FREE (Families Reaching for Educational Excellence) 2nd Saturdays 

Saturday, March 10, 2012, FREE 2nd Saturday Program:  Playing School

The popular FAMILY AFFAIR events continue at Raven Hill Discovery Center into 2012, with the next event on March 10th.  Visitors can become teachers or students of bygone days by “Playing School” at the Center’s one room schoolhouse.  Sponsored by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation from February through June, each month FREE 2nd Saturdays will highlight a different science, history or art activity (AND the connections between them!), as well as allow families to explore the hands-on museum and animals indoors and enjoy the Music Garden, Jurassic Park Walk, Schoolhouse, Tree House and other outdoor exhibits.  FREE 2nd Saturday hours are from noon to 4 pm.  Bring the whole family OR make it a special event for parent and child. There will be fun problem-solving demos & activities to fit various ages, abilities and interests every second Saturday at least from February to June of 2012.  Please no organizations or groups on 2nd Saturdays - remember, it's a family affair!

In 2010, Second Saturday Science Days were sponsored by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and in 2011, Second Saturday Science Days were made possible by the Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and other generous donors.  Because of these donations, family groups were able to strengthen creative & critical thinking skills by exploring a different science concept each month, plus enjoy the museum, animals and the outdoor exhibits.  In 2012, the name changes to FREE (Families Reaching for Educational Excellence) 2nd Saturdays and the special activities will expand to include history and art, as well as science.  The Center is actively seeking funding for the second half of 2012--July through December.

Download the 2012 FREE 2nd Saturday Flyer 

Vernal Equinox Celebration on March 21, 2012 from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm 

 

If the skies are clear, come join Raven Hill Discovery Center for the Vernal Equinox Celebration and welcome spring on March 21^st from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  We will be meeting at the Center’s Moon Base viewing the spring sky through the Center’s 16-inch reflecting telescope, if weather permits. Attendees are also invited to bring their own telescopes.  Coffee & hot chocolate will available in the Main Museum after the activity.  Call 231.536.3369 for current conditions.

 

Spring Break Activities at Raven Hill Discovery Center beginning March 31 to April 7, 2012 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

 

During extended Spring Break hours, Raven Hill Discovery Center will provide special activities in conjunction with Blurred Boundaries:  Ancient to Modern Megaliths, a 2012 grant awarded to Raven Hill from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts.  Megaliths are large stone sculptures or groupings of rocks originally placed for sacred celebrations or to honor something or someone.   Visitors will be invited to design and build miniatures of their modern interpretations of ancient megaliths.  The Center’s hours during Spring Break (March 31 to April 7, 2012) will be from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The Center will be closed Easter Day.  Admission is $8 per person, except for babies who stay in backpacks or strollers.  Admission includes indoor, hands-on exhibits and exotic animal session, as well as outdoor exhibits. The activity is $3 above admission cost.  Can’t make it during regular hours?  Call to schedule an appointment at your convenience.

2012 Raven Hill Discovery Center Calendar

Download the 2012 Raven Hill Discovery Center Calendar

Raven Hill Discovery Center Newsletter

Download the latest Raven Hill Discovery Center Newsletter

2012 SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer Magic 2012:  Reaching for the Stars on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Save the date for Summer Magic 2012:  Reaching for the Stars on Saturday, July 21, 2012 for a special, adults only, night on the grounds of Raven Hill.  Local restaurants provide the finger foods and a silent auction offers a wonderful array of artistic creations.  The proceeds from Summer Magic support ongoing programs at Raven Hill, which connect science, art and history, as well as required matching donations for grant awards.  If you would like more information or to be a sponsor, please contact Raven Hill at info@ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org or call 231.536.3369 or 877.833.4254.

 2012 SPECIAL PROJECTS

Blurred Boundaries Invitational

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, has announced a 2012 award to Raven Hill Discovery Center for Blurred Boundaries: Ancient to Modern Megaliths. This is the twelfth consecutive grant awarded to Raven Hill by MCACA and is for $6,000 and must be matched with another $6,000 in cash or in-kind contributions. The grant will allow Raven Hill to expand its Ancient World area with five new megaliths. Megaliths (big rocks) are large stone sculptures or groupings of rocks originally placed for sacred celebrations or to honor something or someone.

Blurred Boundaries will create awareness of ancient cultures and their celebrations and interpretations of their world. It will bridge gaps between:

•  Past & present
• Art & history
• Natural & manmade
• Decorative & purposeful.

