Have you been to see our new special exhibition Tales from the Land of Gullahyet? Get a taste of what you'll see by visiting Gullah.Net before you come - or check it out after if you're looking for ways to extend your visit.
My favorite part of this interactive site is the Music section - kids can listen to Aunt Pearlie-Sue (a character on the web site and in the exhibit!) explain the origins of African music and instruments, play their own Gullah songs, and even explore a musical map showing how African music influenced music today, from bluegrass to rock 'n roll.
You can also watch videos of Gullah islanders knitting fishing nets with a needle made of palmetto wood, and listen to samples of the Gullah language. Did you know Gullah was developed among Africans as a way to communicate with people from other tribes and Europeans? It's made up of English and over 4,000 words from many different African languages, but sounds very similar to Krio, one of the common languages from Sierra Leone in West Africa.
The National Wildlife Federation is supporting the Bay Area Discovery Museum by donating a portion of each subscription to these award-winning magazines:
Wild Animal Baby (ages 0 - 3): Filled with bright colors and delightful stories, Wild Animal Baby is a wonderful learning and interactive reading experience for parents and toddlers to share.
Your Big Backyard (ages 3 - 7): Let young children know the world is their “big backyard”…a place filled with interesting places to go, fascinating creatures to meet, and fun things to do.
Ranger Rick (ages 7+): Take kids closer to nature with amazing photographs, real adventures, rain-or-shine activities and intriguing information about animals and natural wonders.
I have very fond memories of reading stacks of Ranger Rick magazines on lazy summer days as a child. Your Big Backyard just won a coveted Parent's Choice Award. And it's great to see Wild Animal Baby is printed on coated card stock which will stand up to the gnawing gums of a 1-year-old!
To take advantage of this great offer, visit www.nwf.org/museums enter special order number PACM721.
We are proud to present in out Art Studios an installation of photography and drawings from the Timothy Murphy School in San Rafael, Ca. a non-profit special education school for boys (K-12).
The photo mural is a collection of photos that were taken on campus through the artistic eye of the high school students in the art program at Timothy Murphy School. The Bay Area Discovery Museum has previously featured young artists as part of our mission to engage our visitors.
My favorite piece is a drawing of a symbol which has no title but beneath lies a statement, "This symbol doesn't mean anything to me. I am an artist."
It's on display until September 7 in the Art Studios. Come see it soon!
Tykes on Bikes Sunday, June 29 10 a.m. Market Street, San Francisco
Celebrate the joy of families of all compositions by walking with us in the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. Bring your decorated tike, trike, stroller or wagon and we’ll provide treats to give to the crowd. To join our contingent, email jherrera@badm.org.
We will be positioned with other family groups and various participating schools near the front of the parade. It is a family friendly environment and we look forward to celebrating all kinds of families in this year's Pride Parade. Please join us!
Preparations for Summer Camp are in full swing at The Bay Area Discovery Museum; a magnificent staff has been hired, snacks have been ordered, and mountains of art supplies delivered! As the countdown to the first day of camp begins I know I’m getting excited, as are legions of parents and kids. I also know that parents have lots of questions, and I’m happy to say I have answers! If you’ve signed your child up for summer camp please download our parent handbook and rest assured that if you have any other burning questions I’m only a phone call or e-mail away.
Stay tuned to Camp Blog for more information in the coming days, like staff bios and pictures!
