ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
The Children's Science Explorium in Boca Raton is a small museum, on
the scale of which I believe you're inquiring.
They are an aspect of the city's Parks and Rec department and they
operate out of a building located on the grounds of a fantastic city
park.
Marci Piasecki was the director when I was down there last year.
Good luck!
JasonJayStevens
exhibitDeveloper
annArborHands-OnMuseum
[log in to unmask]
artistDesigner
potterBelmarLabs
www.potterbelmar.org
[log in to unmask]
On Apr 9, 2004, at 10:00 AM, Scott McQuerry wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> ***********************************************************************
> ******
>
> Hello all.
>
> I must admit that I have been lurking on this listserve for some time
> now,
> and I've picked up some valuable information.
>
> I would value any/all opinions concerning this issue....
>
> The Pioneer Ridge Science Education Center (PRSC) opened its doors
> three
> years ago. It is a small center (7000 sq ft) located adjacent to our
> district's
> sixth-grade center. The population of our school district is 11,000
> students
> and is a suburb of Kansas City, MO.
>
> PRSC is completely owned and operated by the Independence School
> District.
> As Director, my only job requirement was to "bring bodies to this
> center."
> Needless to say, I've had a virtually free canvas from which to work.
>
> Since the initial Director has retired after the first year of
> operation, I
> have been the sole occupant of this facility. I must admit, my
> numbers will
> appear small compared to most of you, but my percentage of growth is
> through the
> roof! Since September 2002, PRSC has exhibited a 400% growth rate in
> overall
> patronage (from 3,000 visitors in 2001-2002 to nearly 12,000 during
> this
> academic year). My afterschool programs are boasting an 800% growth
> rate (from
> approximately 50 per show to an average of nearly 400 at the present
> time).
> Since I have employed the use of various organizations throughout our
> community,
> volunteers have not been an issue to assist in the afterschool
> programs.
>
> Nearly half of my patronage is comprised of classrooms during the
> academic
> day. We have gone from approximately 10 activities that could be
> conducted
> during the former Director's reign, to nearly 250 activities to choose
> from, each
> being grade-specific and directly linked to our state's competencies.
>
> I have been looking for an organization that is similar to this
> institution.
> Is anyone out there?
>
> I have attempted to work with a neighboring informal science
> institution;
> however, from personal communications with their programming director,
> they "do
> not deal with small programs" such as mine.
>
> I am far from floundering in this position, I am merely looking for
> anyone
> out there who might provide some insight as to how I might take PRSC
> to the next
> level. I would like to collaborate with community organizations to
> hire
> additional staff, link our 40 acre outdoor program with conservation
> officials,
> expand my afterschool programs and entrench myself with business
> leaders in our
> community.
>
> Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank all of you for your
> "informal" assistance this past year!!! I would be happy to share
> some of my insights
> and success stories I have achieved from this position with anyone
> that is
> interested.
>
> Scott McQuerry
> Director
> Pioneer Ridge Science Education Center
> 1656 South Speck Road
> Independence, MO 64057
> 816.796.4890
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ***********************************************************************
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
> http://www.astc.org.
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
> message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
> [log in to unmask]
>
***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]
|
