Children's Museum of Holyoke

Purpose: Serving as Centers of Community Engagement This project combines two ongoing initiatives at the children's Museum to provide a unique new exhibit. The participants in Project YES, a junior volunteer and leader incentive program, will work under the director, their program coordinator, and an exhibit designer to help design and build a series of exhibits called "At the Canal's Edge." The focus of "At the Canal's Edge" will be to educate and stimulate a sense of place among young museum visitors, providing opportunities to explore the heritage of Holyoke as a former mill town and a city rich in culture, industrial architecture, and unique natural and historical features. The project will be divided into six components: (1) a 3-D time line; (2) an interactive exhibit on "Animals of Today" in the Connecticut River Valley; (3) a set of water tables for exploring the physics and engineering of dams, canals, and water power; (4) a simulated underwater tunnel; (5) a prehistory and archaeological exploration area; and (6) an art and architecture station that gives visitors an opportunity to design the Holyoke of the Future. The junior volunteers (ages 10 through 17 years) will assist in conceptual design development as well as painting and construction phases in teams of 10 in eight-week sessions throughout the year. These volunteers will also have the opportunity to mentor younger students who participate in the museum's after-school program.