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What a great idea! This amplifies an earlier observation about home schooling being a pull. The external attendance forcing conditions vary, and demographics may be different too, but in both cases some success prevailed. Having never been to Scitech, is there an admission charge for toddlers? And is it temperature controlled?
C
On Sep 1, 2010, at 5:34 PM, Sarah Bugg wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> In Australia, our slow time is February, and we have struggled with minimal visitation through that month for the ages, with an average visitation for the month of about 6,000 people (as compared generally to 20 - 30 thousand per month).. Outside it's hot, too hot to be outside for many people, but school has just gone back and they're not visiting us yet.
>
> Until we invented Toddlerfest that is. Imagine 10,000 children under the age of 4 with their parents visiting. In ONE WEEK!
>
> The first year we ran it, it was completely manic. I've never seen so many prams in one room in my life, let alone little people clambering for the science activities throughout the centre.
>
> Recognising that the centre was going to be empty enabled us to target a group that does visit outside school holidays (vacations) and that need specialised programming.
>
> I'm happy to talk further with people if they want details of how/what we did, it certainly is a permanent part of our calendar now!
>
> Cheers
>
> Sarah Bugg
> Executive Projects Manager
> Scitech
>
> My email: [log in to unmask]
> My direct line: +61 8 9215 0702
> My mobile: 0407 071 334
>
>
> phone: +61 8 9215 0700 | fax: +61 8 9321 2869 | web: www.scitech.org.au | post: PO Box 1155 West Perth WA 6872
> SCITECH - increasing interest and participation by Western Australians in science and technology.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Rosenblatt
> Sent: Thursday, 2 September 2010 3:12 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Fall slowdown
>
>
>
>> *******
>>
>> Everyone,
>>
>> Most of our local schools are back in session, and we are starting our
>
>> slow season. Families are not on vacation, as they are in the summer,
>> and school groups are not yet taking field trips. In September and the
>
>> beginning of October, our attendance drops by about thirty percent. We
>
>> are spending some of the time cleaning, moving exhibits, and training
>> staff, and we do not have the additional expenses of seasonal workers
>> or heating/ air conditioning. We are concerned about the drop in cash
>> revenue for this period, and we are trying to think of ways to bring
>> in additional guests.
>>
>> Does your museum/ science center have any proven methods for
>> attracting guests during this slow time? Do you do special events,
>> offer discounts, give breaks to your members? We are already trying a
>> membership promotion and a field trip discount. What else can you
>> suggest? I would appreciate any advice, large or small. Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>> Kristie M. Mazzoni
>>
>> Planetarium Director
>>
>> Travelers Science Dome at the Gengras Planetarium
>>
>> The Children's Museum
>>
>> 950 Trout Brook Drive
>>
>> West Hartford CT 06119
>>
>>
>>
>> (860) 231-2830 x40
>>
>>
>>
>
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> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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