(
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39460","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Natalia group"}}]]Today's blog post is brought to you by Natalia Welch, a senior at Butler University focusing on Marketing. Natalia is a Family Programs intern working with youth in the StarPoint summer camp and teen volunteers in the Museum Apprentice Program.
In the left corner on the first floor of the Museum lies Family Programs. It’s a beautiful space that comes to life throughout the school year with the Museum Preschool and during the summer with StarPoint, The Children’s Museum's summer camp. During my time as a Family Programs Intern, I've had the pleasure to work with StarPoint and the Museum Apprentice Program.
The StarPoint campers arrive daily at 1 o’clock—with oodles of energy. I jump around helping out with each of the cabins named after iconic pieces in the museum. These iconic pieces include the Trains (after Ruben Wells), the Polar Bears (after Martimus), and the Racecars (after the Indy Car). Each cabin has been busy learning and exploring everything from dinosaurs to China this summer. I help bring each week’s theme home to family and friends through weekly newsletters that illustrate StarPoint’s week through pictures and brief write-ups. It is greatly rewarding to be able to promote communication—and of course a weekly joke—between families with each newsletter.
Another facet of The Museum I've been able to work with is the Museum Apprentice Program (MAP). The Museum Apprentice Program is the museum’s teen program whose members volunteer their time to create public events. The event this summer was entitled “The Warrior Challenge.” I've had the opportunity to design a map, sticker, and other visual displays for the challenge. On Saturday, July 19 the MAPs put all their hard work together for the event. It was truly uplifting to watch each family come together to defeat an obstacle course and succeed in a dress-up challenge (all Terra Cotta Warrior themed, of course). But watching the MAPs see their project come to life was even more exciting, as families laughed and limbo-ed their way to the end. The themes of the Museum Apprentice Program include fun, hard work, and bonding, and it shone through during the Warrior Challenge.
Being able to interact with elementary and teen aged individuals has truly made this summer extraordinary. Watching their smiling faces as they learn Chinese characters or figure out the scoring system to their challenge has given me a positive attitude and perspective that I can proudly carry with me after my internship ends.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39461","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Natlia starpoint"}}]]
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"39462","attributes":{"class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","alt":"Natalia bubbles"}}]]
