for the second and third registrants
from a single institution/organization. All registrants will receive
proposals to be read and evaluated prior to the workshop and a resource
manual, which includes information on program design and funding
opportunities. Welcoming coffee and rolls, lunch, and a mid-afternoon break
are included.
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Faculty
The workshops will be conducted by Dr. Robert “Mac” West and Dr. Robert L.
Russell. Dr. West has served as director of natural history and science
museums in Pennsylvania and Michigan, has advised the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute’s Museum program, and recently has conducted museum and aquarium
feasibility studies in addition to his work on program development and
implementation. Dr. Russell has directed children’s and science museums in
Nebraska and Michigan and served as a program officer for the National Science
Foundation. Recently he has worked on exhibition enhancement, program
development and evaluation programs.
Informal Science, Inc.’s clients include informal learning institutions
(science centers, children’s and natural history museums, nature centers, zoos
and aquariums, and media producers) as well as youth organizations, the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute, YouthALIVE! and the Association of Science/Technology Centers. In
addition, ISI publishes the bimonthly Informal Science Review, the only serial
publication devoted exclusively to informal science learning, and the semi-
annual Science/Natural History Traveling Exhibitions Report.
Note
The presentation in Grand Rapids takes place just prior to the AZA Central
Region Conference at the John Ball Zoo.
Registration Form
Developing and Funding
Informal Learning Programs
____ March 30, Cranbrook Institute of Science,
Bloomfield Hills
____ March 31, Public Museum of Grand Rapids,
Grand Rapids
Name _________________________ Position _______________________
Organization __________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________
City ________________________ State _________ ZIP ___________
Telephone ___________________ Fax _____________
Email ___________________
Registration fee: ______$135 ______$120
Check enclosed _____ Purchase Order No. ________________________
Credit Card Number ________________________ Expiration Date ______
Signature _____________________________________________________
(Required for credit card registrations)
Make checks payable to Informal Science, Inc., and mail to P. O. Box 42328,
Washington, DC 20015. Cancellations, less a $25 processing fee, will be
accepted until March 23, 1998.
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