It will be a celebration of our earth and our cultural history.

Two professional artists will create and install their modern interpretations of well-known ancient megaliths. The other three megaliths will be chosen from submitted miniliths created by students and community members. All five new megaliths will be created in large scale for permanent display in Raven Hill’s Ancient World.

Students and community members are invited to submit miniliths, which will be their modern interpretations of ancient megaliths. Raven Hill staff will be available in March for presentations to groups about this special project and the information will be available on the Raven Hill Web Site. Call 231.536.3369 for more information or questions or to book a presentation. Miniliths should be on a wood base and silicone adhesive or a similar combination. Miniliths are due April 21, 2012. All submitted miniliths will be on display starting April 22nd at Raven Hill. A committee of experts will choose three miniliths to be “enlarged” and installed in the Ancient World exhibit in June. All five new exhibits will be unveiled at a grand opening September 16, 2012.

Important Dates

• Month of March - Power Point presentations at your site or on Raven Hill Web Site
• Month of April - Miniliths created at your site
• April 21st - Miniliths due and juried at Raven Hill
• April 22nd - Blurred Boundaries Minilith Exhibit opens at Raven Hill, winners announced
• May 1st - Pick up Miniliths, except for 3 chosen for re-creation
• Month of June - Top 3 Miniliths "enlarged" in Ancient World
• September 16th - Grand Opening of Blurred Boundaries in the Ancient World

Click here for a Blurred Boundaries Information Flyer and Guidelines

Click here for a Blurred Boundaries Glossary and References

Click here for the Blurred Boundaries Powerpoint

Click here for the Blurred Boundaries Powerpoint Note: This is a PDF version

Click here to donate and support Blurred Boundaries

2012 PRESS RELEASES

MCACA Grant Awarded to Raven Hill Discovery Center 

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, has announced a 2012 award to Raven Hill Discovery Center for Blurred Boundaries:  Ancient to Modern Megaliths.  This is the twelfth consecutive grant awarded to Raven Hill by MCACA and is for $6,000 and must be matched with another $6,000 in cash or in-kind contributions.  The grant will allow Raven Hill to expand its Ancient World area with five new megaliths.  Megaliths are large stone sculptures or groupings of rocks originally placed for sacred celebrations or to honor something or someone.

Two professional artists will create and install their modern interpretations of well-known ancient megaliths.  Schools and community members will be invited to submit miniatures of their modern interpretations of ancient megaliths.  All submitted miniature megaliths will be on display during April at Raven Hill.  A judging committee will choose 3 miniature megaliths to be “enlarged” and installed in the Ancient World exhibit.  All five new exhibits will be unveiled at a grand opening in September 2012.

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NASA Jet Propulsion Lab names 2012 Solar System Ambassador

Raven Hill Discovery Center is proud to announce the appointment of Bryan Shumaker as a 2012 Solar System Ambassador.  Sponsored by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), the Solar System Ambassador Program is a public outreach program designed to work with volunteers in communicating the excitement of JPL’s space exploration missions to people in local communities all over the United States.  As one of 500 Ambassadors from all 50 states, he will bring new and exciting opportunities to northern Michigan residents.

Bryan is founder of the new NOrthern Michigan Astronomy Club (NOMAC).  He will be working with Raven Hill staff on astronomy programs for all ages, in addition to nurturing NOMAC.

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Raven Hill Discovery Center Thanks Sponsors of Summer Magic 2011

Raven Hill Discovery Center wishes to thank all the Sponsors of Raven Hill Discovery Center Summer Magic 2011.  We couldn’t do it without you.  Businesses, restaurants, artists, individuals and many more provided among other things monetary donations, food, and silent auction items.  The proceeds from Summer Magic support ongoing programs at Raven Hill, as well as required matching donations for grant awards.  Thank you again!

 Click here to see the Summer Magic 2011 Sponsors

Save the date for Summer Magic 2012:  Reaching for the Stars on Saturday, July 21, 2012 on the grounds of Raven Hill.  If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact Raven Hill at info@ravenhilldiscoverycenter.org or call 231.536.3369 or 877.833.4254.

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PREVIOUS EVENTS

Click here to see previous Events at Raven Hill Discovery Center

Raven Hill has offered a variety of services to the community for twenty years. We continue to expand and improve our programs with a wealth of community support. 

 

Raven Hill is:

• A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
• Member of the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Museum Alliance
• 2005 Crooked Tree Arts Center eddi Award recipient for Arts & Cultural Organizations